Can you use Capital One Quicksilver internationally?

Foreign transaction or FX fees are fees added onto your credit card bill if a transaction is made in a currency other than your own. Travel is extremely exciting, but not when you have a credit card statement a mile long waiting for you at home. The Capital One Quicksilver card can be used easily internationally and is one of the best options, as it lacks foreign transaction fees. Here’s all you need to know. 

Is the Capital One Quicksilver card good for travel?

Yes! Foreign transaction fees can range up to 3%, which may not seem like a lot, but can really add up, especially for bigger purchases like flights or train tickets. It is the only cashback card that does not have a foreign transaction fee. This means you can shop to your heart’s content because purchases will be cheaper, and you will also get cashback for your purchases made abroad. You can even shop easily on foreign websites.

The Capital One Quicksilver also has other benefits for travelers. They have an international customer service number with 24/7 support, as well as EVM technology, which enables you to travel without informing your bank beforehand. They also provide $250,000 of accident travel insurance coverage for trips purchased on the card. You can also easily make travel upgrades using the card

Capital One cards are also unique in that they are one of the few cards that can be frozen online or through a mobile app, which will be extremely useful if your card is lost and stolen during travel. Virtual card numbers can be generated for online transactions to avoid your information being stolen.

This card uses dynamic currency conversion, whereby your purchase is converted from USD into the local currency of your destination based on current exchange rates. However, it is important to know that this conversion cannot be done without your consent and you have to choose what currency to use on the card monitor. It is often cheaper to shop in the local currency, so make sure that you keep track of the exchange rate.

What are the other features of the Capital One Quicksilver card?

• Cashback: The card has a flat rate cashback of 1.5% on every purchase. This cashback never expires and can be redeemed at any time, for a paper cheque, a credit on your statement, or a gift card. This makes it one of the simplest flat-rate cashback programs available
• Cash Signup Bonus: There is a $150 cash bonus once $550 is spent within three months 
• Fees and Penalties: This card has a 3% balance transfer fee as well as a $39 late payment fee 
• APR: Introductory APR of 0% for 15 months, followed by an ongoing APR of 15.39%-25.49%. No penalty APR
• Annual Fee: $0
• Free SmartWallet credit score

What other cards can I use for travel? 

This is the only cashback card that has no foreign transaction fees. However, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card has a similar 1.5% flat rate cashback, as well as a similar 0% APR period. It does have a foreign transaction fee of 3%. However, its rewards program is a lot more flexible for travel, as rewards can be transferred over to higher Chase cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which gives 25% bonus points on travel purchases, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which has 50% bonus points.

Should I get the Capital One Quicksilver Card?

This card requires a medium credit score from 650-800 and has one of the simplest cashback programs. The cashback can be redeemed at any point (so if you want a $5 latte, your cashback can be used for that). If simplicity in a rewards program is important for you, this card is probably a good fit. Also, if travel is a priority for you, this is probably the best option, due to the abundance of customer support abroad and lack of foreign transaction fees. However, if a higher flat-rate cashback, no balance transfer fees or a more sophisticated cashback program is what you are after, competitors like the Citi Double Cash Card, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, or even the Chase Freedom Unlimited are better options.