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Do you have a big purchase on the horizon — maybe a new TV, camera, or refrigerator? The credit card earning the most points or miles may not be the best card to swipe at the checkout. Although you might earn the most rewards with one of the best cards for everyday purchases, you should look into other benefits a card may provide when making an expensive purchase.
The majority of rewards cards offer non-travel benefits that can have a significant impact on which card you use for each purchase. Today, we’re shining a light on extended warranty policies offered by major credit providers and highlighting the best credit cards for adding an extended warranty to your next purchase.
Page Contents
Overview of the Best Credit Cards for Extended Warranty Coverage
The following credit cards have extended warranty coverage, though exact policies vary (discussed below):
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Green Card
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Prime Visa (Rates & Fees)
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees)
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
You'll also find extended warranty coverage on some cards for small business owners, such as the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business and the Chase Ink family of cards.
How Do Extended Warranty Policies Work?
You may be familiar with extended warranties offered by a cashier or salesperson. An extended warranty typically adds between 12 and 24 months to the manufacturer's warranty.
For example, you purchase a new iPhone with Apple's Limited Warranty of just 12 months, and the salesperson asks if you want to purchase AppleCare+, Apple's extended warranty plan which costs over $200 for a two-year plan on most new phones. However, if you swipe the right credit card when buying your iPhone, you can receive similar extended warranty coverage to Apple’s pricey AppleCare+ without the extra expense.
The extended warranty coverage offered by your credit card mirrors the manufacturer’s warranty and will only cover you for the same defects and faults listed in the product’s original warranty documentation.
So what's the process?
Just charge the full purchase price of the item to your credit card, and retain copies of the manufacturer’s warranty and merchant/credit card receipts. If there is a covered fault after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, your credit provider could pick up the bill for the item's repair, replacement, or reimbursement of the purchase price.
Policies differ widely between credit card providers and even between different versions of the same credit card (i.e., Visa Platinum versus. Visa Infinite), so read the terms and conditions specific to your credit card is crucial for determining your level of coverage.
Credit Card Providers Offering Extended Warranty Protection
Different from purchase protection policies, which apply to items you just purchased, extended warranty benefits tend to be most useful several years after you make a purchase.
Citi claims the top spot, but not without some competition from Amex (only cards that feature an annual fee). Citi’s extended warranty policy provides 24 months on top of the manufacturer's warranty and will even extend past a customer-purchased warranty by a further 24 months — up to a total 84 months (7 years!) from the date of purchase.
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card policy also allows for a long initial warranty duration, providing extra warranty on items with a manufacturer's warranty of up to five years. The example we’ve presented in the table is in the Citi Strata Premier guide to benefits, but the same policy applies across most Citi cards, including the Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants). However, Citi cut benefits on many of its cards in 2019, and this perk isn't found across all cards.
Comparing credit card extended warranty coverage
| Credit Provider | Card Specific or Universal Extended Warranty Cover | Max Claim Value | Duration of Original Warranty | Extra Time Warranty is Extended | Example of Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi | 24 months extended warranty protection | $10,000 per item, no annual cap | 5 years or less | 24 months, extending warranty to a maximum 84 months from date of purchase (7 years) | Guide to Benefits |
| American Express | Up to 12 months extended warranty protection - Applies only to Amex cards charging an annual fee. | $10,000 per item, $50,000 per calendar year | 5 years or less | Match the length of a manufacturer’s warranty of fewer than 1 year. For a warranty of 1-5 years warranty is extended 1 year. | American Express Extended Warranty Benefits |
| Capital One | 12 month extended warranty protection | $10,000 per item, $50,000 per cardholder | Between 1 and 3 years depending on the card you hold; check your guide to benefits for details | 12 months | Capital One Visa and Mastercard Benefits |
| Chase | 12 month extended warranty protection | $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account | 3 years or less | 12 months | Sapphire Reserve Guide to Benefits |
| U.S. Bank | 12 month extended warranty protection | $10,000 per item, $50,000 per cardholder | 3 years or less | 12 months | U.S. Bank Extended Warranty Policy |
The coverage from American Express is another great option if you don’t carry a Citi card in your wallet. Purchasing items on cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card allow for the same five-year initial warranty duration. Amex also enables you to purchase extended warranty packages from the manufacturer or retailer and will still add the additional 12 months' coverage, provided the manufacturer's warranty and the purchased warranty combined do not exceed five years.
Scanning the Amex policies, they do not explicitly exclude general wear and tear, which should be covered if you purchase with your Amex card (Citi excludes explicitly wear and tear). The policy matched up across every Amex card we researched, but check your card's terms before purchasing to ensure your card offers the same protection.
If you hold a Visa from Chase or U.S. Bank, the extended warranty covers items with a manufacturer's warranty of three years or less and extends coverage by up to 12 months.
Discover removed extended warranty coverage in 2018, along with other ancillary benefits, which is why this issuer hasn't madethe list.
What Purchases Are Excluded From Extended Warranty Coverage?
The list of exclusions differs for each provider, but common exclusions include:
- Animals, plants, perishables, and consumables
- Used, antique, collectible, or pre-owned items
- Boats, cars, aircraft, or any other motorized vehicles (motorbike, truck, tractor, etc.)
- Computer software
- Medical equipment
- Land, buildings, or housing
- Items purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use
- Exclusions listed in the original manufacturer warranty
- Items without a manufacturer’s warranty
While coverage is similar between providers, each publishes a list of exclusions you should consult before making a purchase. It’s essential to read the guide to benefits for your specific credit card to confirm whether it offers extended warranty coverage and what items it covers. If you’re unfamiliar with your card benefits, we’ve compiled a handy list of guides to benefits from major credit providers.
How To File a Claim
To make an extended warranty claim, you need to keep the credit card receipt, shop receipt, original manufacturer warranty, and the details of any customer purchased extended warranty policy, plus you’ll be asked to provide the original credit card statement recording the purchase. To initiate a claim, contact the relevant phone number below, or visit the listed website for your provider.
- Citi: Go to cardbenefits.citi.com or call 1-866-918-4670 for instructions on how to submit a Citi Purchase Protection claim.
- American Express: Go to www295.americanexpress.com/onlineclaim/, call 1-800-225-3750, or mail claim details to Extended Warranty, PO Box 981553, El Paso TX 79998-9920.
- Barclays: Visit MyCardBenefits.com or call 1-800-Mastercard to open a
claim. - Chase: Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-888-675-1461 for information or to file a claim.
- U.S. Bank: Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-551-8472 for information or to file a claim.
- Capital One: Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-397-9010 for information or to file a claim.
Final Thoughts
With extended warranty policies covering up to $10,000 per claim, the value derived from this benefit could comfortably eclipse the value of rewards earned over the time you hold the card, something to factor in before making a purchase. Citi again provides the standout policy for extended warranty coverage, offering 24 months extra protection on top of the combined manufacturer and purchased warranties of five years or less, and no cap on annual claims. Delivering up to 7 years warranty in total for items purchased with your Citi card. Amex also offers a top policy, which covers wear and tear in addition to the typical cover associated with rewards cards.
In thinking about how to maximize a policy, you could, in theory, purchase a short extended warranty and then piggyback the additional warranty on a credit card. Adding a year or two of warranty direct from a retailer could be relatively inexpensive, and when those more expensive 3 or 4-year policies would be desired, you could skip them and leverage the coverage on your credit card.
If you’ve used the extended warranty protection on your credit card, we’d love to hear from you. Share your experience below in the comments.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Prime Visa (Rates & Fees), The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), and The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
