Review: TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card

Cash back rewards

Earn cash back on household spending

Once the aforementioned welcome offer ends, this card will earn you 3% cash back on gas, groceries, and recurring bills. For all other purchases, you’ll earn a flat 1%.

3% cash back in three different spending categories is compelling, especially when accounting for the fact that there is no cap to how much cash back you can earn.

What really sets the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite apart is the fact it offers 3% on recurring bills, which is one of the higher returns for this spending category in the credit card market. When factoring for everything from your monthly internet and phone bills to cable, Netflix and other subscription services, the savings potential for this bonus category is considerable. In order to reap the 3% cash back rate for bills, you’ll need to set up your bills as automatically recurring payments. So, be sure to monitor your monthly spending to ensure these payments are manageable and don’t lead you to carry a balance.

Redeem as you go

A unique benefit of this card is its flexible redemption structure, as you can apply your cash back rewards to your credit card statement at anytime once you earn a minimum of $25. This is in sharp contrast to many other cash back cards, which reimburse your rewards on a fixed monthly or annual schedule.

Roadside assistance and rental car benefits

Along with its strong 3% cash back rate on gas, another factor that ups this card’s appeal with car owners is the included TD Auto Club Membership. This complimentary benefit includes towing services and 24/7 roadside assistance to help you get back on the road during emergencies, such as when your car battery dies or require a tire change. Best of all, it means you can avoid having to pay $100 out of pocket for an annual CCA membership.

For occasions when you need to rent a car, using this credit card will entitle you to discounts of up to 10% from Avis and Budget locations in Canada and the U.S., and 5% internationally. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of free collision and damage insurance on the rental car provided you decline the coverage offered by the rental agency.

Travel insurance

While the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite isn’t a travel credit card, it does offer insurance benefits that’ll keep you covered when you leave your province’s borders.

For one, you’ll get up to $2,000,000 in travel medical insurance for you and your family for 10 consecutive days (or 4 days for those aged 65 or older). If you face a situation where your luggage is lost or delayed for at least 6 hours by a common carrier, such as an airline, you’ll be covered up to $1,000 per person. Lastly, you’ll have access to TD’s emergency services hotline to provide support in case you face an emergency while abroad.

Fees, interest and income requirements

Similar to other TD credit cards, the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite has an annual fee of $139, which is slightly higher than the $99 annual fee charged by some other premium cash back cards. Thanks to its strong welcome offer and high cash back rate on everyday purchases however, this card is set up to deliver considerably more value than it costs to carry. This is particularly true for families who have to spend on groceries or regularly commute long distances.

If you do bank with TD, you could have the card’s annual fee rebated by opening a TD All-Inclusive Account. Although, it’s important to highlight you’ll need to keep a minimum balance of $5,000 in this account for it to make financial sense, as you’ll be charged $30 per month the moment you drop below that threshold. If $5,000 is too steep of a minimum balance for you to maintain, consider biting the bullet and paying the card’s annual fee – you’ll still walk away with considerable bang for your buck.

The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite also has an annual percentage rate (APR) of 20.99% for purchases and 22.99% for balance transfers and cash advances. As is the case with most rewards cards, it’ll cost you to carry a balance and you should aim to use this card to earn cash back on purchases that you can afford to pay off in full at the end of each month.

Income requirements are standard for a premium card as well, as you’ll need an individual income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 in order to qualify.

Considerations

Between its free Roadside Assistance Membership, flexible redemption options and strong cash back rate on recurring bills, there’s plenty that sets the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite apart from other cards. However, if none of these factors are as important to you as saving on gas and groceries, there are a handful of top cash back and travel credit cards that do deliver an objectively higher return on those two spending categories.

TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card – Quick review

The Pros

• Free Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership, which includes towing and emergency roadside assistance
• Redemption flexibility -  redeem cash back at anytime once you earn a minimum of $25
• Comparable travel medical emergency and lost/delayed baggage insurance to other cards in this category
• Rental car insurance discounts of up to 10% and free rental car insurance

The Cons

• The $139 annual fee is marginally higher than the $99 annual fee charged by some other premium cash back cards
• While 3% cash back on gas and groceries is a strong earn rate, there are a handful of other credit cards in Canada that do offer a higher per-dollar return on those same two categories

Also Read:

• The Best Credit Cards for Groceries in Canada
• The Best Credit Cards for Gas and Roadside Assistance
• The Best Cash Back Credit Cards in Canada