[wpcode id=\"6346\"]
{{card.name}} Review
![\"\"](\"https://www.dollarwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/RBC-Visa-Classic-Low-Rate-Option.png\")
{{card.annualFee}}
Annual Fee
{{card.rewards}}
Annual Rewards
{{card.introOffer}}
Intro Offer
{{card.annualFee}}
Annual fee
{{card.rewards}}
Annual rewards
{{card.introOffer}}
Intro offer
Pros
{{Pros}}
Cons
{{Cons}}
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Performance test results
At DollarWise, for each credit card we test 7 different factors including the rewards, value for money, perks, insurance, strengths and weaknesses of the card.
You can see our full testing methodology here to learn why we're the most trusted source for credit card reviews.
The {{card.name}} has earned a {{ranking}} DollarWise Rating out of 5. This score is based on a weighted average of the two highest scoring factors (excluding acceptance and approval).
{{factor_score_rewards}}
Rewards
{{factor_score_fee}}
Fees
{{factor_score_perks}}
Perks
{{factor_score_interest}}
Interest rates
{{factor_score_insurance}}
Insurance
{{factor_score_acceptance}}
Acceptance
{{factor_score_approval}}
Approval
The highest scoring categories for the {{card.name}} are {{score_1}} and {{score_2}}.
These factors are weighted 70% to the highest scoring factor and 30% to the second highest score to get an overall review score.
This weighting allows us to judge cards on their merits and the customers they are designed for.
For the {{card.name}} the most important factors for scoring this card are its {{score_1}} and {{score_2}}.
Rewards
With the {{card.name}}, here's the rates at which you earn rewards for different spending categories per dollar you spend:
| Bills | {{reward_bills}} |
| Pharmacy | {{reward_drug}} |
| Gas | {{reward_gas}} |
| Groceries | {{reward_grocery}} |
| Restaurants | {{reward_restaurant}} |
| Specific Stores | {{reward_store}} |
| Travel | {{reward_travel}} |
| All Other Spend | {{reward_other}} |
Calculating your annual rewards
We estimate that spending {{monthlyspend}} per month with the {{card.name}} would earn {{card.rewards}} in rewards over the year.
Our performance testing research uses an accurate estimation of the average Canadian households spending patterns to predict the rewards a card will earn.
We found that you'd earn this per category:
| Bills | {{bills_dollarrewards}} |
| Pharmacy | {{drug_dollarrewards}} |
| Gas | {{gas_dollarrewards}} |
| Groceries | {{grocery_dollarrewards}} |
| Restaurants | {{restaurant_dollarrewards}} |
| Specific Stores | {{store_dollarrewards}} |
| Travel | {{travel_dollarrewards}} |
| All Other Spend | {{other_dollarrewards}} |
Our study investigating the value found that each dollar spent on the {{card.name}} is worth up to {{card.max_reward}}, depending on how you redeem.
This {{card.rewards}} in rewards value puts the {{card.name}} in the {{decile.annual_rewards}} of credit cards in Canada based on rewards earned.
The average credit card in our database earns {{averages.mean_annual_rewards}} in rewards for the same spend that the {{card.name}} earns {{card.rewards}} in rewards value.
![\"\"](\"http://www.dollarwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RBC-Visa-Classic-Low-Rate-Option_rewards_comparison.svg\")
We can compare this card to other options by looking at the earn rate by category.
This earn rate is the percentage return that you would get when you spend on this card, assuming you redeem at the predicted maximum value.
For example, if a card earned 5 points per dollar on gas and each point is worth up to $0.02, then the earn rate is 5 points multiplied by $0.02 each, divided by the dollar you spent.
In this example, that's a 10% earn rate on gas.
