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If something goes wrong on a trip, American Express travel insurance could protect you financially. Most American Express cards come with complimentary travel protections. The exact protections depend on the card, but they can include coverage for trip cancellations, lost luggage, and rental car loss or damage.
This guide will go over each travel insurance benefit you can get with your Amex card. You'll learn how these protections work, what they do and don't cover, and the types of coverage provided by all the American Express consumer cards.
Baggage insurance plan
American Express offers a baggage insurance plan on many of its cards. Coverage is comparable to what the best credit cards offer. You can make a claim if anything happens to your checked or carry-on luggage*.
What is covered
American Express baggage insurance covers luggage that is lost, stolen, or damaged while traveling on a common carrier. According to American Express, a common carrier is an air, land, or water vehicle licensed to carry passengers for hire and available to the public. It doesn't include personal or rental vehicles.
For the baggage insurance plan to apply, you must pay the full fare with your American Express card or American Express rewards points. It covers the cardmember, their spouse/domestic partner, and dependent children under 23 years of age.
What's not covered
Several items are excluded. These include cash, travel documents, living plants, perishable items, eyeglasses, and property shipped as freight. There are also certain circumstances that aren't included in baggage insurance. For example, normal wear and tear to baggage and confiscation by a government authority aren't covered.
Review your card's guide to benefits for a full list of everything that's not covered under its baggage insurance plan. Terms apply for all the cards in the below table.
Eligible cards
| Card | Checked baggage coverage limit | Carry-on baggage coverage limit | High-risk item coverage limit | Total coverage limit per trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
| American Express® Green Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $2,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Centurion Card® from American Express | $2,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $2,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | $2,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card | $500 | $1,250 | $250 | N/A |
Source: American Express.Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
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Car rental loss and damage insurance
Most American Express cards offer a secondary insurance policy for rental cars. Secondary insurance pays for loss and damage not covered by any other insurance policy you have**.
What is covered
When you rent a car and pay for the entire rental with your card, you'll be insured against damage or theft. Car rental loss and damage insurance covers rental vehicles for up to 30 consecutive days. Coverage includes the cardholder, their spouse/domestic partner, and authorized drivers on the rental agreement.
You'll need to pay the full cost of the rental with your American Express card or American Express rewards points. You must also decline the rental company's collision damage waiver.
What's not covered
American Express car rental loss and damage insurance doesn't cover all vehicles. Several types of vehicles, such as cargo vans and off-road vehicles, are not included.
The policy won't cover certain events, including:
- Use of the rental vehicle that violates the terms of the rental agreement
- Illegal activity on the part of the renter
- Off-road operation of the rental vehicle
- Use of the rental vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
- Use of the rental vehicle while under the influence of drugs (except those taken as prescribed or administered by a physician or dentist)
- Theft or damage to rental vehicles that were unlocked at the time of the incident
For a full list of what's not covered, review your card's guide to benefits. Terms apply for all the cards in the below table.
Eligible cards
| Card | Coverage limit |
|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card | $50,000 |
| American Express® Green Card | $50,000 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $75,000 |
| American Express Cash Magnet® Card | $50,000 |
| Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express | $50,000 |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | $50,000 |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | $50,000 |
| Blue from American Express® | $50,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card | $50,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | $50,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | $50,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $50,000 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | $50,000 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $75,000 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | $50,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | $75,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card | $50,000 |
Source: American Express.This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Trip delay insurance
Delayed trips can get expensive, especially if you have to pay for food and accommodations. If the delay was due to a covered hazard, you can claim back some of the costs with trip delay insurance***.
What is covered
Your trip insurance will pay back reasonable expenses from the delay. These can include, but are not limited to, meals, lodging, toiletries, medications, and other personal use items.
Trip delay insurance covers delays of longer than six hours caused by any of the following:
- Inclement weather that would prevent a reasonable person from traveling or continuing on a trip
- Terrorist action or hijacking
- A common carrier's equipment failure, as documented by the common carrier
- Lost or stolen passports or travel documents
To be eligible, you must pay the full amount of the trip with your American Express card or American Express rewards points. You must also be traveling on a common carrier.
What's not covered
American Express trip delay insurance doesn't cover expenses incurred prior to the trip. It also doesn't cover losses due to intentional acts by the traveler. One example of this would be if an airline has an overbooked flight and offers vouchers for passengers who give up their seats and take a later flight. If you volunteered, you wouldn't be able to file a claim with your trip delay insurance. The delay, in that case, is because of your decision to be bumped from the original flight in exchange for a voucher.
Check your card's guide to benefits for more information on what trip delay insurance does and doesn't cover. Terms apply for all cards in the below table.
Eligible cards
| Card | Coverage limit (per trip) | Claim limit (per 12-month period) |
|---|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card | $300 | Two claims |
| American Express® Green Card | $300 | Two claims |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $500 | Two claims |
| Centurion Card® from American Express | $500 | Two claims |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | $300 | Two claims |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $500 | Two claims |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $500 | Two claims |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | $500 | Two claims |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card | $300 | Two claims |
Data source: American Express.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance*** can help you get your money back if your travel plans get thrown off course. Fewer American Express cards offer this protection as it's typically a perk with premium travel cards.
