Best Credit Cards for Car Rentals in Singapore (2026)
If you’ve rented a car in Singapore — Tribecar, GetGo, Shariot — the credit card you reach for first probably doesn’t earn the rewards you’d expect.
Here’s why. Most of these car-sharing services code as MCC 7512 (Auto Rentals — Not Elsewhere Classified).The problem is that MCC 7512 doesn’t fit neatly into either the “travel” bucket or the “online shopping” bucket on most cards.
This guide covers your full setup for Singapore-domestic car rentals only — miles cards, cashback cards, and a non-credit-card option. There is also a bonus hack at the end for those who want to stack one more layer of savings.
Quick Glossary (For Those New To Credit Cards)
- MCC — Merchant Category Code, a 4-digit code every merchant has. Banks decide bonus rewards by MCC, not by what you think you bought.
- mpd — miles per dollar.
- MCC 4121 — Taxicabs & Limousines.
- MCC 7512 — Auto Rental Agencies (Not Elsewhere Classified).
- Online flag — when a transaction is flagged as e-commerce. Some cards bonus by online flag rather than by MCC.
- Cap — the monthly spend ceiling for the bonus rate. Spend above the cap earns the base rate.
How to Check the MCC Before You Book
Before applying for a card or charging a rental, we need to confirm what MCC the merchant codes as. The MCC is typically the same across all banks for a given merchant. Once you have an idea of which MCC a merchant codes as, you can choose the right card with confidence. Here are two methods, in order of accuracy:
Method 1 — DBS Block card + digibot (most accurate)
We can charge a transaction to find out the MCC using DBS digibot chat. It can be a successful or failed transaction, as long as the transaction is registered.
I will teach you how to block the card to get the MCC.
First, you want to block the card from all transactions, before making the transaction. Of course, the payment will fail. Then you can proceed with the steps below to get the failed transaction’s MCC.
Step 1. Open the DBS digibank app and tap the chat-bubble icon at the top-right of the home screen to launch digibot.
Step 2. Tap Check Recent Transactions under Featured Services.
Step 3. When digibot asks which type of account, tap Credit Cards.
Step 4. Select the specific card you want to check, then tap SELECT.
Step 5. Tap View Transaction History.
Step 6. Choose either Unbilled Transactions (recent activity) or Pending Transactions (in-progress charges). If you want to check a past successful transaction that has already been billed, this is where you can choose “Billed Transactions“.
Step 7. The transaction list shows each charge along with its Merchant Category — for example, “LARGE DIGITAL GOODS MERCHANT”, “TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES”, or “MISCELLANEOUS & SPECIALITY RETAIL STORES”. Heads up: digibot shows the category name, not the 4-digit MCC code itself. To get the number, you’ll look it up in the next step.
Step 8. Open the Citibank Merchant Category Codes reference (PDF) in a new tab. This is the most complete public list of MCC codes mapped to category names.
Step 9. Find the category name digibot showed you. The 4-digit MCC code is in the left column. For example, “Digital Goods: Large Digital Goods Merchant” = MCC 5818.
Once you have the MCC code, cross-reference it with your card’s T&Cs (or check our reviews on lobangsis.com) to see whether your card includes or excludes that MCC from its bonus categories.
Method 2 — HeyMax merchant lookup (less accurate, use as a starting point)
HeyMax has a free merchant search tool at heymax.ai. You will need to sign up for a free account before you can get access to the merchant search tool. When you sign up the account using code 43774BFE, you will also get 200 Max Miles when you sign up, verify your phone number and make your first voucher purchase. Now, to check the MCC, type the MCC to see the category. HeyMax pulls from its own dataset and is faster than digibot, but it’s less accurate — treat it as a starting point and confirm the answer with DBS digibot before relying on the bonus rate for big spend.
The SG Car-Share MCCs Given By HeyMax
- Tribecar = MCC 4121 (Taxicabs & Limousines). Treated as taxi spend, not car rental.
- GetGo = MCC 7512 (Auto Rental Agencies). Treated as car rental.
