" class="img-responsive wp-image-731235 wp-post-image" alt="" />Updated March 3, 2020
The Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard is a strong no-fee credit card available to just about every Canadian, no matter their financial situation. With perks that include 4% cash back at Canadian Tire and other stores, plus 5¢ per liter savings on gas, this is a great card for anyone with a daily commute or regular shoppers at Canadian Tire.
However, the changes made to the American Express Cobalt Card on February 14, 2020 make it a much stronger card than the Triangle Mastercard. We recommend any Canadian looking for an exceptional low-fee card apply for the Cobalt Card before the current promotion of up to 30,000 points disappears.
Basic Features of The Triangle Mastercard
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Annual Interest Rate | 19.99 – 27.99% depending on your income level |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.5% |
| Cash Advance Fee | $4 charged when a transaction is posted to your account |
Yes – you read it right. The Triangle Mastercard has a $0 annual fee. However, there is a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, so you may want to leave this card at home if you’re traveling abroad to somewhere like Europe or Asia.
What Is Canadian Tire Money (CTM)?
Canadian Tire Money is the rewards currency for Canadian Tire. In the early days, CTM was made of physical paper notes, and was issued at a cashback rate of 0.4% of every purchase made at Canadian Tire stores. You could trade in the paper notes as cash for future purchases at Canadian Tire stores.
Today, CTM has gone paperless. It was first replaced with the Triangle Rewards Card, and is now known as electronic Canadian Tire Money (eCTM), but CTM and eCTM are exactly the same. Once you receive your Triangle Mastercard, your card gets linked with your CTM ‘e-money’ account so that you can accumulate points in both places.
If you don’t have a Triangle Rewards Card, not to worry – every Triangle Mastercard holder is automatically enrolled in the Triangle Rewards program so you can collect CTM. CTM never expires: it stays with you, even if you don’t use it, for as long as you like.
Your CTM can’t be transferred to other rewards programs, and it can only be redeemed at Canadian Tire stores. You can also donate your CTM to charities or community groups if you choose.
Triangle Mastercard Benefits
The biggest benefit of the Triangle Mastercard is the cashback you receive in the form of Canadian Tire Money (CTM).
| Benefit | Details |
| CTM Earn Rate on Purchases | • 4% at Canadian Tire & participating stores (see below) on the pre-tax purchase amount. • 0.8% on purchases everywhere else. |
| CTM Earn Rate on Gas | • 5¢ back per liter on all fuel types at Canadian Tire Gas+ and Husky locations. |
| Equal Payment Plan | • 12-month financing with 0% interest on purchases above $200 at participating stores (see below). • 24-month financing with 0% interest on purchases above $500 at participating stores (see below). |
| No Receipt Returns | Return products without a receipt with ease at participating stores (see below). |
| Other Benefits | • Weekly bonuses • Personalized offers • Access to members-only events |
The “participating stores” where you earn 4% CTM are:
- Sport Chek
- Atmosphere
- Mark’s Work Wearhouse
- Sports Experts
- Hockey Experts
- Sports Rousseau
- L’Entrepôt du Hockey
- L’Équipeur
- And obviously Canadian Tire!
With such a broad network of retailers where you earn CTM, the Triangle Mastercard’s rewards system is perfect for athletes and outdoors enthusiasts.
Triangle Mastercard Earn Rate #1: 4% CTM At Participating Stores
The 4% CTM earned with the Triangle Mastercard only applies to the pre-tax purchase amount, not the total amount, which means that the cash back you’ll receive will be less than 4%.
Here’s how the math works out:
| Purchase Amount | $100 |
| CTM Earned | $4 |
| Average Sales Tax in Canada | 13% |
| Total Cost Including Tax | $113 |
| Real % of CTM Earned | 3.53% |
If your purchase costs $100, you’ll earn $4 in CTM. And with an average sales tax of 13% in Canada, the total purchase comes to $113, which means the $4 in CTM you earn is 3.53% of the total purchase paid. Even though the real earn rate is 3.53%, not 4%, it’s still nearly a 10x step up from the 0.4% cashback Canadian Tire used to offer.
Triangle Mastercard Earn Rate #2: 5¢ Per Liter Savings On Gas
When you use your Triangle Mastercard at Canadian Tire Gas+ or Husky gas stations, you save an incredible 5¢ per liter on gas. As of late 2019, there are more than 300 Canadian Tire Gas+ and more than 500 Husky gas stations across Canada.
So with gas prices averaging around $1.22 for the second half of 2019, those 5¢ per liter savings are equivalent to another 4% savings on your spending.
Important Note: The Cobalt Card also offers 2x the points on gas purchases at all gas stations across Canada, which is a return of about 2-4% depending on how you use your points. So if you don’t have a Canadian Tire Gas+ or Husky location near your house, it’s just one more reason to opt for the Cobalt Card instead.