| Spend | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | {{bills_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_bills_earnrate}} |
| Pharmacy | {{drug_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_drug_earnrate}} |
| Gas | {{gas_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_gas_earnrate}} |
| Groceries | {{grocery_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_grocery_earnrate}} |
| Restaurant | {{restaurant_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_restaurant_earnrate}} |
| Store | {{store_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_store_earnrate}} |
| Travel | {{travel_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_travel_earnrate}} |
| Other | {{other_earnrate}} | {{averages.mean_other_earnrate}} |
| Redemption method | Annual rewards |
|---|---|
| Transfer to partner airlines | {{transfer_airlines}} |
| Fixed points travel | {{fixed_points_travel}} |
| Transfer to partner hotels | {{transfer_hotel}} |
| Redeem for travel | {{redeem_travel}} |
| Apply to statement credit | {{statement_credit}} |
| Ticketmaster | {{ticketmaster}} |
| Charity | {{charity}} |
| Gift cards | {{gift_cards}} |
| Amazon.ca | {{amazon}} |
| Merchandise | {{merchandise}} |
| Make investments | {{investments}} |
| Enjoy experiences | {{experiences}} |
| Car rentals | {{car_rental}} |
| Vacations | {{vacation}} |
| Attractions | {{attractions}} |
| Cash rewards | {{cash_rewards}} |
| Grocery rewards | {{grocery_rewards}} |
| Restaurant rewards | {{restaurant_rewards}} |
| Movie rewards | {{movie_rewards}} |
| Apple / BestBuy | {{apple_bestbuy}} |
| Flight rewards | {{flight_rewards}} |
| Airlines Rewards (Charts) | {{airlines_rewards_chart}} |
| CIBC financial products | {{cibc_financial_products}} |
| Air travel - redemptions (scheduled) | {{air_travel_redemptions_schedule}} |
| RBC travel | {{rbc_travel}} |
| Transfer to WestJet | {{transfer_westjet}} |
| Transfer to Hudson Bay | {{transfer_bay}} |
| RBC financial products | {{rbc_financial_products_rewards}} |
| Air Canada gift cards | {{aircanada_gift_card}} |
| Air Canada vactions | {{air_canada_vacations}} |
| Electronics gift cards | {{electronics_gift_cards}} |
| Cash - World Elite | {{cash_worldelite}} |
| Cash - Platinum Plus | {{cash_platinumplus}} |
| Banking plans | {{banking_plans}} |
| Desjardins financial products | {{desjardins_financial_products}} |
| Expedia travel | {{expedia_td}} |
| Educational rewards | {{education_rewards}} |
| HSBC financial products | {{hsbc_financial_products}} |
| Walmart | {{walmart_rewards}} |
| Triangle (Canadian Tire) | {{triangle_rewards}} |
| Meridian travel | {{meridian_travel}} |
| Direct deposit | {{direct_deposit_rewards}} |
| Costco gift cards | {{costco_gift_cards}} |
| Wireless Rogers rewards | {{wireless_rogers_rewards}} |
| 1 Rogers rewards | {{1_roger_rewards}} |
| Other Rogers rewards | {{other_roger_rewards}} |
| Other 1 Rogers rewards | {{other_1_roger_rewards}} |
For an annual spend of {{annualspend}}, we estimated annual rewards value at up to {{total_net_rewards}}.
That's equivalent to a {{total_earn_rate}} return on spending.
The {{card.name}} has an annual fee of {{card.annualFee}}. After deducting this, we predicted net annual rewards of {{net_after_fee}}.
This puts it in the {{decile.net_annual_rewards}} of credit cards for net rewards after fees.
In comparison, the average card earns net annual rewards of {{averages.mean_net_annual_rewards}}.
Fees
The {{card.name}} has a {{card.annualFee}} annual fee.
The average card charges {{averages.mean_annual_fee}}. So, the {{card.name}} is in the {{decile.annual_fee}} of cards based on the cost of the annual fee.
Perks
![\"\"](\"http://www.dollarwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RBC-Visa-Classic-Low-Rate-Option_perk_score.png\")
We manually review the perks of each credit card to determine how they compare to other cards.
The {{card.name}} scored a {{factor_score_perks}} out of 5 for perks, putting it in the {{decile.factor_score_perks}} of cards.
The average card scores {{averages.mean_factor_score_perks}} out of 5 for perks.
Interest Rates
| Purchase | {{purchase_interest_rate}}% |
| Cash Advance | {{cash_advance_interest_rate}}% |
| Balance Transfer | {{balance_transfer_interest_rate}}% |
The average (median) credit card has a purchase interest rate of {{averages.median_purchase_interest_rate}} and so the {{card.name}} charges {{purchase_interest_diff}} than the average.
For cash advances it costs {{cash_advance_interest_rate}}% compared to the average of {{averages.mean_cash_advance_interest_rate}}.
![\"\"](\"http://www.dollarwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RBC-Visa-Classic-Low-Rate-Option_interest_accumulated_difference.jpg\")
Testing the {{card.name}} with a $2,000 starting balance, you can see in the graph how the {{purchase_interest_diff}} in interest rates impacts the interest over a year, compared to the average card.
