Does CVS Do Cash Back? How Much? Answers for Each Payment Type

CVS Cash Back Policy

CVS allows customers to get cash back on any purchase with a debit card, customer service associates said. You cannot get cash back from debit or credit card purchases at CVS.^[1] One exception to this is the Discover Card, which allows customers to get cash back at the register with its “cash over” feature (as previously reported).

Be aware that CVS has a cash-back limit of just $35.^[1] If you need more than that, you’ll have to make another transaction or visit a different store.

While you may be able to get cash back in multiple transactions, remember that receiving cash back counts toward your debit card’s daily purchase limit, so be careful not to go over your limit to avoid incurring any bank fees. Be mindful of how much money you have available in your checking account — when you’re receiving cash back with your debit card, you can only take out what you have in your account.

Getting cash back at CVS using your debit card is a fairly straightforward process. If you’re only making a purchase for the purpose of receiving cash back, try to look for a low-cost item or something that you need to buy anyway. That way, you’re not wasting any money. Of course, if you’re already shopping for other things at CVS, you can save yourself some time by getting cash back and saving it for when you might need it. The process is as follows:

• When it’s time to pay for your purchase, the card reader will display the cash-back prompt or the cashier will ask you if you would like cash back.
• Answer “yes” and choose how much cash you would like to receive ($35 or less).
• The amount of cash back you want will be added to the total of your transaction, and you’ll be asked to confirm the total.
• After the transaction goes through, you’ll receive your item and the amount of cash that you requested. Be sure to let the cashier know if there are any specific denominations you would like. As long as the register has the requested denominations available, you should be able to get your cash back in whatever type of bills you prefer.
• Remember that you will be debited immediately for the full amount of the transaction.

If you need to take out more and don’t want to make separate transactions at CVS, you can check out our article with the list of stores that give the most cash back on debit card transactions.

Why Get Cash Back at CVS?

Withdrawing cash from an ATM within your bank’s network is either free or it comes with a small fee, but finding a conveniently located ATM can be difficult. It might seem convenient to withdraw money from a nearby out-of-network ATM, but the fees are higher and likely not worth the convenience. Average ATM fees are around $4.72 per transaction.^[2] Alternatively, there are no fees for getting cash back at a store like CVS.

While you still need to make a purchase to get cash back at CVS, if you make a small purchase — especially to buy something you need — it will still be cheaper than paying ATM fees.

Other Stores That Offer Cash Back

In addition to CVS, there are a number of other stores that offer cash back. Grocery stores, drugstores, superstores like Walmart, and even the U.S. Post Office are places that typically offer cash back. If the store does offer cash back on debit card or credit card transactions, then the method will be the same as CVS. If the store allows cash back with a check, you just need to add the desired amount of cash back to the amount of your purchase, then write your check for that amount.

For more cash-back options, see our article with the list of stores that offer cash back.