Chase Announces 5% Bonus Categories for Q3 2022: Gas Stations, Rental Cars, Movies, Live Entertainment

If staying at home was the theme of Chase Freedom’s bonus categories for the second quarter of 2022, cardholders will be rewarded in the third quarter for going out and about.

Gas stations.
Rental cars.
Live entertainment.

Bonus categories must be activated by Sept. 14 to get 5% cash back, which can be earned retroactively.

Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2022
Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31)	• Grocery stores. • eBay.
Q2 (April 1-June 30)	• Amazon.com. • Select streaming services.
Q3 (July 1–Sept. 30)	• Gas stations. • Car rentals. • Movie theaters. • Select live entertainment.
Q4 (Oct. 1–Dec. 31)	• TBA In 2021: Walmart, PayPal.

The inclusion of gas stations in Chase’s third quarter bonus categories will be welcome news for many cardholders as gas prices continue to set record highs. Despite the rising fuel costs, plenty of Americans plan to travel by car this summer. If you’re determined to get away, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ can minimize the damage to your wallet.

In another nod to Americans’ desire to get out of the house after two years of COVID lockdowns, rental cars is a bonus category for Chase Freedom cardholders in the third quarter. Renting a car for those longer road trips will spare your own car from wear and tear, and when you pay for a rental car booked directly through the car agency with your card you’ll earn an impressive 5% cash back.

Nerdy tip: If you have a credit card that gives primary rental coverage, the protection you’ll get from that card may be worth more than the 5% cash back you’d get from using a Chase Freedom credit card, which only offers secondary insurance.

The last time Chase offered movies as a bonus category was in 2017. If you’re ready to return to the theater — “Top Gun: Maverick,” anyone? — take your Freedom card with you to get 5% cash back on tickets.

Live entertainment is a new bonus category for Chase, and it’s quite broad. Tickets to sporting events, zoos, aquariums, concerts, museums, amusement parks and more all qualify for 5% cash back. With such an extensive list of eligible purchases, it should be relatively easy to get cash back whether you’re taking a staycation or leaving town.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ has a $0 annual fee, and it comes with a sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. It also earns:

3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
3% cash back at drugstores.
1% cash back on all other purchases.

The information related to the Chase Freedom® credit card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.