Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercards

The Canadian Tire Triangle World Elite Mastercard is one of the more unusual no annual fee credit cards available in Canada. On paper it promises attractive earn rates at Canadian Tire and partner stores, plus a handful of premium perks that are rare on no-fee cards. Underneath that surface, however, the card is highly niche, locked into a closed loop rewards currency, and gated behind a surprisingly high income requirement. This review breaks down how the card works, who benefits most, and the specific strengths and limitations to consider before applying.

Quick overview

• Annual fee: None
• Welcome bonus: None (no current signup bonus)
• Income requirement: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
• Rewards currency: Canadian Tire money, aka CT money (closed loop)
• Primary earn categories: Canadian Tire and partner stores, groceries, gas
• Notable perks: Full roadside assistance gold plan, car rental collision coverage, Dragon Pass membership, Boingo Wi-Fi, no-fee bill payments through Canadian Tire Financial Services, interest-free instalment plans for purchases $150+ at Canadian Tire and partners

How rewards and earn rates work

The Triangle World Elite Mastercard pays rewards in CT money. That means points are effectively store credit redeemable at Canadian Tire and participating partners such as Sport Chek, Atmosphere, Mark’s, and Sports Experts. The headline earn rates are:

• 4% CT money at Canadian Tire and partner stores
• 3% CT money on groceries, capped at the first $12,000 per year, then 1% thereafter
• Gas: 5 cents per litre back on regular fuel and 7 cents per litre on premium at Canadian Tire Gas Plus or Petro-Canada (translates to roughly 3% to 4% if gas is around $1.50 per litre)
• Base earn rate: 1% CT money on all other purchases

Those earn rates are attractive in specific categories, especially the 4% at Canadian Tire and 3% groceries for many cardholders. However, the 3% grocery rate excludes some big merchants like Costco and Walmart, which do not qualify as eligible grocery spend for this card.

Why earn rates can be misleading

All rewards are CT money, not flexible cashback or transferrable points. CT money cannot be redeemed for travel, statement credits, or converted into airline or hotel programs. For cardholders who do not regularly spend at Canadian Tire or its partners, the CT money can accumulate but remain of limited use. In other words, high earn rates only matter if they align with the cardholder’s existing spending habits within the Canadian Tire ecosystem.

The rewards are locked into Canadian Tire and its partner stores.

Who can qualify

Although the card has no annual fee, it is not widely available to everyone. Canadian Tire requires at least $80,000 in personal income or $150,000 in household income to qualify for the World Elite version. Approvals are known to be strict, even for applicants who meet the income thresholds. If the income requirement is a barrier, the regular Triangle Mastercard remains an option, but it offers lower earn rates and fewer perks.

Perks and benefits

The Triangle World Elite includes several benefits that set it apart from many other no-fee cards. Some are genuinely valuable, others are convenient but limited. Below are the most important perks to evaluate.

Top three valuable perks

• Roadside assistance gold plan: Included at no cost. Typically worth about $100 to $115 per year. Coverage includes towing up to 250 kilometres per call, battery boosts, flat tire changes, lockout service, fuel delivery, and winching. The plan can be used up to five times per year and can follow either the individual cardholder or a designated vehicle.
• No-fee bill payments: Through the Canadian Tire Financial Services portal, cardholders can pay utilities, property taxes, tuition, and other bills that normally do not accept credit cards. Canadian Tire processes the payment and posts it as a charge to the Triangle card, allowing the cardholder to earn 1% CT money with no additional fees. This is a rare, practical advantage for turning non-credit-card-friendly bills into rewardable spend.
• No interest, no fee financing: Purchases of $150 or more at Canadian Tire and partner stores can be split into equal monthly payments over 12 or 24 months with zero interest or fees. Monthly statement tracking is automatic. This built-in instalment option is useful for spreading the cost of appliances, seasonal gear, or large outdoor purchases without losing out to interest.

Travel-related perks

• Car rental collision/loss damage coverage: Secondary collision coverage when a cardholder pays for a rental with the Triangle World Elite. This allows declining the rental company insurance in many cases.
• Mastercard Travel Pass (Dragon Pass) membership: Included, typically a $99 value. This membership requires a pay-per-use fee to access lounges, commonly around $32 US per lounge visit. The membership alone is a modest benefit, but it does not equate to free lounge access.
• Boingo Wi-Fi: Unlimited access to Boingo hotspots worldwide for use in airports, hotels, and public spaces.

Notably absent are common comprehensive travel insurance protections. The card does not provide out-of-province hospital or emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, flight delay or baggage protection. For travel insurance needs, other premium cards remain superior.

Convenience perks

• Receipt-free returns: Purchases at Canadian Tire stores are tracked through the Triangle Rewards account, making in-store returns possible without a paper receipt.

Limitations and important exclusions

• Closed-loop rewards: CT money is redeemable only at Canadian Tire and partner retailers. It cannot be converted to cash, travel points, or statement credits.
• Grocery cap: 3% grocery earn rate applies only to the first $12,000 of grocery spend per year, then drops to 1%.
• Grocery exclusions: Major merchants such as Costco and Walmart are excluded from the grocery category.
• Gas rewards limited: The fuel cents-per-litre benefit applies only at Canadian Tire Gas Plus and Petro-Canada stations. Other stations revert to the base 1% earn rate.
• Strict approvals: High income requirement and tighter approval standards for this World Elite version.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No annual fee with premium-style perks
• 4% CT money at Canadian Tire and partner stores
• Free roadside assistance gold plan, potentially replacing paid plans like CAA
• No-fee bill payments through Canadian Tire Financial Services
• Interest-free instalment plans for purchases over $150
• Car rental collision coverage and Dragon Pass membership included

Cons

• All rewards are CT money, not flexible cashback or transferable points
• High income requirement for approval
• No welcome bonus
• Limited travel insurance coverage
• Lower base earn rate of 1% compared with some no-fee competitors
• Grocery cap and exclusions can limit value for some households

Final recommendation

The Canadian Tire Triangle World Elite Mastercard is not a one-size-fits-all everyday card. It is a niche no-fee card that trades broad flexibility for targeted, practical perks. The three headline benefits that justify consideration are the free roadside assistance gold plan, the ability to pay bills with no fees while earning CT money, and the interest-free instalment financing for larger in-store purchases. For cardholders who can fully use those perks and who already spend at Canadian Tire and partner stores, the card can deliver meaningful value even without an annual fee or a signup bonus.

For most people, however, the card falls short as a primary credit card. The closed-loop CT money, the absence of a welcome bonus, the modest 1% base earn rate on general spending, and the steep income requirement mean that more flexible and higher-value alternatives exist. Those looking for flexible travel rewards, transferable points, or strong flat-rate cash back on everyday purchases should consider other cards instead.