What credit cards offer TSA PreCheck or Clear as a cardholder benefit
Several premium credit cards cover the cost of TSA PreCheck or Clear membership as part of their benefits package. TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years and lets you use expedited security lines at U.S. airports. Clear costs around $189 per year and uses biometric scanning to skip the security line entirely. Some cards cover one, some cover both, and some cover neither — the benefit varies by card issuer and card tier.
The cards that most commonly include these benefits are premium travel cards from major issuers like American Express, Chase, Visa, and Mastercard. These are typically cards with annual fees of $250 or higher, because the issuer builds the cost of the PreCheck or Clear benefit into the card's value proposition. A few mid-tier cards also offer the benefit, though less commonly.
Whether the benefit actually saves you money depends on how often you fly and whether you would pay for PreCheck or Clear on your own. If you fly domestically several times a year and would otherwise buy PreCheck, a card that covers it can offset part or all of its annual fee.
Key Takeaways
- Premium travel credit cards from American Express, Chase, and other major issuers typically include TSA PreCheck or Clear reimbursement as a standard cardholder benefit.
- TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years, while Clear costs around $189 per year, and some cards reimburse one, both, or neither.
- The benefit is most valuable if you fly domestically several times per year and would otherwise pay for PreCheck or Clear yourself.
- You usually need to pay for PreCheck or Clear first, then submit proof of purchase to the card issuer for reimbursement through a statement credit.
How the reimbursement process works
Most cards do not automatically pay the TSA PreCheck or Clear fee directly to the government or the Clear company. Instead, you pay for the membership yourself, and the card issuer reimburses you by crediting your account statement. This means you need to have the funds available upfront, then wait for the credit to post.
The reimbursement usually appears as a statement credit within 1 to 3 billing cycles after you submit proof of purchase. You will need to provide documentation — typically a receipt or confirmation email showing the charge and the amount paid. Some issuers let you upload this through their online portal or mobile app; others require you to mail it in or call customer service.
Check your card's benefits guide or call the issuer's customer service line before you buy PreCheck or Clear to confirm the exact reimbursement process. The timing and documentation requirements vary by card, and some cards have caps on how much they will reimburse or how often you can claim the benefit.
Cards that cover TSA PreCheck
The American Express Platinum Card includes a $189 annual credit toward TSA PreCheck, Clear, or Global Entry. Global Entry is a broader program that includes TSA PreCheck and costs $100 for five years, so the Amex credit covers the full cost. The Platinum Card has an annual fee of $695, so the PreCheck benefit alone does not offset the fee, but it is one of several travel benefits included.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes a $300 annual travel credit that can be used for TSA PreCheck, Clear, or other travel purchases. This is a more flexible benefit because the credit is not limited to PreCheck alone. The Sapphire Reserve has an annual fee of $550.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred, which has a $95 annual fee, does not include a TSA PreCheck or Clear benefit. However, it does earn bonus points on travel and dining, which some cardholders use to offset the cost of PreCheck through cash-back or point redemption on other cards.
Other cards that may include PreCheck or Clear benefits include the American Express Business Platinum, various Visa Infinite cards, and some airline-branded premium cards. The benefit structure changes periodically, so check the current benefits guide for any card you are considering.
Cards that cover Clear
The American Express Platinum Card is the most widely known card to include a Clear benefit. The $189 annual credit covers Clear's full annual membership cost. Because Clear is more expensive than TSA PreCheck and requires annual renewal, this benefit can represent meaningful savings for frequent flyers.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve also allows you to use its $300 annual travel credit toward Clear. Since Clear costs around $189 per year, the credit covers the full cost with room left over for other travel expenses.
Some premium airline cards, such as the United Club Infinite Card, include Clear benefits as part of their premium tier offerings. However, these benefits are often bundled with airline lounge access and other perks, so the Clear benefit alone may not justify the card's annual fee.
Comparing the cost of the card versus the benefit
A card's annual fee must be weighed against the value of the PreCheck or Clear benefit plus any other benefits you will actually use. If a card costs $695 per year and includes a $189 PreCheck credit, the net cost to you is $506 before you factor in any other benefits.
