The Harley-Davidson Visa is a rewards credit card targeted at people who are Harley-Davidson enthusiasts and regularly purchase its branded merchandise. Card members earn H-D Genuine Rewards points for every dollar spent with this card. Points are earned most quickly with Harley-Davidson purchases (3 points for every $1 spent at Harley dealerships) but cardholders also earn rewards points on gas, lodging, bars, and restaurant purchases (2 points for every $1 spent in these categories, and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else). The Harley-Davidson Visa can be used anywhere that Visa cards are accepted. It is issued by US Bank.
There are two other Visa cards affiliated with the Harley-Davidson brand both of which are also issued by US Bank. Applicants who apply for the Harley-Davidson Visa may be denied for this card but approved for either the Harley-Davidson High Performance Visa Card or the Harley-Davidson Secured Visa Card. These cards come with different terms and conditions. Both have a fixed reward tier of only 1 point per $1 spent.
The annual percentage rate for the Harley-Davidson Visa (and the High Performance Visa Card) varies between 13.99% and 22.99%. The Secured Visa Card comes with a 22.99% APR. Your specific rate is determined at the time of approval and is based on your creditworthiness. These rates apply to both purchases and balance transfers.
In our opinion, given that the High Performance Visa and Secured Visa only receive 1 point per $1 of purchases, only the Harley-Davidson Visa is worth considering. Rewards-wise it offers the most value and it’s the card we focus on here.
New Harley-Davidson Visa account holders receive a $10 H-D Genuine Rewards Certificate upon approval. No purchase is necessary to be eligible for this offer but the Rewards Certificate must be used within 180 days of when it is issued. Cardholders also are automatically entered into the H-D Visa Free Ride Sweepstakes which runs through December 31, 2015. There are no other signup offers available with this card such as bonus rewards points or introductory APRs.
The Harley-Davidson Visa gives card members the opportunity to earn H-D Genuine Rewards. With every $1 net purchase you will earn:
- 3 points at Harley-Davidson dealerships
- 2 points at restaurants, bars, lodging, and gas stations
- 1 point everywhere else Visa is accepted
Once you have accumulated 2,500 points, they can be redeemed for a $25 H-D Gift Card. These gift cards no not expire.
Applicants who are approved for the Harley-Davidson Visa receive additional benefits from Visa Signature. These include:
- Visa Signature Concierge Service
- No Pre-Set Spending Limit
- Premium Offers
Card members are not charged an annual membership fee with the Harley-Davidson Visa. The High Performance Visa and Secured Visa charge no annual fees to cardholders but the Secured Visa does require a minimum deposit of $300 that is held in a security deposit account.
The Facts
Below we have broken down the specifics of the Harley-Davidson Visa to help you determine if it’s a good choice for you.
The Good:
New member Rewards Certificate:
New account holders receive a $10 H-D Genuine Rewards Certificate upon approval for the card. You do not have to make a purchase to be eligible for this offer. This certificate expires 180 days from the issue date.
Automatic entry into sweepstakes:
New and current cardholders are automatically entered into the H-D Visa Free Ride Sweepstakes which runs through December 31, 2015. During this sweepstakes period, every eligible transaction made with your Harley-Davidson Visa counts as an entry. The winner receives a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Easy to earn rewards:
Card members earn H-D Genuine Rewards with every eligible purchase made with the card. For every $1 spent at a Harley-Davidson dealership, cardholders earn 3 points. Purchases made at restaurants, gas stations, bars, and lodging earn 2 points for every dollar spent. All other purchases earn 1 point in rewards. For every 2,500 points earned, cardholders can redeem them for a $25 H-D Gift Card.
Visa Signature benefits:
Applicants who are approved for the Harley-Davidson Visa receive additional benefits such as:
- Visa Concierge Service- 24/7 assistance with making dining reservations, travel arrangements, or finding the perfect gift.
- No Pre-Set Spending Limit- Qualifying for this feature is determined at approval and is based on income verification and credit history. It allows you to carry over a specific amount of your balance from month-to-month (while incurring interest charges).
- Premium Offers- Gives early access to tickets to popular entertainment events including priority seating, when available. These include concerts, Broadway plays, and sporting matches.
No annual fee:
There is no annual fee associated with this card.
The Bad:
No introductory 0% APR:
New account holders do not receive an introductory APR on either purchases or balance transfers with this card. The annual percentage rate varies between 13.99% and 22.99%, depending on your credit.
Points expire:
Rewards points that you earn expire after 3 years if they are not redeemed (they expire on December 31st of the expiration year). Every 2,500 points earned can be redeemed for a $25 H-D Gift Card which does not expire.
The Ugly:
Limited redemption options:
Points earned can only be redeemed for H-D Gift Cards. There is no cash back option available with this card. Unless you shop at Harley-Davidson dealerships on a regular basis, it will be difficult to maximize the benefits offered with this card (3%). Restaurant, bar, lodging and gas station purchases do earn 2% rewards but this is still fairly ordinary as rewards cards go. All other purchases earn 1%.
Not everyone will qualify:
Not everyone who applies for the Harley-Davidson Visa will be approved. A very good to excellent credit score (740+) is generally needed to obtain this card. However, an application for this card also constitutes an application for the High Performance Visa and the Secured Visa. You may be denied for one card but be approved for another. All three cards have different terms and conditions and come with varying benefits. Only the Harley-Davidson Visa offers more than 1 point per $1 spent.