ou may be surprised to learn how few credit cards provide comprehensive travel insurance. That’s why we have identified the best of the bunch and reviewed them below. You generally need a good to excellent credit score to obtain any of these cards.
And a critical reminder: The insurance details differ for each card, so please read the benefits statement to understand coverages and limitations.
Top Credit Cards With Travel Insurance Coverage
Issuers had travelers in mind when they designed these credit cards. All offer various travel-related benefits, including some form of insurance. Cards with higher annual fees typically provide more extensive insurance, but even some relatively inexpensive travel cards can offer valuable coverage.
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 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®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™; Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Chase Sapphire Reserve is our pick as the best credit card for travel insurance. True, it charges a hefty annual fee, but its welcome bonus, benefits, credits, and rewards repay you handsomely. You also receive a reimbursement for TSA Precheck and Global Entry fees.
- This card delivers the complete package of travel insurance coverage. By familiarizing yourself with each benefit, you can avoid wasting money on unnecessary policies. Add in the card’s other travel and non-travel benefits, and you’ve got the gold standard of credit card value. The card targets consumers with an excellent credit score.
- 2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
- The Chase Sapphire Preffered Card provides trip cancellation insurance that also covers interruptions and delays. Its reasonable annual fee includes a handsome welcome bonus and many other perks.
- If your trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather, or other covered situations, the card can reimburse you up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid nonrefundable travel expenses. Coverage includes passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
3. The Platinum Card
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
- $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $25 monthly Equinox credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
- Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities.
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
- Choose among three card designs
- The Platinum Card from American Express may be the best credit card for travelers who prefer no preset spending limits. It also provides many travel-related benefits, including car rental insurance and reimbursement of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fees.
- When you use the card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter, the card covers your rental vehicle for damage or theft. This insurance is secondary and does not include liability coverage. You may also unlock extra value when you book your trips through American Express Travel.
4. Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more – your points don’t expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card from Chase has the same moderate annual fee as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It provides business owners and their employees with many travel protections, including a rental car collision damage waiver, trip cancellation insurance, and roadside dispatch.
The card also offers purchase protection, cellphone insurance, and extended warranties. And business owners can get additional employee cards at no extra cost. The card rewards eligible purchases with rewards points worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel.
5. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the issue’s premier travel card. Its annual fee is in between those of the Sapphire siblings. The card delivers primary car rental loss and damage insurance, trip price drop protection, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay coverage.
If something goes wrong on your trip, including an accident, illness, or death that causes you to cancel or terminate it, you, your spouse, and dependent children are covered for up to $2,000 per person in expenses. Booking through Capital One Travel ensures you’ll get the issuer’s best prices on thousands of options.
6. U.S Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
- Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $750 on travel when you spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
- Earn 3X points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases and 3X points on eligible mobile wallet purchases
- Complimentary 12-month Priority Pass™ Select membership that gives access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide
- Get reimbursed up to $325 annual credits for eligible travel purchases and dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery purchases
- $400 Annual Fee
U.S Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card offers several types of travel coverage, including auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and travel accident insurance. This Visa Infinite card covers your transport to the nearest medical facility for treatment if you are sick or injured.
You also get luggage reimbursement for checked or carry-on luggage up to $3,000 if lost or stolen. Additionally, you can get help with medical, legal, and travel services while you’re away from home.
7. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card
- Earn 95,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
- With Status Boost®, get closer to Medallion® Status by earning 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2 times per year
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels
- Earn 1.5 Miles on single eligible purchases over $5,000, up to 50,000 additional miles per calendar year, and 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases
- You can check your first bag for free and save up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight, plus enjoy early boarding on Delta flights
- Enjoy early boarding on Delta flights as a benefit of card membership. You can board your flight when Main Cabin 1 priority boarding is called so you can find room for your carry-on bag and settle into your seat sooner.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card from American Express provides insurance covering trip delays, lost, stolen, or damaged baggage, and car rental loss and damage.
The card also offers several travel benefits, including priority boarding, free baggage check, 20% back on in-flight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees. When you renew your card each year, you receive a domestic, main cabin, round-trip companion certificate. You can book your trips through Delta or American Express Travel.
What Are the Different Types of Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is a broad term denoting any credit card coverage that reimburses you when something goes wrong on your trip. You must use the card to book and pay for the trip.
Here, we describe the primary forms of travel insurance available from the reviewed credit cards. Not all travel credit cards provide every type of insurance.
Travel Accident Insurance
Travel accident insurance covers you for up to a set limit in cases of accidental death or dismemberment. The insurance covers any public mode of transportation, including travel by air carrier, train, ferry, bus, courtesy ground transportation, and other conveyances.
Coverage for accidents involving courtesy ground transportation applies to and from an airport and between terminals. The coverage is active while you are at the airport immediately before departure or after arrival on any scheduled covered trip.
The policy typically covers you regardless of other coverage you may have.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
This benefit reimburses you and your family for the nonrefundable cost of your passenger fare. Coverage may apply to more than air travel — it also can cover other forms of eligible transportation, including a ferry, train, bus, or cruise ship.
A set maximum coverage per trip applies. Coverage usually excludes trips canceled as a result of a pre-existing condition, accidental injuries arising from participation in some sporting events, racing or speed contests, or uncertified scuba diving.
Additionally, the ill or injured person cannot have been under the influence of drugs (except those prescribed and used as directed by a physician) or alcohol.
Trip Delay Insurance
You can receive a cash reimbursement or statement credit of up to a maximum amount when a carrier delays your flight by more than a set number of hours or when you need to stay overnight. Trip delay insurance covers reasonable expenses that you would not have had to purchase if you had been on your flight, such as food, a hotel stay, or transportation to the hotel and back to the airport.