The American Express Platinum Card, for example, includes not only the PreCheck or Clear credit but also airline fee credits, hotel benefits, and other travel perks. If you use those additional benefits, the card may pay for itself. If you only care about PreCheck, the card is expensive for that single benefit alone.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve's $300 annual travel credit is broader and can be used for airfare, hotels, rental cars, or PreCheck and Clear. This flexibility makes it easier to use the full credit value. At $550 per year, the card is still a significant expense, but the travel credit and other benefits may offset it if you travel regularly.
Mid-tier cards with lower annual fees — typically $95 to $150 — rarely include PreCheck or Clear benefits. If PreCheck is your primary goal and you do not need other premium travel benefits, a mid-tier card may not be worth the cost, and paying for PreCheck directly may be cheaper.
Other ways to get TSA PreCheck or Clear without a credit card
You can purchase TSA PreCheck directly from the TSA's official website or through an approved enrollment center. The cost is $78 to $85 for five years, depending on the enrollment method. You will need to complete an process, provide identification, and attend an in-person appointment at an enrollment center to complete the process.
Clear can be purchased directly from Clear's website. The annual cost is around $189, though Clear occasionally runs promotional pricing. You can also purchase Clear through some airline websites or through third-party travel membership programs.
Some employers offer TSA PreCheck or Clear as an employee benefit, particularly for employees who travel frequently for work. If your employer covers it, you do not need a credit card benefit at all.
If you travel infrequently — once a year or less — paying for PreCheck or Clear out of pocket may be more cost-effective than getting a credit card with a high annual fee just for that benefit. Calculate whether the card's annual fee minus the PreCheck credit equals less than what you would spend on other travel expenses in a year.
What to check before explore for a card with this benefit
Read the card's benefits guide carefully to confirm that TSA PreCheck or Clear is included and to understand the reimbursement process. Some cards limit the benefit to one reimbursement per year, while others may reimburse every five years (matching PreCheck's renewal cycle). The guide will specify whether the benefit covers PreCheck, Clear, Global Entry, or some combination.
Confirm the reimbursement amount. Some cards reimburse the full cost of PreCheck or Clear, while others cap the reimbursement at a lower amount. For example, a card might reimburse up to $100 toward PreCheck but not cover the full cost if you choose a more expensive enrollment method.
Check whether the benefit is available in your country of residence or if it applies only to U.S. cardholders. Most of these benefits are U.S.-only, but the terms vary by issuer.
Ask the card issuer's customer service whether the benefit is currently active and whether there are any known delays in processing reimbursements. This is especially useful if you plan to explore for PreCheck or Clear soon after opening the card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the card to pay for TSA PreCheck or Clear to get the reimbursement?
Most cards do not require you to charge PreCheck or Clear to the card itself. You can pay with any method, then submit proof of purchase to the card issuer for reimbursement. However, check your specific card's terms, because a few issuers may require the charge to appear on the card's statement.
What happens if I do not use the PreCheck or Clear credit in a given year?
Most cards do not roll over unused credits to the next year. If you do not claim the benefit, you lose it. Some cards allow you to use the credit for related travel expenses like airport lounge access or airline fees, which gives you another way to use the benefit if you do not need PreCheck or Clear that year.
Can I get reimbursed for PreCheck or Clear if I already had it before opening the card?
No. The reimbursement typically applies only to new purchases or renewals made after you open the card. If you already have an active PreCheck membership, you cannot retroactively claim a reimbursement for the cost you already paid.
Is the PreCheck or Clear credit the same as a statement credit, or is it separate?
It is a statement credit, meaning it reduces your credit card balance. It is not a separate voucher or code. Once the issuer approves your reimbursement, the amount appears as a credit on your next billing statement.
What if the card issuer denies my reimbursement request?
Call the card issuer's customer service and ask why the claim was denied. Common reasons include missing or unclear documentation, submitting the claim after a important date, or the benefit not being active on your specific card. Ask what additional documentation you can provide to resubmit the claim.