Triangle Mastercard Earn Rate #3: 0.8% CTM Everywhere Else
On top of earning 4% cash back on pre-tax purchases at Canadian Tire and participating stores AND 5¢ per liter savings on gas, you also earn 0.8% CTM on all other purchases on the Triangle Mastercard. This includes any travel purchases you make, bills you pay with your card, or anything else. There’s no limit to the amount of CTM you can earn.
Other Ways To Earn CTM
On top of these earning rates, Canadian Tire offers CTM bonuses as well. They send exclusive e-mail offers to members with special discounts, and also make offers available in the Canadian Tire app.
Canadian Tire also puts on Triangle Rewards Days, a multi-day event where bonuses range from 10x-50x the CTM on your purchases at Canadian Tire and participating stores in addition to what you already earn.
Additional Perks Of The Triangle Mastercard
Equal Payment Plan
The Equal Payment Plan allows you to pay for purchases over a much longer period than the traditional 30-day payment period on credit cards.
For purchases between $200-$499, you can pay across 12 monthly payments, and for purchases of $500 or more, you can pay across 24 monthly payments.
The Equal Payment Plan doesn’t charge any interest, so as long as you pay your monthly bill, you won’t pay a dime more than you would otherwise. The Equal Payment Plan can be used in-store or online.
No Receipt Refund
As long as you used your Triangle Mastercard to pay for the purchase, no receipt is required to return an item. This is an extremely convenient benefit for those of us who aren’t great at keeping track of all the paperwork in our lives. Of course, the CTM you earned on that purchase will automatically be deducted when you return the item.
Triangle Mastercard vs. American Express Cobalt
The Triangle Mastercard is a great free card, but if you’re willing to spend just $10/month, you can get a whole lot more with the American Express Cobalt Card. The Cobalt Card has a welcome bonus of up to 30,000 MR points, which you can redeem for rewards worth $600 or more.
Here are a few more features of the Cobalt Card:
- $100 USD annual hotel credit for spa, restaurants and other amenities at The Hotel Collection participating properties
- Complimentary room upgrades at The Hotel Collection participating properties
- 5X the points on eligible eats and drinks, including groceries and food delivery
- 2X the points on eligible travel & transit purchases, including gas
- An exceptional travel medical insurance plan
- Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan
- Purchase Protection Plan
- Up to 9 free additional cards
- And even more…
If you’re looking for a low-fee card that gives you way more than the Triangle Mastercard, the American Express Cobalt Card is the card for you.
How To Get A Triangle Mastercard
Getting a Triangle Mastercard is dead simple, since Canadian Tire does not have strict requirements for approving applicants. There’s no minimum annual income or minimum credit score to apply for the card, so if you want to save 5¢ per liter on gas and get all of the other benefits of the card, it could be a good card for you.
In Summary
The Triangle Mastercard is a valuable card to have in your wallet, especially since there are no annual fees or costs involved. And since your CTM never expires, you can accumulate it for years before splurging on that new snowblower, bicycle or thoughtful Christmas gift.
However, with the exceptional offer currently available on the American Express Cobalt Card, we highly recommend getting a Cobalt Card instead. It offers you far more bang for your buck than the Triangle MasterCard, and we’re certain you’ll be glad you applied.
How do I know if I have been approved
Hi Darren, you should receive an email from Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS) directly letting you know that you’ve been approved for the Triangle MasterCard.
How long does this usually take to find out if you are approved or not?
Generally it just a couple of days to be approved. When did you apply?
I purchased something 2 months ago and used a 12 equal monthly payment plan so my question is if I purchase something over $200 now can I get the 12 equal payment plan again?
Hi Hannah – yes, you’ll be able to use the 12-month payment plan again on your next purchase above $200. If you buy something above $500, you’ll be able to use the 24-month payment plan as well.
How much is fee that charge for cash advance transaction, let’s say transfer with Paypal.
Hi Sarah, the cash advance fee on the Triangle Mastercard is $4 per transaction.
I want to report a scam on my triangle m/c. Is there a number you can give me?
Hi Jeannine, I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve had a fraudulent charge on your Triangle Mastercard. I strongly suggest calling the number on the back of your card, or 1-800-459-6415, as soon as possible so they can freeze or cancel your card and prevent any further damage.
Does it have to be one item or can it be a bunch of things adding up to 200 before taxes in order to do a 12 month payment?
The total purchase size needs to be at least $200 for the 12-month payment plan. The easy way to think about this is that your receipt should show at least $200 before taxes. So the 12-month payment plan will become available if you buy something for $100 and something else for $150 from the same merchant at the same time, but not if you buy them across two different receipts (eg. one from one retailer and one from another). The same goes for the 24-month payment plan at the $500 level.
