A few years ago, I applied for the American Express® Gold Card, which has since become one of my favorite rewards cards.
It offers a high earning rate on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, as well as statement credits that more than cover its annual fee.
Here are five things to do when you get your new card to make its $325 annual fee worth it (see rates and fees).
Activate your dining and Uber benefits
With the Amex Gold, you are eligible for up to $10 in monthly statement credits (up to $120 each calendar year) when you use your card at participating dining partners.
These partners include Buffalo Wild Wings, The Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys, Grubhub and Wonder.
You need to enroll your card for this perk on the Amex site or through the Amex mobile app under “Benefits,” so do that as soon as you get your new card.
The Amex Gold also offers up to $120 in annual Uber Cash each calendar year, distributed in up to $10 monthly increments. These credits can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S.
Unlike the monthly up-to-$10 dining credit, which operates as a statement credit when used, this credit deposits up to $10 into your Uber account each month. If you don’t use this Uber Cash by the end of the month, it will disappear.
For this magic to happen, you must set up your Amex Gold card in your Uber account in the payment section and then pay with any Amex card. Here’s a full guide walking you through how to set up and use your Amex Gold Uber credits; it’s really easy once you get the card linked to your Uber account.
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Finally, in celebration of the Amex Gold’s 60th anniversary, the card includes a one-time statement credit of up to $96 for an annual Uber One membership (enrollment required; enroll by Oct. 30).
Related: A complete guide to the Amex Gold dining credit
Maximize your Resy and Dunkin’ statement credits
Cardmembers can receive up to $100 in Resy credits per calendar year (split into two biannual statement credits of up to $50 each) to use at U.S. Resy restaurants.
The Resy credit is generally easy to use, especially if you live in or near a major U.S. city. You just need to pay your bill with your enrolled Amex Gold card at any Resy-enrolled restaurant. No reservation is required.
In addition to the Resy credit, cardmembers receive up to $84 in Dunkin’ credits each calendar year to use at U.S. Dunkin’ locations, issued in up to $7 monthly increments (enrollment required).
You must pay for your Dunkin’ order with your Amex Gold card to use this credit. As with the other benefits, you can’t roll over any unused portion.
If you don’t live near a Dunkin’ location, you can reload your Dunkin’ account with $7 each month to use this statement credit.
Related: Why Chase needs a competitor to the Amex Gold
Make the Amex Gold your default Grubhub payment method
If you use the food delivery service Grubhub, set your payment card as the Amex Gold to earn 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants on the app (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
This is an easy way to use the up to $10 monthly statement credit available to eligible dining partners (up to $120 each calendar year; enrollment required).
Since a standard Grubhub+ membership costs $9.99 each month, you can use your Amex Gold’s dining credit to pay for this charge.
If you use Grubhub frequently, enrolling in Grubhub+ and paying for the membership with this statement credit may be worthwhile. This is how TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak uses her monthly dining credit.
Related: A trick for using your $10 Amex dining credit
Learn the card’s bonus categories
The Amex Gold sits at the top of the pack for spending on dining at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
The card earns 4 valuable Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar thereafter).
Based on TPG’s August 2026 valuations, these 4 points per dollar equal an 8% return on spending.
This includes earning 4 bonus points for grocery delivery services like Instacart, in case you prefer to have your groceries delivered to your doorstep.
The Amex Gold is also a great card when you need to split a dining bill with friends, as you can swipe your card and earn 4 points per dollar on the whole bill. Then, you can use the Amex Send & Split feature (enrollment required) to get reimbursed by your friends without anyone paying Venmo or PayPal fees.
Related: 5 under-the-radar ways to maximize the Amex Gold’s dining credits
Claim your Hertz elite status
The Amex Gold provides complimentary Hertz Gold+ Five Star status to cardmembers who enroll in the benefit and register with the program.
Hertz Gold+ Five Star status includes:
- Elevated points earning in the Hertz program on each rental
- Eligibility for a one-class car upgrade (if the Hertz location you’re renting from has cars in stock)
- Access to a wider range of cars when renting from a Hertz location with an Ultimate Choice lot
Related: Hitting the road on your vacation? Everything you need to know about rental car elite status
Bottom line
There aren’t as many tasks to complete when you get your Amex Gold as when you get an American Express Platinum Card®.
However, there are still at least five things to do to reap the maximum rewards and perks from the powerful Amex Gold.
To learn more, check out our full review of the American Express Gold.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
To see the rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.