Using UK Amex in the US: What you need to know

Planning a trip to the US from the UK? Whether you’re holidaying, working, studying or visiting family there, you’ll need to work out the best way to spend in US dollars during your trip.

If you have an American Express credit card, this could be a good option - especially as it’s a US-based company. But how do Amex cards issued in the UK work over in the States?

Find out everything you need to know about using a UK Amex in the US in our essential guide. Below, we’ll look at where Amex is accepted, fees and exchange rates, and some tips to help you get the most from your travel spending.

We’ll also show you a great alternative, the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account, which you can use for spending in the US and 150+ countries worldwide for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates.

Discover the Wise card

Table of contents

Can I use Amex in the US? Amex fees, exchange rates & currency conversion in the US Foreign transaction fees Exchange rates used by Amex Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) How to minimise fees Tips for using your Amex card in the US Travelling to the US? Pack the Wise card to use alongside Amex, for low-cost currency conversion and spending FAQs about using Amex in the US Why is Amex not accepted everywhere in the US? Do I need to let Amex know I’m travelling? Is it better to use cash or credit card in the US?

Can I use Amex in the US?

Yes, you can absolutely use your American Express card in the US. It’s widely accepted across the country, at the majority of places which accept credit cards.¹

This includes:¹

• Supermarkets and stores like Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
• Restaurant chains such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Starbucks
• Gas stations like Shell, Exxon, BP and Mobil.

You can also use Amex to pay for public transport in many cities, such as in New York City.

You might find though that smaller businesses don’t accept Amex, due to the higher payment processing costs compared to Visa and Mastercard. So you may need to have a backup card or some cash if shopping in small local stores.

Amex fees, exchange rates & currency conversion in the US

American Express may be a US brand, but there are still fees to pay to use a UK-issued Amex over in the United States.

This is because your credit card account is denominated in British pounds (GBP), whereas you’ll be spending in US dollars (USD).

Like with many other credit cards, Amex charges non-sterling transaction fees for spending in other currencies. It also has charges for overseas cash withdrawals.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll pay to use your Amex card in the US.

Foreign transaction fees

Amex charges the following to use its credit cards overseas:²

Transaction type	Amex fee
Foreign currency purchases	2.99% currency conversion fee
Overseas ATM withdrawals	3% or £3 (whichever is greater) + 2.99% conversion fee

It’s also worth bearing in mind that when you use a credit card to withdraw cash, interest may start accruing right away, regardless of any interest-free period you may have on purchases.

Exchange rates used by Amex

American Express uses its own exchange rate when converting currency between GBP and USD. It’s referred to as the American Express Exchange Rate.

You may be able to check this rate before making a purchase, by looking in the American Express app if you have it. You can also sign into your online account, and use the Foreign Transaction Calculator.

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)

When you use your Amex credit card at a store or ATM overseas, you may be asked whether you want the transaction carried out in your home currency (GBP) or the local currency (in this case, USD).

This service is known as dynamic currency conversion (DCC). It may seem convenient and helpful, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the foreign currency.

But what it actually does is give the vendor, payment processor or ATM permission to set their own exchange rate for the transaction. This is often marked up above the mid-market exchange rate, which essentially means you get charged a hidden fee for your withdrawal.

So the golden rule is - always choose to carry out transactions in the local currency. If you do this with Amex, its own exchange rate will be used. This is likely to be better than what you get with DCC.

How to minimise fees

No one wants to spend more than they need to when enjoying an overseas holiday.

To help you minimise fees and save money, follow these tips when using your Amex in the US:

• Avoid cash withdrawals with a credit card unless absolutely necessary. The fees with Amex are quite high for using overseas ATMs, and the interest is likely to start accruing right away.
• Use fee-free ATMs if you can - otherwise, you’ll find an ATM operator fee added on top of the American Express fees.
• Always pay in the local currency - this ensures you get a better exchange rate and avoid expensive hidden fees.

As Amex can be a little pricey for overseas spending and cash withdrawals, it could be sensible to look at alternative travel cards - even if just as a back-up.

The Wise card is tailor-made for overseas travel, letting you spend in 150+ countries for low fees* and at mid-market exchange rates. Even better, you can make 2 withdrawals of up to and including 200 GBP each month for free per account. After that, there is a charge of 0.5 GBP per withdrawal. There’s a 1.75% fee on any amount you withdraw above 200 GBP.

Tips for using your Amex card in the US

To get the most from your Amex credit card during your US trip, here are a few handy tips to bear in mind:

• Consider carrying an alternative card or some cash with you, for smaller businesses which don’t take Amex
• Download the Amex app before you travel, as it lets you freeze your card if you lose it or get help from customer services.
• Make sure you’ve updated your contact details with Amex before you travel - this allows the fraud prevention team to get in touch if they’re concerned about any transactions
• Always pay in the local currency to minimise fees.

💡 Read more: Using your Amex card abroad

Travelling to the US? Pack the Wise card to use alongside Amex, for low-cost currency conversion and spending

After reading this, you’ll have a better idea of where you can use your Amex card in the US and what fees you can expect to pay.

The good news is that Amex is far more widely accepted in the US than in many other countries. But there are still those foreign transaction fees to be aware of.

So before you travel, it could be worth checking out travel-friendly alternatives such as the Wise card.

This contactless international card lets you spend worldwide in 40+ currencies for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates. You can use it anywhere that Visa/Mastercard are accepted, including shops, restaurants, hotels and public transport.

You can also withdraw up to £200 a month from overseas ATMs fee-free (max. 2 withdrawals) - you’ll just need to watch out for ATM operator fees.

And for added security, why not create a Wise virtual card? It lives on your phone, has different details to your physical card and works seamlessly with mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

You can manage all your Wise cards on the go using the handy Wise app. Convert between currencies when you need to, tap to freeze your card if you lose it, and even send money to friends to cover your share of the bill.

Open a Wise account online and get your own Wise card for a one-time fee of just £7, with no monthly or subscription fees to worry about.

FAQs about using Amex in the US

Here are some commonly asked questions about using Amex in the US:

Why is Amex not accepted everywhere in the US?

American Express credit cards tend to have higher payment processing fees compared to Visa and Mastercard. This deters many smaller and independent businesses from accepting Amex cards.

Do I need to let Amex know I’m travelling?

No, you don’t need to tell Amex that you’ll be using your credit card abroad.²

However, it could be worth checking that they have the right contact details for you, just in case the security team needs to get in touch about suspicious-looking transactions. You should also download the Amex app so you can freeze your card if you lose it.

Is it better to use cash or credit card in the US?

Debit and credit cards are widely accepted across the US, especially in the bigger towns and cities.

But there are still some situations in which it could be useful to have some US dollars in cash on you. For example, if you’re shopping at markets, buying street food or tipping.

So, you might want to take a mix of cash and cards to the US.

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Sources used:

1. Lending Tree - Where is American Express Accepted?
2. American Express - How to use a Credit Card abroad

Sources last checked on date: 24-Feb-2025