Best Cards for Tribecar (MCC 4121 — Taxi)
| Card | Earn Rate | Cap | Min Spend | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Citi Rewards MastercardApply | 4 mpd (online flag) | S$1,000/month | None | Anyone paying Tribecar in-app; flexible miles transfers (11 partners) |
 HSBC RevolutionApply | 4 mpd / 8 mpd | S$1,000/month (S$1,200 for EGA) | None | EGA holders with S$50K ADB chasing 8 mpd; no annual fee for life |
 UOB Lady’s CardApply | 4 mpd (Transport category) | S$1,000/month (Classic) | None | People who want to lock in Transport as a quarterly category |
 DBS Woman’s World MastercardApply | 4 mpd (online flag) | S$1,000/month | None | DBS users pooling points with DBS Altitude |
 Citi Cashback CardApply | 8% cashback | S$80/month | S$800/month | High spenders who hit S$800 across dining, groceries, petrol & private commute |
 Maybank Family & FriendsApply | 6%–8% cashback | S$80/month | S$800 (Tier 1) / S$1,600 (Tier 2) | People who pick Transport as one of 5 bonus categories |
 Citi SMRT CardApply | 5% cashback | SMRT$600/year (annual cap) | S$500/month | Lumpy spenders who want flexibility across the year |
Tribecar codes as MCC 4121 (Taxicabs & Limousines), the same MCC as Grab, Gojek, and other ride-hailing apps. The cards below earn the top miles or cashback rate on Tribecar charges. Pick one miles card and one cashback card — no need to apply for every card on this list.
Miles Cards
1. Citi Rewards Mastercard — 4 mpd (S$1k cap)
The Citi Rewards Mastercard earns 4 mpd on online transactions (regardless of MCC, with some exclusions like travel and car rentals) and on offline shopping at fashion & department stores.
For Tribecar, the charge can be processed as an online transaction as long as you add your card directly into the app — which is what triggers the 4 mpd bonus. If you ever paid for a ride through a physical card terminal, or even via Apple Pay or Google Pay on the app, the bonus would not apply.
Why I chose this card:
- 4 mpd on broad online spend, with no minimum spend.
- Citi ThankYou Points convert 1:1 to KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, and 9 other partners.
- Points are valid for 5 years + 3 months grace.
- Annual fee is waivable.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no Citibank credit card right now
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
2. HSBC Revolution — 4 mpd (S$1K cap), MCC 4121 in the Whitelist
Why I chose this card:
- No annual fee for life
- S$1,000 spend cap
- 4 mpd applies to selected categories like travel + online + contactless.
- HSBC Reward Points expire after 37 months
- 8 miles per dollar promo available if you hold S$50,000 in HSBC Everyday Global Account.
Read more: HSBC Revolution Card Review.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no HSBC credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any HSBC credit card in the last 12 months
- Spend min. S$500 by the end of the month after you're approved. Example: approved in May → spend by 30 June.
- During the application, tick the box to receive marketing messages from HSBC. Don't unsubscribe until your gift arrives — if you do, HSBC can cancel the reward.
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
3. UOB Lady's Card — 4 mpd in Transport (up to S$1k cap)
UOB Lady’s Card lets you pick one bonus category each quarter to earn 4 mpd. Choose Transport and your Tribecar spend earns 4 mpd, up to S$1,000 per month.
A common mistake: do not pick Travel. Despite the name, Travel does not cover car rental or taxi MCCs.
The cap depends on which tier you hold:
- UOB Lady’s Classic Card — 4 mpd on S$1,000 per month, one bonus category.
- UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card (and above) — 4 mpd on S$750 per category per month, across two bonus categories.
Why I chose this card:
- Open to all genders despite the “Lady’s” branding — everyone can apply.
- You can change the bonus category every quarter for different spending patterns.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no UOB credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any UOB credit card in the last 12 months
- This is a timed flash deal. Only the FIRST person to submit a valid application at 2PM or 10PM SGT wins the top reward. Everyone else who applies gets the standard gift (S$90 Cash via PayNow).
- Spend min. S$500 within the first 30 days from card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
4. DBS Woman's World Mastercard — 4 mpd Online (S$1k cap)
DBS WWMC gives 4 miles per dollar on online spending in general, so as long as the Tribecar payment is made in app, you can earn 4 mpd up to S$1,000/month.
Why I chose this card:
- Blacklist approach — bonuses any online transaction unless explicitly excluded, so it catches Tribecar, Grab, Klook, and most online merchants automatically.
- Pair this with the DBS Altitude. Points from both cards pool into the same DBS Points balance, so you’ll hit the 5,000-point conversion block (= 10,000 miles) faster — instead of leaving small amounts stuck in your account unable to be converted.
- Open to all genders despite the name.
- S$1,000/month is the cap.
Note: The DBS Points from DBS Woman’s World Mastercard expire every year. This might not be good for those with relatively low online spending.