I applied for my triangle mastercard instore and was instantly approved. How long will it take before I receive my card in the mail?
Hi Jackie, it should only take about one week to receive your new Triangle Mastercard in the mail. Give us an update when it arrives!
I applied for the triangle MasterCard over 2 weeks ago,I never recurved a e-mail or anything in the mail yet, idk if I been approved or not, how long could it take? To hear of approval or not,
Hi Jack, normally you should hear from Canadian Tire within a couple of days. However, since Canada Post is severely backed up right now due to the Christmas rush, your response may be delayed. I’d wait until a few days after the holidays and if you don’t hear from them by then, give them a call or apply for the card again.
I applied online a week ago. I received an email last week but still no card.
Hi Kay, normally applicants hear from Canadian Tire within a couple of days, but since Canada Post is severely backed up right now due to the Christmas rush, your card may be delayed in getting to you. I’d wait until a few days after the holidays and if you don’t hear from them by then, give them a call or apply for the card again. Merry Christmas!
Hi I got approved about a month ago and sent my application form to get my card and it’s been about 4 weeks now and I still haven’t received it
Hi Hailey, that’s really odd. I suggest you give them a call at 1-800-459-6415 to ask about the whereabouts of your card, because it should’ve only taken about 1 week to arrive.
Is 12/24 months payment plan applicable even if you buy from non CT store?
Yes, the 12-month and 24-month payment plans work at all of these stores:
When using the equal monthly payment option does it use the full amount of credit available for the transaction size or just the monthly payment amount. Say your full amount was $650.00 but monthly payment is $27 ish dollars which will show up on your balance usage.
Hi William, only the monthly payment amount will show up on your balance (in this example, $27), so you can continue to use the rest of your credit for other purchases.
Do I need both a triangle points card and a Canadian Tire Mastercard. Just got the Mastercard can I toss the points card?
If you’ve always got your Mastercard with you, you won’t need the points card, since all of the points will automatically be applied to your account on every Mastercard purchase. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have both.
Normally my payments fall on the 27th of each month and are usually get paid on the 29th of each month. Is there such thing as a two day grace period Following the payment date.
Hi Paula, we don’t recommend paying your bill after the due date, because then you will incur interest charges on your overdue balance. Many credit card providers will offer a grace period of a couple of days the first time you miss your payment date, but if you do it consistently, they’ll start charging you.
Can the card be used at any businesses?
Hi Maureen – yes, the Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, both in Canada and around the world.
Hello,
Where can I use my Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard to make a cash advance? Thank you.
Hi Lou, you should be able to make a cash advance with your Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard at any ATM that accepts Mastercard. Give it a try and let us know how it goes.
What is the credit limit on a canadiantire triangle credit card
Hi Darwin, the credit limit on your Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard depends on your income, past credit history, and all of the other factors that impact your overall credit score. Everyone receives a different credit limit with their card.
Can I pay my Triangle balance in a CT store?
Hi Lorrie, no, you can’t pay off the balance on your Triangle Mastercard in a Canadian Tire store. You’ll need to pay it through a method like online banking instead.
I’m on my third card. The first one was cancelled because a merchant “swiped” the card. LOCKED!
Received a second card…”chip read fail” I DID NOT let merchants swipe it but frustration led to phone calls to CTB.
Low and behold, ANOTHER card was sent to me and I was told “Our cards do not support ‘old technology’ which is why the chip can’t be read on some machines. The ‘lock’ feature is a courtesy in the event your card was lost or stolen.”
My latest card…CHIP FAIL AT MY LOCAL CANADIAN TIRE STORE!
I’ve lost out on lots of Canadian Tire Money because the card doesn’t work everywhere.
I’m in East Vancouver BC
Getting rather fed up!
I’m just wondering if someone was able to have more than 1 triangle card in there name at the same time. Is there a limit? Thanks
Hi Tim, if you’re talking about having different Triangle cards, such as the Triangle Mastercard and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard, you can definitely do that. As for having multiple Triangle Mastercards in the same name, that’s not possible.
Good Day Yore Oyster, I applied for the TM on March 14th without any expectation of getting approved.. It came in the mail yesterday with an initial credit limit of $2500, I was in shock! Anyways, before I call CS, I thought I’d ask an expert like yourself.. What is the maximum cash advance limit for a $2500 credit limit? Your response would be gr8ly appreciated.. Have a gr8 day..😎
Hi Aslam, congrats on being approved for the Triangle Mastercard! You should be able to withdraw the entire $2,500 as a cash advance if you choose, though you’ll have to spread the withdrawals out over the course of several days.