Best cashback/points from a debit card for big purchase?

MrBobbins

Not very money saving I know, but have treated myself to a new car as a retirement present. Got Blue Light discount at least! Paid the deposit by my partner's cashback credit card, but I'm pretty certain that it won't be possible to use that for the balance (around £25K).

Does anyone have any suggestions on any particular banks/cards to use that would maximise any rewards from spending that much in one go? I was contemplating a Trading 212 account anyway - I could use the cashback card for that but it's limited per month. We both bank with First Direct at the moment - no other current accounts. Casback would obviously be best, but I'm happy to consider any points for flights/hotel bookings etc.

MyRealNameToo

MrBobbins said:

Not very money saving I know, but have treated myself to a new car as a retirement present. Got Blue Light discount at least! Paid the deposit by my partner's cashback credit card, but I'm pretty certain that it won't be possible to use that for the balance (around £25K).

Does anyone have any suggestions on any particular banks/cards to use that would maximise any rewards from spending that much in one go? I was contemplating a Trading 212 account anyway - I could use the cashback card for that but it's limited per month. We both bank with First Direct at the moment - no other current accounts. Casback would obviously be best, but I'm happy to consider any points for flights/hotel bookings etc.

Most benefits are linked to credit cards rather than debit cards and it would be surprising if the dealership will accept a CC for such a large transaction. 

You could get a Santander or Chase debit card but you are talking £15 Cashback which isnt going to dent the £25k much. 

lon_don

Not helpful to you, but I remember Chase in 2022 paying 1% cashback ie £200 on my £20k purchase (paid by debit card).... those days now long gone.

friolento

Apart from dealers unlikely to accept a credit card payment for £25k, you'd also be unlikely to get a card with such a large credit limit. In addition, maxing the credit limit on a card will be detrimental to your credit rating (you might not be bothered by this).

MSE lists current cashback CCs here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-credit-card-rewards/. Even if you can get, and use, one or several of these, you are not likely to get rich, as the cashbacks are all quite limited (and may not even be available for car purchases).

I don't know of any debit card that now pays any cashback for car purchases.

You might be able to get and use one or more 0% purchase credit cards and stooze the money over the next several months. Again, even if you can make it work, it isn't a get rich scheme, and you might not want to use what is effectively a loan for a car.

Enjoy that new motor and your retirement, and ignore any posts telling you that buying a new car is a waste of money.

WillPS

I was going to recommend Tesco Bank Clubcard Pay+, which would give you one point for each £8 spent on the Visa Debit. Works out as 0.25% if you use the points against a doubled up reward.

Unfortunately it is NLA for new applicants - https://www.tescobank.com/clubcard-pay-plus/

The other bank 'debit card cashback' schemes are all limited:

• Nationwide FlexDirect - 1% - max £5 a month, expires after 12 months
• Lloyds Bank Premier - 1% - max £10 a month 
• TSB Spend & Save - £5 for 20 txns (any value) each month, expires after 6 months.

Probably not worth the bother for a one-off purchase.

You could also look at Currensea's Hilton card:
https://hiltonhonorsdebitcard.currensea.co.uk/

Head for Points offers a valuation of 0.33p per Honours point, YMMV, but based on that the £30 card would earn £250 worth of points (plus another £6.66 worth of bonus points for signing up), and the £150 card would earn £375 worth (plus another £100 worth of bonus points).

steven141

The good thing with the nationwide account is that if they do it next year, you can be eligible for the fairer share reward payment which the past 3 years has been £100.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/01/nationwide-fairer-share-payment-maximise-chances/

WillPS

steven141 said:

The good thing with the nationwide account is that if they do it next year, you can be eligible for the fairer share reward payment which the past 3 years has been £100.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/01/nationwide-fairer-share-payment-maximise-chances/

Unless they change the eligibility criteria, one £25k debit card payment will not make them eligible. 

It's good advice to jump through the hoops and get the money - but a one off card payment doesn't really help with that mission.