If you are new to DBS Credit cardholder, I would sign up for DBS Altitude card first to get the sign up bonus as DBS Woman’s World Mastercard typically has no sign up promotions. Since the miles on the DBS Altitude card does not expire and it gives two free airport lounge passes every year, this is a great general spending miles card to keep for all travellers.
Read more: DBS Woman’s World Card Review.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no DBS/POSB credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any DBS/POSB credit card in the last 12 months
- Enter promo code SINGSAVER during application
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Cashback Cards
1. Citi Cashback Card — 8% on Private Commute
Citi Cashback gives 8% on private commute (MCC 4121 included), plus dining, groceries, and petrol. Cashback is capped at S$80/month with a S$800 minimum monthly spend. This is different from Citi Cashback+ even though they look almost identical.
Why I chose this card:
- 8% covers four high-spend categories: private commute (Tribecar/Grab), dining, groceries, and petrol — one card handles most of your bonus-able spend.
- Cashback is capped at S$80/month.
- Most flexible cashback card in this list — if Tribecar usage drops, your dining or groceries still earn 6%, with the minimum spend met.
- Up to 20.88% petrol savings at Esso and Shell when stacked.
- Worldwide Mastercard with travel insurance & airport lounge access via Citi-affiliated programmes.
- Good for those who can hit S$800 minimum monthly spend on the card to earn the bonus cashback.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no Citibank credit card right now
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
2. Maybank Family & Friends — Up to 8% on Transport
Post-1-Jan-2026, F&F gives 6% at Tier 1 (S$800 monthly spend) and 8% at Tier 2 (S$1,600 monthly spend) on five selected categories. Transport is one of them, so Tribecar earns the headline rate if you commit to the higher tier.
Why I chose this card:
- Up to 5 selected categories per cycle: Transport, Dining, Entertainment, Automotive, and Beauty & Wellness. Pick Transport to get bonus cashback on Tribecar.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- ONLY APPLICABLE FOR NEW-TO-BANK CARD APPLICANTS
- Apply for a new Maybank Credit Card (not applicable for Maybank XL cards)
- Charge min. S$1,300 within the first 2 months of card approval
- Fill the Google Form after signing up
- Alternative: apply for CreditAble + a Maybank Credit Card, then charge min. S$1,200 within 2 months
3. Citi SMRT Card — 5% on Taxi & Online
The Citi SMRT Card gives 5% cashback on selected categories — including taxi/private hire (MCC 4121), online spend (excluding travel and car rentals), and selected groceries — with a minimum spend of S$500 per statement month.
Why I chose this card:
- Low minimum spend. S$500/month is one of the most accessible thresholds among 5% cashback cards, which usually require S$800.
- Useful 5% categories. Covers taxi/private hire, online spend, and selected groceries — three areas most people already spend on.
- Annual cap, not monthly. Cashback is capped at SMRT$600 per card membership year (= 5% on up to S$12,000 of eligible spend), instead of resetting each month.
The annual cap gives you flexibility. As long as you hit the S$500 minimum in a given statement month, every dollar of online spend (Shopee, Amazon, etc.) earns 5% — and your spending can be uneven across the year.
For example, you could spend S$800 in Month 1, S$5,000 in Month 3, and S$8,000 in Month 8. All of it earns 5%, as long as each of those months crosses S$500 and you haven’t hit the S$600 annual cashback cap.
Most cards penalise lumpy spending. This one doesn’t.
One thing to flag: the 5% online category excludes mobile wallet transactions and travel-related MCCs. So this works best for direct online checkouts — not Apple Pay / Google Pay payments, and not flight or hotel bookings.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no Citibank credit card right now
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Best Cards for GetGo & Car Rentals Coded MCC 7512
| Card | Earn Rate | Cap | Min Spend | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBS Woman’s World Mastercard Apply | 4 mpd (online flag) | S$1,000/month | None | The most reliable 4 mpd option for GetGo — bypasses MCC 7512 via online flag |
 UOB EVOLApply | 10% cashback | S$30/month (= S$300 spend) | S$800/month | Small rentals that fit inside the S$300 online cap |
 HSBC AdvanceApply | 1.5% – 2.5% cashback | S$70/month | S$2,000/month for 2.5% | Fuss-free flat cashback with no category exclusions |
| 1 mile per S$1 | First S$1,000/month | None | Anyone without a credit card; no min spend, no MCC restrictions |
Include referral code “4377BFE” | 4 mpd + 3.7 Max Miles per S$1 | Card cap + S$30/voucher | Varies by card | The highest combined earn rate — for those willing to pre-buy vouchers |
Miles Cards
1. DBS Woman’s World Mastercard — 4 mpd Online (S$1K cap)
DBS WWMC uses a blacklist approach — it bonuses any transaction flagged as online, regardless of MCC. GetGo charges through their app (online), so the 4 mpd online bonus typically applies.