Insurance coverage
| Insurance | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Warranty | {{warranty}} | {{averages.median_warranty}} |
| Purchase Protection | {{purchase_protection}} | {{averages.median_purchase_protection}} |
| Travel Accident | {{travel_accident}} | {{averages.median_travel_accident}} |
| Emergency Medical Term | {{emergency_medical_term}} | {{averages.median_emergency_medical_term}} |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | {{emergency_medical_65}} | {{averages.median_emergency_medical_65}} |
| Trip Cancellation | {{trip_cancellation}} | {{averages.median_trip_cancellation}} |
| Trip Interruption | {{trip_interruption}} | {{averages.median_trip_interruption}} |
| Flight Delay | {{flight_delay}} | {{averages.median_flight_delay}} |
| Baggage Delay | {{baggage_delay_insurance}} | {{averages.median_baggage_delay_insurance}} |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | {{stolen_baggage}} | {{averages.median_stolen_baggage}} |
| Event Cancellation | {{event_cancel}} | {{averages.median_event_cancel}} |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | {{rental_theft_damage}} | No |
| Rental Car Personal Effects | {{rental_personal}} | {{averages.median_rental_personal}} |
| Rental Car Accident | {{rental_accident}} | {{averages.median_rental_accident}} |
| Hotel Burglary | {{hotel_burglary}} | {{averages.median_hotel_burglary}} |
| Mobile Phone Insurance | {{mobile_insurance}} | {{averages.median_mobile_insurance}} |
| Personal Effects Insurance | {{personal_effects}} | {{averages.median_personal_effects}} |
| Price Protection Insurance | {{price_protection}} | {{averages.median_price_protection}} |
We scored it {{factor_score_insurance}} out of 5 for insurance.
It offers {{insurance_count}} types of insurance, whereas the average card has {{averages.insurance_count}} types of coverage.
Approval and qualifying
| Do I qualify? | |
|---|---|
| Estimated Credit Score | {{credit_score_low}} - {{credit_score_high}} |
| Personal Income | {{personal_income}} |
| Household Income | {{household_income}} |
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | {{card.annualFee}} |
| Extra Card Fee | $0 |
| Card type | {{card_type}} |
We scored it {{factor_score_approval}} out of 5 for approval.
We predict that you will require a credit score of at least {{credit_score_low}} to qualify for the {{card.name}}, while the average card requires {{averages.mean_credit_score_low}} to qualify.
This puts it in the top {{decile.credit_score_low}} of cards by approval difficulty.
The personal income requirements are {{personal_income}}, while the average card requires {{averages.mean_personal_income}}.
This puts it in the {{decile.personal_income}} of cards by the income required to qualify.
The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card is designed for those who prioritize a low interest rate. In this review, we will discuss the earning potential, benefits, drawbacks, and other relevant information about this card.
Earning potential
It’s important to note that the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card is not focused on earning points or cash back. This card is primarily meant for users who want to maintain a low interest rate on their credit card to save on interest costs in case they carry a balance from month to month.
Benefits
- Low Interest Rate: The primary advantage of the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card is its low interest rate. With an annual rate of just 11.99% on purchases, it’s significantly lower than many other credit cards on the market. Thus, helping you save on interest charges if you carry a balance.
- Optional Rewards Program: Cardholders can choose to enroll in the RBC Rewards program for an extra annual fee of $35. By opting in, users can earn rewards points for their purchases and redeem them for flights, merchandise, or gift cards.
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty: When cardholders use their RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card to make purchases, they automatically receive purchase security and an extended warranty. This means that eligible items are covered against theft, damage, or loss, and their manufacturer’s warranty is doubled up to an additional one year.
- Additional Cards: Users can get additional cards for family members at no extra cost. This way, the whole family can enjoy the low interest rates offered by the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option, and optionally, secure rewards if they choose to join the RBC Rewards Program.
Drawbacks
- No Pre-Defined Rewards: As mentioned earlier, the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card does not focus on rewards (points or cash back) by default. Users looking for that would need to opt-in for the RBC Rewards program at an additional cost.
- Annual Fee: While it offers a low interest rate on purchases, the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card comes with an annual fee of $20. There are other low-interest credit cards in the Canadian market that offer no annual fees which may make this card less appealing for some users.
Additional information
This card is best suited for those who find themselves occasionally carrying a balance and want to save on interest costs. The low interest rate is the main selling point of the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card.
However, users seeking rewards might prefer other cards directed towards specific spending categories like dining, travel, and groceries.
Interested in other credit cards? Canadians that like the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card also like the RBC Visa Platinum Avion. If you’re looking for other options you should consider the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite MasterCard, and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite.
FAQ
The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card is focused on providing cardholders with a low interest rate, rather than accumulating rewards points. As a result, there isn’t a rewards program associated with this credit card, meaning you cannot redeem points for any rewards or benefits.
If you’re seeking a credit card that offers points or rewards, consider exploring other RBC credit card options that cater to rewards programs and travel, cash back, or merchandise redemptions.
The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% on all transactions processed outside of Canada, which includes online purchases made in a foreign currency. This fee is added on top of the converted Canadian dollar amount for each foreign currency transaction.
The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option credit card does not have a minimum income requirement, making it accessible to applicants with varying income levels.
Key benefits
- $20 annual fee
- 12.99% standard interest rate on purchases
- 21-day interest-free grace period
- Access to RBC Rewards points
- Embedded microchip security
- Worldwide card acceptance at millions of locations
- Fraud detection and prevention measures
- Optional secondary card with an additional $0 annual fee
- Additional cardholders earn RBC Rewards at the same rate
- Global reach with VISA resources and services