Wells Fargo Autograph Card: 5 Things To Know

If you’re looking for a rewards credit card that does a little bit of everything but doesn’t charge an annual fee, Wells Fargo may have a fit for you.

The Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card has something to offer to a wide variety of credit card consumers. It has bonus rewards for several popular spending categories, a healthy welcome bonus, an introductory APR period and more.

But is this card the right fit for your wallet?

In this review, I’ll examine the merits of this offering from Wells Fargo to help you decide if it’s a good choice for your financial life.

Table of Contents

• Card Overview
• 5 Things To Know
• Pros and Cons

Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card: Card Overview

Learn More → Annual Fee: $0.00 Card Issuer: Wells Fargo Card Processor: Visa Intro 0% APR Period on New Purchases: Variable APR: 18.74%-28.74% based on your creditworthiness. Bonus Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Auto Rental Insurance Coverage: Yes Cell Phone Coverage: Yes

Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card: 5 Things To Know

As you consider whether this card is right for you, here are five things I think are important for you to know.

1. 6 Big Spending Categories Get Bonus Rewards

Wells Fargo does a nice job of covering all the bases with its rewards multiplier for this card.

You’ll get unlimited 3x points on each dollar spent in the following six categories:

• Restaurants
• Travel
• Gas
• Transit
• Streaming services
• Phone plans

For many consumers, this checks some pretty prominent boxes for the biggest pieces of their monthly budgets. All other spending is rewarded at 1x point per dollar spent.

You can redeem these points for statement credits, travel and more. Read more about your options here.

2. This Card Might Be a Good One for Your Cell Phone

Count the Wells Fargo Autograph among the list of credit cards that offer cell phone protection.

This means you get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Autograph card. The benefit is subject to a $25 deductible.

Keep in mind that you also can get 3x rewards points if you pay for your phone plan with this card.

The combination of the two makes this card a particularly attractive option for paying your wireless bill each month.

3. The Welcome Bonus Opportunity Is Nice

For a limited time, you earn 30,000 bonus points if you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first three months of card membership. Wells Fargo markets that as a $300 cash redemption value.

Many rewards credit cards with no annual fee don’t even bother with a welcome bonus offer, so this is a really nice perk for this card.

4. You Can Enjoy an Introductory APR Period for New Purchases

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on new purchases. You’ll be subject to variable APR thereafter, ranging from 18.74% to 28.74% based on creditworthiness.

While it may not be one of the longest introductory APR periods on the market, it’s still worth considering if you’re eyeing this card for other reasons.

I do feel obliged to let you know that money expert Clark Howard generally advises against spending with a credit card based on an introductory APR promotion. The temporary freedom from interest payment responsibilities could lead some consumers to overspend and be left with an unwanted interest bill at the end of the promotional term.

5. Visa Signature Perks Also Include Auto Rental Coverage

This card carries the Visa Signature label and, as I mentioned earlier, carries the associated cell phone protection coverage.

But that’s not all. You’ll also get auto rental collision damage waiver coverage by paying for your rental with this credit card. Wells Fargo says this covers “theft, damage, valid loss-of-use charges imposed and substantiated by the rental company, administrative fees and reasonable and customary towing charges to the nearest qualified repair facility.”

Other Visa Signature perks include:

• Roadside dispatch
• Travel and emergency services
• Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement

Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card: Pros and Cons

Are you considering adding the Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card to your wallet? Let’s review some of the pros and cons of the card before you make your final decision:

Bottom Line: As far as rewards credit cards with no annual fee go, Wells Fargo makes an intriguing pitch with this card.

You get a 3x points multiplier in six key spending categories, a generous welcome bonus, an introductory APR period on new purchases and auto rental and cell phone protection programs.

Team Clark generally suggests that you start your rewards credit card journey with a cash back credit card that offers a set 2% back on all purchases to ensure that everything you buy gets a decent return.

But if you already have one of those in your wallet, this card could be a great “next step” in earning more than 2% in some key categories without saddling yourself with an annual fee.

Do you have the Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card? We’d love to hear about your experience in the Clark.com community.