Why I chose this card:
- Pair this with the DBS Altitude. Points from both cards pool into the same DBS Points balance, so you’ll hit the 5,000-point conversion block (= 10,000 miles) faster — instead of leaving small amounts stuck in your account unable to be converted.
- Open to all genders despite the name.
- S$1,000/month is the cap.
Note: The DBS Points from DBS Woman’s World Mastercard expire every year. This might not be good for those with relatively low online spending.
If you are new to DBS Credit cardholder, I would sign up for DBS Altitude card first to get the sign up bonus as DBS Woman’s World Mastercard typically has no sign up promotions. Since the miles on the DBS Altitude card does not expire and it gives two free airport lounge passes every year, this is a great general spending miles card to keep for all travellers.
Read more: DBS Woman’s World Card Review.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no DBS/POSB credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any DBS/POSB credit card in the last 12 months
- Enter promo code SINGSAVER during application
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Cashback Cards
1. UOB EVOL — 10% on SGD Online + Mobile Contactless (Capped at S$30/Month)
UOB EVOL gives 10% cashback on SGD transactions made online or via mobile contactless — categories broad enough that GetGo charges (online via the app) qualify even though the MCC is 7512. The catch isn’t the MCC; it’s the cap.
Why I chose this card:
- 10% cashback on SGD online + mobile contactless + overseas in-store.
- Online + mobile contactless cap: S$30/month — the bonus tops out at S$300 of qualifying spend (S$30 ÷ 10%).
- Minimum monthly spend: S$800 on eligible transactions. To get the bonus, you still need to keep spending on other categories after you hit the S$300 online cap.
- Total cashback cap: S$80/month with sub-caps (S$30 online, S$30 other, S$20 selected).
- Best if you already hit the S$800 minimum on other things and one rental fits inside the S$300 online window.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no UOB credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any UOB credit card in the last 12 months
- This is a timed flash deal. Only the FIRST person to submit a valid application at 2PM or 10PM SGT wins the top reward. Everyone else who applies gets the standard gift (S$90 Cash via PayNow).
- Spend min. S$500 within the first 30 days from card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
2. HSBC Advance — 2.5% on Everything (3.5% for HSBC Banking Customers)
The simplest cashback option. HSBC Advance gives 2.5% cashback on retail spend (local and FCY) when you hit S$2,000 in monthly spend. Below the spend tier, you still earn 1.5% from the first dollar.
Why I chose this card:
- 1.5% cashback below S$2,000/month minimum.
- 2.5% at S$2,000+ minimum.
- Cashback capped at S$70/month.
- No category exclusions for MCC 7512.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no HSBC credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any HSBC credit card in the last 12 months
- Spend min. S$500 by the end of the month after you're approved. Example: approved in May → spend by 30 June.
- During the application, tick the box to receive marketing messages from HSBC. Don't unsubscribe until your gift arrives — if you do, HSBC can cancel the reward.
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
The HeyMax Voucher Hack — Higher Rewards, Higher Effort
Here’s the trick that gets you around the MCC 7512 exclusion on most cards: buy GetGo vouchers from HeyMax (S$30 denominations) and use them to pay for your rental. When you pay HeyMax for the voucher, your card sees a HeyMax purchase which is coded as 5311 (Department stores) so cards that recognise 5311 (Department Stores) will give bonus rewards.
On top of that, HeyMax adds 3.7 Max Miles per S$1 into your HeyMax account when you buy GetGo vouchers. Stacked with credit card miles, you can clear 6–8 mpd-equivalent on what would otherwise earn the base rate.
Caveat to test yourself: I haven’t fully confirmed how many vouchers can be stacked within a single GetGo trip, or whether GetGo redemption charges any service fee. Start with one S$30 voucher on a small rental to verify before scaling up.
How to Get Started with HeyMax
If you don’t have a HeyMax account yet, you can sign up via my referral link below and use code 43774BFE — you’ll get 200 Max Miles welcome bonus when you sign up, verify your phone number and make your first voucher purchase (S$5 Sheng Siong voucher works!)
