Best Credit Cards That Provide Travel Insurance

Comparing the best credit cards with travel insurance

Wells Fargo Autograph Visa Card®

Travel insurance coverage:

• Roadside dispatch: The Wells Fargo Autograph card offers roadside dispatch services to help you in case you are stuck
• Travel accidents: Travel and emergency assistive services are available to Wells Fargo Autograph card holder
• Rental car insurance: Maximum coverage of $50,000 covered for a maximum of 15 consecutive days

Annual fee: $0 annual fee

Intro APR: 0% introductory rate for 12 months from the date of account opening

Regular APR: Either 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% based on credit worthiness

Signup bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points equivalent to $200 when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of opening the account

Our verdict: The Wells Fargo Autograph Visa Card® offers robust travel insurance coverage, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers among credit cards with travel protection. With comprehensive benefits such as trip cancellation, interruption, and rental car insurance, cardholders can travel with confidence. Additionally, the generous signup bonus and introductory APR offer further incentives for cardholders.

Pros:

• Comprehensive travel insurance coverage for various contingencies
• Collision Damage Waiver coverage for rental cars adds value for travelers
• Lucrative signup bonus and introductory APR offer

Cons:

• Some other cards may offer higher rewards rates for specific spending categories

Apply now: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Learn more: Wells Fargo Autograph Card Review

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Travel insurance coverage:

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.
• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.
• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays of more than six hours.
• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.
• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Travel accidents: Up to $1,000,000.
• Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.

Annual fee: $550

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 22.24%-29.24%

Signup bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Our verdict: The power of the Sapphire Reserve lies in its generous $300 annual travel credit that can be used liberally. Plus, with its expansive insurance coverage (including the rarely-seen primary rental car coverage) and generous bonus earning categories, it’s no secret why this is one of the most popular travel credit cards around.

Pros:

• $300 annual travel credit.
• 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
• Lyft Pink All Access complimentary membership for 2 years.

Cons:

• $550 annual fee.
• Requires excellent credit.
• Rewards portal can be limiting.

Apply now: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Travel insurance coverage:

• Lost luggage: Up to $2,000 for checked bag and up to $3,000 for checked and carry-on bag. New York state residents get $2,000 per bag, up to a maximum of $10,000 for all covered persons per trip.
• Travel accident insurance: Up to $500,000.
• Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.
• Trip delay insurance: Up to $500 per trip. Maximum benefit of $1,000 per 12-month period.
• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.
• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

Annual fee: $650

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 20.74%-29.74%

Signup bonus: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24. Offer ends 8/9/2023.

Our verdict: Marriott boasts one of the largest global collections of hotels out of most major brands, so they’re a good brand to get a card with if you’re someone who loves to explore new places. Plus, your automatic enrollment into their Platinum Elite status gets you upgraded rooms on the house.

Pros:

• Automatic Platinum Elite status.
• $300 annual Brilliant Dining Credit.
• Free night award annually.
• $100 Luxury Property credit annually.
• Cell phone loss/damage protection.

Cons:

• $650 annual fee.
• Only useful if you plan to stay at Marriott properties often.

Apply now: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Travel insurance coverage:

• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger. For New York state residents, coverage is limited to $2,000 per bag.
• Travel accident insurance: Up to $250,000.
• Rental car insurance: Covers damage or theft with restrictions. Eligible rental periods are limited to 15 consecutive days in the cardholders home country or 32 consecutive days outside it.

Annual fee: $95

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 20.74%-28.74%

Signup bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Our verdict: If you’re someone who isn’t ready to commit to a card with an expensive annual fee, the Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option. With flexible redemption categories and good travel insurance coverage, this card can become a favorite for your wallet quickly.

Pros:

• Excellent rewards earning rate.
• Flexible redemption options.
• Robust travel insurance coverage for luggage, accidents, and rental cars.
• Two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or over 100 Plaza Premium Lounges.

Cons:

• $95 annual fee.
• Few travel partners that work with Capital One miles.

Apply now: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Travel insurance coverage:

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.
• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.
• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Travel accident insurance. Up to $500,000.
• Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.

Annual fee: $695

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 20.99% to 28.99%

Signup bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Our verdict: “Go big or go home” should be the tagline of this premium card from American Express. While it comes with one of the highest annual fees around, its suite of powerful insurance coverage stacks nicely with its included membership perks like Delta lounge access, Global Assist Hotline, Concierge service, and more.

Pros:

• Large collection of travel partners.
• Delta SkyClub access.
• Priority Pass membership.
• Global Assist Hotline.
• Concierge service.
• Elite status upgrades at multiple hotel and rental car partners.

