Key facts
The beauty of the Capital One Venture is in its pure simplicity.
Annual Fee:
$95Min. Credit Score for Approval:
670-739 * GoodOngoing APR:
19.99%-29.74% VariableBalance transfer fees
Balance Transfer Fee applies to balances transferred at a promotional rateForeign Transaction Fee:
0%While some travel rewards credit cards may earn at slightly higher rates on select categories such as groceries or dining, the draw here is the simplicity — and guarantee — of earning 2X miles per dollar on almost anything that you buy without needing to memorize bonus spending categories. On the redemption side, Capital One Venture has plenty of valuable options, including the ability to transfer miles to 18 airline and hotel partners. Alternatively, you can redeem miles at a flat rate of 1 cent per point on all travel purchases.
Reward multipliers
Earn a generous 5X miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. In addition, you’ll earn 2X miles on all other eligible purchases.
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Capital One Dining
Capital One Dining provides Venture cardholders (and those with other Capital One credit cards) with several unique features including the ability to book hard-to-get restaurant reservations in major cities across the country. In addition, there’s the ability to gain access to special events, like chef collaborations and dinners curated by world-renowned chefs.
Capital One Entertainment
Capital One Entertainment allows Venture cardholders (and those with other Capital One cards) to redeem rewards for tickets and packages at thousands of events worldwide. While the redemption rate varies, cardholders typically get less than once per point in value when redeeming this way so it perhaps isn’t the best of the multiple redemption options.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardholders get up to $120 in credit toward the application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years.
Airport Lounge Access
The Capital One Venture card comes with two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounge locations or 100+ lounges through the Partner Lounge Network.
After those complimentary visits, cardholders have access to a special entry rate of $45. Currently, the only Capital One branded lounge open is at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) but additional locations are in the works at Washington Dulles (IAD), Denver (DEN), and Las Vegas (LAS).
If you want unlimited lounge visits, you’ll want to consider the Venture X.
Note: Effective January 1, 2025, Venture and Spark Miles cardholders will no longer receive complimentary lounge access. You will have 2 complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges to use by December 31, 2024. Venture and Spark Miles cardholders can access Capital One Lounges at a special rate of $45 for themselves and their guests.
Grants Car Rental Status
Those with the Venture credit card qualify for complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star status.
This is Hertz’s second-highest membership tier, offering perks such as a wider selection of rental vehicles, upgrades to the next car class, and a dedicated customer service line.
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive secondary car rental insurance, covering damage due to collision or theft on eligible vehicles when they use the card to pay for the rental.
Earns Transferable Points
One reason this is a great traveler’s credit card is the travel rewards. You’ll earn valuable Capital One miles which is worth a redemption value of at least one cent per point on travel purchases or the ability to transfer miles to Capital One’s range of 18 airline and hotel partners.
Some of my favorite ways to leverage Capital One transfer partners include redemption options to fly in business and first class around the world. For instance, one option is transferring miles to partner Avianca LifeMiles for Lufthansa First class between the US and Frankfurt or Munich for 87,000 Capital One miles. Or transfer to Turkish where you can fly from the US to Europe in Business Class on any Star Alliance carrier like United or SWISS for just 45,000 miles.
These are Capital One’s current transfer partners:
Capital One Miles | ||
---|---|---|
Transfer Ratio | Expected Transfer Time | |
Air Canada (Aeroplan) | 1:1 | Instant |
Air France / KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant |
Avianca Lifemiles | 1:1 | Instant |
Aeromexico | 1:1 | Instant |
British Airways Avios | 1:1 | TBD |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | Nearly instant |
Choice Hotels | 1:1 | 1 day |
Emirates Skywards | 1:1 | Instant |
Etihad Guest | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
Finnair | 1:1 | Instant |
Qantas | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
TAP Air Portugal | 1:1 | TBD |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1:1 | TBD |
Wyndham Rewards Hotel Program | 1:1 | Instant |
EVA | 2:1.5 | 1-2 days |
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) Hotel Program | 2:1 | 1-2 days |
Virgin Red | 1:1 | TBD |
You can read more about Capital One Miles in our Guide to Capital One Miles.
Extended Warranty
Capital One Venture offers extended warranty protection which doubles the time period of the original manufacturer’s written warranty up to one additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less. Coverage is up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder.
Purchase Protection
As a benefit of the Venture’s Visa Signature designation, you can replace, repair, or be reimbursed for eligible items of personal property up to $500 per claim for 90 days from the date of purchase due to covered reasons.
Trip Protections
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If you paid for your fare with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and your luggage is lost due to theft, misdirection, or damage by the carrier, you could be eligible for coverage of up to $3,000 per trip. Note that this coverage is supplemental to any existing baggage insurance or reimbursement.
Travel Accident Insurance
Capital One Venture receives coverage for common carrier accidental death or dismemberment when you charge your entire travel fare to the card.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
This only applies when due to death or illness of the cardmember or immediate family member and is only up to $1,500 per covered instance, so we are not counting this as a standalone benefit like other cards offer under the same name.
