Guide to Credit Card Travel Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has some of the most extensive travel insurance coverage offered by a credit card, including:

• Auto rental collision damage coverage which provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad
• Roadside assistance up to $50 per incident up to four times a year
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses
• Trip delay reimbursement up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay
• Baggage delay insurance up to $100 a day for five days for baggage delays over six hours
• Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger
• Emergency medical and dental reimbursement up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or your immediate family member becomes sick or injured more than 100 miles from home
• Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage up to $100,000

This card does have a relatively steep annual fee of $550, but has features in addition to travel insurance which can help to offset that fee including a new card member bonus of 60,000 points (worth $900 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®) earned once spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening an account, a $300 annual travel credit, and ongoing rewards of three points for each dollar spent on travel (after earning your annual $300 travel reimbursement) and dining purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases. 

With a much more affordable $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card offers less extensive coverage than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but it's valuable coverage nonetheless.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card includes:

• Trip delay reimbursement up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than 12 hours or require an overnight stay
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses
• Baggage delay insurance up to $100 a day for five days for baggage delays over six hours
• Lost luggage reimbursement coverage up to $3,000 per covered passenger
• Travel accident insurance up to $500,000
• Auto rental collision damage coverage which provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S and abroad

This card is currently offering new members 80,000 bonus points (worth $1,000 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®) after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership as well as up to $50 in statement credit toward grocery store purchases. Ongoing rewards earning includes two Ultimate Rewards® points for each dollar spent on travel and dining purchases and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Amex Platinum Card®'s recent introduction of trip cancellation and trip delay insurance has made it a solid option for anyone looking for a card with included travel insurance. American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.

The Platinum Card® from American Express includes:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per card for prepaid, qualifying non-refundable travel expenses
• Lost luggage insurance with reimbursement up to $2,000 per covered person for checked luggage and up to $3,000 per person for carry-on luggage
• Secondary rental car coverage up to $75,000 per rental agreement for damage or theft
• Terms apply

This card's annual fee is also a bit steep, at $550, but it comes with a number of great travel benefits to help offset it such as up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓™ reimbursement; access to the Global Lounge Collection®, including Centurion Lounge® locations around the world; and up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying pre-selected airline.

Additionally, new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus Membership Rewards points once spending $5,000 with the card within the first six months of card membership, and on an ongoing basis, earn 5X Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express Travel portal (starting Jan. 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. All other purchases earn 1X point per dollar. Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new card at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first six months of card membership.

This card has a manageable $95 annual fee and is loaded with great travel benefits. In addition to 50,000 bonus points – a $500 value – for new cardholders who spend at least $3,000 within the first 90 days, unlimited two points for every dollar spent on travel and dining and unlimited 1.5 points on everything else, and up to $200 in combined airline incidental and airport expedited screening statement credits, this card offers a number of valuable travel insurance perks, including:

• Trip delay reimbursement up to $500 per ticket for you and your eligible family members for reasonable expenses if a covered trip is delayed for more than 12 hours
• Trip cancellation/interruption reimbursement up to $5,000 per person, per trip, for the unused prepaid non-refundable travel expenses if you have to cancel due to a covered reason
• Baggage delay insurance provides reimbursement of up to $100 per day (up to five days) if your bags are delayed or misdirected by a common carrier for more than six hours for essential items including clothing
• Lost luggage reimbursement provides you coverage for luggage and its contents if they are lost or stolen due to theft or misdirection by the common carrier
• If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation you can be covered for eligible medical services and transportation
• Auto rental collision damage waiver provides reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft – coverage is supplemental to and in excess of other insurance
• Roadside dispatch program provides a 24/7 on-demand referral dispatch network that provides emergency roadside assistance, towing, and locksmith services

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a very reasonable annual fee of only $95. Some of its travel protection perks include:

• Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 for lost or stolen luggage
• 24-hour travel and emergency assistance services
• Travel accident insurance which provides automatic insurance for a covered loss at no extra charge when you use your credit card to purchase your fare
• Auto rental collision damage waiver which offers insurance coverage for rentals, providing reimbursement for the actual cash value on damage due to collision or theft on most rental vehicles

The Venture card is currently offering new cardholders 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, or still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.