Cons:

• $695 annual fee.
• Requires excellent credit.
• Charge card that has complicated Pay Over Time APR.
• Complicated rewards/statement credit requirements.

Apply now: American Express Platinum Card

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Travel insurance coverage:

• Lost carry on luggage: Up to $1,250 per person for carry on baggage while in direct transit to or from a common carrier terminal, while traveling on a common carrier or while at a common carrier terminal.
• Lost checked luggage: Up to $500 per person while traveling on a common carrier.
• Rental car insurance: Up to $50,000.

Annual fee: $0 first year then $95

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 20.74%-29.74%

Signup bonus: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months.

Our verdict: If you’re someone who loves to fly Delta, this card is for you. Not only does it come with a generous luggage reimbursement, but the added perks of free checked bags and early boarding give you a little bit of luxury without the exorbitant annual fee other cards charge.

Pros:

• Free checked bags.
• Insurance for checked or carry-on luggage.
• Priority boarding.

Cons:

• Annual fee.
• Only good for those planning to use Delta often.

Apply now: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Summary of the credit cards for travel insurance

*Updated as of February 2024

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance isn’t one specific thing and will often vary based on your credit card. Generally speaking, these are a few things you can expect it to cover:

Lost/damaged/late luggage – If your bags go missing or are on another flight and won’t arrive until later, you could be reimbursed for whatever you spend to replace your missing items.

If your trip is affected by something outside your control – Delays, cancellations, and interruptions are all popular categories of travel insurance coverage. Depending on the situation, you could be reimbursed for any costs you have to pay out of pocket to cover a change in your trip.

Insurance coverage – Some cards will offer primary or secondary car insurance coverage for rental cars. Some premium-tiered cards will also offer reimbursement for medical expenses you face overseas, too.

How does travel insurance work on credit cards?

Seeking travel insurance through credit cards can be confusing at the surface. Travel insurance provided by credit cards benefits cardholders, offering coverage for various travel-related expenses and emergencies. When cardholders use their credit card to pay for eligible travel expenses like flights, hotels, or rental cars, they may automatically receive insurance coverage. Credit cards with trip insurance often include benefits such as trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical and dental coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, and travel accident insurance.

However, the specific details, limits, and eligibility criteria of this coverage vary depending on the credit card issuer and the type of card held by the cardholder. In some cases, cardholders may need to activate their coverage or fulfill certain requirements, such as paying for the entire trip with their credit card, to access insurance benefits. Should a covered incident occur during travel, cardholders would typically need to file a claim with either the credit card issuer or the insurance provider associated with the card, providing documentation to support their claim.

It’s crucial for cardholders to carefully review the terms and conditions of their credit cards’ travel insurance coverage to understand what is covered, what isn’t, and how to access benefits when needed.

Pros and cons of credit card travel insurance

Evaluating whether or not credit card travel insurance actually matters to you when considering different cards is important. Fortunately, there are notable advantages and disadvantages which can help you to figure this out:

How to pick a credit card for travel insurance

Deciding on the right credit card offering travel insurance as a benefit can be extremely difficult, but use the following tips to make the decision easier

1. Assess the types of travel insurance coverage offered, such as trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical, lost luggage reimbursement, and rental car insurance.
2. Consider the coverage limits and exclusions to ensure they meet your travel needs.
3. Compare the annual fees and any additional costs associated with the credit card.
4. Evaluate the card’s rewards program and other benefits in addition to travel insurance.
5. Review any activation requirements or conditions for maintaining coverage.
6. Check for any restrictions on travel destinations or lengths of trips covered by the insurance.
7. Read customer reviews and ratings to gauge the overall satisfaction with the card’s travel insurance benefits.
8. Consider the card issuer’s reputation for customer service and claims processing efficiency.

Is travel insurance worth it?

Travel insurance offers valuable protection against unexpected situations during trips, such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage. Whether it’s worth it depends on factors like the level of coverage, your travel plans, and existing insurance on any credit cards you may have which offer it.

For frequent travelers or those with significant trips, it can provide peace of mind and financial security. However, for shorter or less expensive trips, or those with comprehensive coverage elsewhere, the additional cost may not be justified. Assessing your specific needs and existing coverage can help you decide whether travel insurance via a credit card is worth it for you.

Methodology

The methodology used to calculate the best cards for fair credit relied on several factors, with the most prominent of those being:

• The required credit score to apply successfully for the card.
• The additional benefits offered by the card beyond rewards.
• The rewards rate of the card, if applicable.
• Overall difficulty in securing the credit card with fair credit.
• The history of the card issuer itself.
• Any potential costs associated with owning the credit card.

The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.

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