43774BFE
How to claim (tap to expand)
- Download the HeyMax app from the App Store or Google Play
- Enter the referral code 43774BFE when prompted during sign-up
- Complete phone verification
- Make 1 confirmed transaction via HeyMax within 180 days of account creation
- Get 200 Max Miles as your sign-up reward
Best Cards to Buy HeyMax GetGo Vouchers
Because HeyMax purchases code as online & 5311 Department cards, the cards below all earn their full bonus when buying vouchers. Pick whichever you already use for online spend:
- HSBC Revolution — 4 mpd selected online & contactless (S$1,000/month cap).
- Citi Rewards Mastercard – we mentioned this above for direct Tribecar charges; here it works for HeyMax voucher purchases too
- DBS Woman’s World Mastercard — same 4 mpd online bonus (already covered above).
- UOB Lady’s Card (Fashion category) — HeyMax codes as a merchant that earns under Fashion in the Lady’s rotating category. 4 mpd up to S$1,000/month.
- Maybank Family & Friends Card — up to 8% cashback on selected categories. Must have chosen Fashion category.
- Citi SMRT Card — 5% cashback on online shopping when minimum spend is met.
Each of these caps and minimums applies as usual — the voucher hack doesn’t double your monthly cap, just lets you earn the bonus on car-rental spend you couldn’t otherwise with these cards.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no HSBC credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any HSBC credit card in the last 12 months
- Spend min. S$500 by the end of the month after you're approved. Example: approved in May → spend by 30 June.
- During the application, tick the box to receive marketing messages from HSBC. Don't unsubscribe until your gift arrives — if you do, HSBC can cancel the reward.
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no Citibank credit card right now
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no UOB credit card right now, AND haven't cancelled any UOB credit card in the last 12 months
- This is a timed flash deal. Only the FIRST person to submit a valid application at 2PM or 10PM SGT wins the top reward. Everyone else who applies gets the standard gift (S$90 Cash via PayNow).
- Spend min. S$500 within the first 30 days from card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Requirements (tap to expand)
- ONLY APPLICABLE FOR NEW-TO-BANK CARD APPLICANTS
- Apply for a new Maybank Credit Card (not applicable for Maybank XL cards)
- Charge min. S$1,300 within the first 2 months of card approval
- Fill the Google Form after signing up
- Alternative: apply for CreditAble + a Maybank Credit Card, then charge min. S$1,200 within 2 months
Requirements (tap to expand)
- You qualify if: you have no Citibank credit card right now
- Spend min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval
- SingSaver will email you a Rewards Redemption Form — check inbox (and spam folder) after applying. Fill it in within 14 days to claim your gift, or you'll lose it.
Non-Credit Card Option
Chocolate Visa Debit Card gives an easy 1 mile per dollar on your first S$1,000 for all online and offline spending. Whether you are using for Tribecar or Getgo, it will work.
DBF6F
How to claim (tap to expand)
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
- Copy the referral code above and enter into the app when prompted
- Sign up with your details
Recommended Stack
If you mostly use Tribecar (MCC 4121)
- Use whatever card you’d use for taxi or grab rides.
- Citi Cashback for 8% if you can hit S$800 monthly spend.
If you mostly use GetGo,
- For miles: DBS Woman’s World Mastercard at 4 mpd online up to S$1,000/month. Apply for DBS Altitude first.
- For cashback (general use): HSBC Advance at 1.5% – 2.5%, no category caps to worry about.
- For cashback (small rental): UOB EVOL at 10% (S$300 cap)— only if your rental fits inside the small online cap.
- For miles without a credit card: Chocolate Visa Debit at 1 Max Mile per S$1.
For higher rewards (HeyMax voucher hack)
- Sign up for HeyMax with code 43774BFE for 200 Max Miles welcome bonus.
- Buy a S$30 GetGo voucher with HSBC Revolution, Citi Rewards, DBS WWMC, UOB Lady’s (Fashion), Maybank F&F, Citi SMRT, DBS Live Fresh, or OCBC FRANK.
- Stack 4 mpd / 8% cashback (via the card) + 3.7 Max Miles per S$1 (via HeyMax).
- Test with one S$30 voucher first to confirm GetGo’s acceptance and how many stack per trip.
Conclusion
Car rentals in Singapore are tricky to optimise — Tribecar codes as taxi (MCC 4121), GetGo as car rental (MCC 7512). So check the MCC before you apply for the card.
💳 Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it’s difficult to stay updated. That’s why I post daily updates on Telegram about cashback nerfs, miles updates, and new sign-up offers. Join my Telegram for daily updates.