Concierge Services
As the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a Visa Signature product, it offers a concierge service that can assist with things like hard-to-get restaurant reservations or event tickets.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
Capital One Venture cardholders receive access to a travel and emergency assistance hotline that can help them if they run into problems on the road. However, all third-party costs are the cardholder’s responsibility.
Roadside Assistance
Capital One Venture cardholders get access to convenient 24/7 towing, jump start, locksmith services, and more in the United States and Canada.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Capital One Venture does not charge any foreign transaction fees when using the card abroad.
No Fees for Authorized Users
There are no fees to add authorized users on the Capital One Venture.
Free Access to Credit Score
Capital One Venture (and all other Capital One credit cards) get free access to your credit score via their included CreditWise offering.
Metal Card
The Capital One Venture is a metal credit card weighing around 16 grams.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- Great sign-up bonus
- Comes with two complimentary visits to Capital One lounges, Priority Pass lounges, or Plaza Premium lounges (Until Dec 31, 2024)
- Hertz Five Star elite status
- Not as strong travel protections as the more robust Capital One Venture X Credit Card
- Only two free entries to airport lounges (until Dec 31, 2024), access thereafter is $45 per visit. (The Venture X has unlimited visits)
- While the card is simple to use, there is effectively a lack of real bonus categories. Still, 2X miles on almost all purchases are solid
Our review
With the ability to transfer miles to travel partners or use miles to cover the cost of whatever travel charges you wish — along with a simple rewards structure — the Venture card is a great $95 annual fee option that has only improved its value proposition and perks over the years. On the earnings front, Capital One miles are pretty much as easy as it gets. You’ll earn rewards at a rate of 2X miles per dollar spent on pretty much everything, with 5X miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The redemption process is similar to other programs, such as Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, with transferable points often providing a higher value for your travel rewards. Some high-value ways to use Capital One Venture miles include redeeming with Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Miles & Smiles, and Virgin Red (redeem miles for Virgin Voyages and Virgin Atlantic). For simplicity’s sake, you can also book travel however you want, then redeem miles for a statement credit for some or all of the cost. Miles are worth a flat 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way — and there’s no minimum redemption amount.
On top of all of that, there’s a decent array of travel and purchase protections (although it’s not as robust as the flagship $395-per-year annual fee Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card). Finally, you’ll get reimbursed for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, up to $120, every four years.
Frequently asked questions
Does Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have an annual fee?
Yes, the card carries a relatively modest $95 annual fee.
Does Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card get you into airport lounges?
Yes, the card provides two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounge locations or 100+ lounges through the Partner Lounge Network.
Is it hard to get the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
The Venture card seems to be a fairly straightforward approval for those with good to excellent credit of about 670 or better on the FICO scale. Capital One seems to be generous with the both credit limit and line amount offered as well.
Is it worth getting Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
For cardholders who value simplicity in earning miles and a relatively modest annual fee, the Venture Rewards card is an excellent option.
How do I earn points / cash with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
Venture Rewards credit cardholders earn 5X miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. In addition, you’ll earn 2X miles on all other eligible purchases, meaning your everyday spending.
Is there a better credit card than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
It all depends on your individual preferences. Use our interactive card explorer to see if there is a card that has features and benefits that more closely align with what you want in a credit card.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card charge foreign transaction fees?
No, the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have car rental coverage?
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive secondary car rental insurance.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have car rental coverage?
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive secondary car rental insurance. Terms apply.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card come with any Elite Status?
Yes, the Venture card comes with Hertz Five Star rental car status.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer extended warranty?
Yes, the card offers extended warranty protection which doubles the time period of the original manufacturer’s written warranty up to one additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less. Coverage is up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer purchase protection?
Yes, the Venture card offers purchase protection, up to $500 per claim for 90 days from the date of purchase due to covered reasons.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer trip protections?
Yes, the Capital One Venture comes with a variety of trip protections, including travel accident insurance and lost luggage reimbursement coverage. There is also secondary rental car coverage.
What credit score do I need to get a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
While there isn’t a designated requirement for a specific credit score, good to excellent credit is probably needed to be approved.
What can I do with the points earned for spending on the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
There are a few options here. You can either cash out your points like cash for travel purchases to easily cover travel expenses (for example, 10,000 points equals $100 in travel purchases) or you can transfer your miles to a range of hotel and airline partners as described in the article and in our Capital One miles Guide.
How does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card compare to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card?
The Venture X has a higher annual fee but includes a host of more robust travel perks, including unlimited lounge access to Capital One Lounges and partner locations, baggage delay insurance, and Hertz President’s Circle status. You can compare the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card here.
How does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card compare to the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred obviously earns a different travel rewards currency (Chase Ultimate Rewards), there are some notable overlaps between the two cards, including the $95 annual fee. You can compare the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card here.
Is there a no-annual-fee version of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
Yes, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards credit card is the no-annual fee sibling to this product. You can compare the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card here.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have Cell Phone Protection?
No, the Capital One Venture credit card does not come with cell phone protection benefits.
Does the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have any Balance Transfer offers?
No, you’ll want to look to the VentureOne Rewards card for an offer on balance transfers.