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Sonic Drive-In is classified under MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants). The best card for Sonic Drive-In purchases is the Ink Business Cash (no annual fee), earning 5x on fast food restaurants — an effective return of 10.25%.
Fast food chains like Sonic Drive-In are great for daily dining rewards, especially if you have a credit card that offers bonus points or cash back in this category.
Pro Tip
Take advantage of days when Sonic offers bonus deals or promotions and time your visits accordingly to maximize your rewards.
When you pay at Sonic Drive-In at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5814 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a fast food restaurants merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "fast food restaurants" purchases, Sonic Drive-In transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Sonic Drive-In specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Sonic Drive-In transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5814 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Merchant Category Code 5814 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Fast Food Restaurants industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5814, all qualifying card programs that include fast food restaurants as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Dining industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Spending $200/month at Sonic Drive-In with the Ink Business Cash (5x on fast food restaurants) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Custom Cash earns 5x at Sonic Drive-In merchants, earning $120/year with no annual fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCC code does Sonic Drive-In use?
Sonic Drive-In uses MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants). This code is assigned by card networks and determines which bonus reward categories apply when you pay at Sonic Drive-In.
Which credit card earns the most rewards at Sonic Drive-In?
The Ink Business Cash earns 5x on fast food restaurants purchases (MCC 5814), making it the highest-earning option at Sonic Drive-In among the cards we track.
Does my card earn bonus rewards at Sonic Drive-In?
It depends on your card's bonus categories. If your card earns bonus rewards on fast food restaurants purchases, Sonic Drive-In transactions (MCC 5814) will typically qualify. Check your card's terms or app, or call your issuer to confirm.
Is Sonic Drive-In classified as fast food restaurants for credit card purposes?
Yes. Sonic Drive-In is classified under MCC 5814, which falls in the Fast Food Restaurants category. This means cards with fast food restaurants bonus categories will apply the elevated earn rate at Sonic Drive-In.
What is MCC 5814 and what merchants use it?
MCC 5814 stands for Fast Food Restaurants. It is assigned to businesses that primarily operate in fast food and quick-service chains. Besides Sonic Drive-In, other merchants in the same MCC include similar businesses in the dining industry group.
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Full disclosure
MCC data based on card network classification standards.
Rankings verified monthly from official card issuer terms.
Last verified: March 16, 2026.
Full methodology: www.pointspick.com/methodology.