What is covered
If you have to cancel your trip because of illness or severe weather, trip cancellation insurance may help. Let's say you've paid a non-refundable deposit. You can get reimbursed up to your card's coverage limit.
Similarly, your trip may get interrupted or postponed due to a covered loss. Trip interruption insurance will reimburse certain costs.
Covered losses include trip cancellations and interruptions caused by any of the following:
- Accidental bodily injury, loss of life, or sickness of either the traveler, a traveling companion, or a family member of the traveler or a traveling companion
- Inclement weather that would prevent a reasonable person from traveling or continuing on a trip
- A change in military orders for the traveler or their spouse
- Terrorist action or hijacking
- Call to jury duty or subpoena by the courts that can't be postponed or waived
- The eligible traveler's or a traveling companion's dwelling being made uninhabitable
- Quarantine imposed by a physician for health reasons
You must pay the full amount of the trip with your American Express card or American Express rewards points. You'll also need to be traveling on a common carrier.
What's not covered
Several circumstances aren't covered by trip cancellation and interruption insurance. These include:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Traveler's suicide, attempted suicide, or self-inflicted injury
- Mental or emotional disorders, unless hospitalized
- An accident suffered by the traveler while being intoxicated
- Any non-emergency treatment or surgery
You'll find a full list of what's not covered in your card's guide to benefits.
Eligible cards
Trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption insurance are technically two separate types of insurance. Coverage limits apply to each of them separately. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express has a coverage limit of $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period. That means you could receive up to $20,000 for canceled trips and up to $20,000 in trip interruption coverage during a 12-month period. Terms apply for all cards in the below table.
| Card | Coverage limit (per trip) | Coverage limit (per 12-month period) |
|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Centurion Card® from American Express | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | $10,000 | $20,000 |
Data source: American Express.
Global Assist
Global Assist**** is a travel assistance hotline you can call for any help you need while you're on a trip or planning one. American Express offers its Global Assist Hotline to all U.S. cardmembers. High-end American Express cards feature a Premium Global Assist Hotline, with additional benefits. Global Assist and Premium Global Assist are available free of charge. However, the cardmember may be responsible for any costs charged by third-party service providers.
Services offered
Global Assist offers several services, including an emergency cash wire service and medical assistance. If you're traveling more than 100 miles from your U.S. billing address, you can call the hotline 24/7 for medical, legal, financial, or other select services. To get assistance while you're traveling, the trip also must have started within the last 90 days.
Here are some of the things Global Assist can help with:
- Trip planning: Customs information, travel inquiries, foreign exchange rates, passport/visa information, and weather reports.
- General travel assistance: Emergency translation/interpretation, lost item search, missing luggage assistance, passport assistance, embassy and consulate referral, card cancellation, urgent message relay.
- Financial assistance: Emergency cash wire service, emergency hotel check in/out.
- Legal referrals: Bail bond referrals, lawyer referrals.
- Medical assistance: Emergency medical transportation assistance, repatriation of mortal remains, medical monitoring, medical prescription replacement assistance, medical referrals.
Premium Global Assist has a few additional perks. It may provide certain benefits at no cost, such as emergency medical transportation assistance and repatriation of mortal remains. It also offers the following:
- Medical financial coordination
- Travel assistance post-evacuation
- Unaccompanied minor/visitor to bedside assistance
Eligible cards
All U.S. American Express cards are eligible for Global Assist. The following consumer cards offer Premium Global Assist:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Centurion Card® from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
As you can see, American Express cards have all kinds of complimentary travel insurance protections. American Express also tends to be easy to deal with on claims. It generally provides these insurance policies itself instead of using third-party providers like most card issuers do.
If you're looking for a new card, and especially if you travel often, don't forget to check out travel insurance perks as you compare credit cards. And if you already have an American Express card, it's important to know what types of travel insurance are available to you.
Still have questions?
Here are some other questions we've answered:
FAQs
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American Express cards generally offer travel insurance, but the type of insurance varies by card. At a minimum, every American Express card has car rental loss and damage insurance. Some cards offer much more, including baggage insurance, trip delay insurance, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Each American Express card lists all its travel insurance protections in its guide to benefits.
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To qualify for travel coverage, pay for the full cost of your trip with your American Express card or Membership Rewards points. As long as you pay with your American Express card or points, you can claim any applicable travel protections.
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Submit a claim to American Express through the online claims center. After logging in, click "File a Claim" to start the process. Alternatively, you can file your claim over the phone by calling the number listed in your guide to benefits.
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Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
Fact Checked
Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
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*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
***Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
****Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Marriott International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, click here
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees for the American Express® Green Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express, click here
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
For rates and fees for the Blue from American Express®, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here