It’s March 1st, and you know what that means: time for Discover to announce its second quarter bonus categories! Oh, that wasn’t what you were thinking? Well, then. Regardless, continuing a tradition they began last year (prior to that, they’d just announced the full quarterly calendar before the new year), Discover has given cardholders a one-month heads up on what they can expect in April through June 2024.
Beginning April 1st (and continuing through June 30th), Discover It customers will be able to earn up to 5% in what are technically four different categories: Gas Stations, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Home Improvement Stores, and Public Transit. Starting with gas stations, this obviously includes any merchants that sell gasoline (inside or at the pump) — although Discover does note that gas stations associated with grocery stores, wholesale clubs, or the like might not qualify. The EV Charging category is also pretty straightforward, but in this case, parking garages that happen to offer EV charging might not be eligible.
Sticking with the transportation them, Public Transit is included in next quarter’s pick. In this case, local commuter passenger bus, rail, and ferry services are all covered. However, long-range options such as passenger land, rail, and water transportation are not included. Taxis and rideshare services are also not part of this category since those aren’t public transit offerings.
Finally, we come to the category I’m personally most excited about: Home Improvement Stores. Ironically, this has been one of my least favorite bonus categories in the times that it’s popped up since I’ve been a Discover customer. But, having become a homeowner last year, I’m now looking forward to potentially earning 5% back on some upcoming purchases. On that note, while this category does include home improvement stores (both online and in-store), building supply stores, and lawn/nursery/garden supply stores, purchases made via a third party such as a contractor will not qualify. Also excluded are home improvement-adjacent retails, such as home furnishing and home appliance stores, floor covering stories, and more.
Now that you know what the categories are, let me remind you of the some of the rules. First, you’ll need to activate the Q2 bonus categories offer by visiting Discover.com or going into the app. Next, the 5% bonus is capped at a combined total of $1,500 per quarter. In other words, whether you reach this threshold by spending on gas, EV charging, public transportation, home improvement store purchases, or some combination of these categories, the maximum amount of cashback you’ll earn from this deal is $75 (all subsequent purchases in these categories will earn the regular 1%).
Overall, I think this is a pretty solid line-up from Discover. It also covers a lot of bases as it includes people driving gas-powered vehicles, EV drivers, and those who rely on public transit instead. Plus, the home improvement category is perfect for spring cleaning and spring projects. So, if you have a Discover It card, be sure to activate this offer and take advantage of this bonus starting next month.