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Like any other type of insurance, travel insurance is something you don't need -- until you need it. And when you need it, it can be invaluable.
Many great credit cards offer that extra peace of mind at no extra cost. Lost luggage? No problem. Flight delay? You're covered. Travel insurance is a no-brainer when you use the right card.
See our top picks for the best credit card for travel insurance to start your search.
Great for: Bonus rewards on travel and dining
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Rewards Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ 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.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee N/A
$550
Welcome Offer 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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
This Chase card is your ticket to big rewards on travel spending and dining out, like up to 10x points on spending through Chase Travel, where your points are worth 50% more if you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll also score excellent perks, like a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Luxury travel benefits
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Flat-rate rewards points
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards 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.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there’s a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10X miles on spending through Capital One Travel, a $300 travel credit, experience credits, and a huge welcome bonus. Read Full Review
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Great for: Bonus rewards on travel and mobile wallets
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
22.24%-29.24%, variable
Rewards 5x points on prepaid car rentals/hotels booked through Altitude Rewards Center, 3x points for eligible travel and mobile wallet spending, 1x points on other purchases
1x - 5x points
Annual Fee
$400
Welcome Offer 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening
50,000 points
The lucrative bonus and rewards program are among the best you'll find. But there are some hurdles to consider, including the annual fee, limited travel redemption options, and cash back redemption minimum.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Great for: United miles and lounge access
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
N/A
Annual Fee
$525
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles
Even with the hefty annual fee, this card packs considerable value for people who can take advantage of the United Club membership and other perks.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Premium travel rewards with low annual fee
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer 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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth up to $750), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s the only low annual fee card we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Great for: Hyatt rewards and free night award
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable
Rewards Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
Up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points
The annual fee is well justified for even occasional Hyatt hotel customers, given the card's big welcome offer, annual free night, and points program.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Great for: IHG rewards and elite status
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
Annual Fee N/A
$99
Welcome Offer Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 165,000 bonus points
This card has a very lucrative bonus you can earn after opening an account, and allows you to rack up tons of point on hotel stays.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Great for: Delta miles and lounge access
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
1X-3X miles
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 Bonus Miles
This card comes with huge perks if you are a loyal Delta customer. The annual fee pays for itself in a hurry if you are able to take advantage of all this card has to offer. Read Full Review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Great for: Marriott rewards and property credits
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
2X-6X points
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
It's one of the most expensive hotel cards we've seen, but the benefits could be worth thousands for the right type of cardholder. Read Full Review
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Great for: Bonus rewards on business travel
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Rewards Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 100,000 bonus points
This business card gets you access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, and you'll start with 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points by qualifying for its eye-popping welcome bonus. Earning 3x points per $1 on popular business expenses means you can cover your bills and be generously rewarded in the process. Read Full Review
The types of things covered by credit card travel insurance will vary a lot between cards. Some type of luggage insurance is usually included. The best cards also cover trip delays or cancellations. Some may even provide rental car insurance.
The entire purchase needs to be on your eligible credit card for the expense to be covered by that card's travel insurance. For example, the entire cost of an airline ticket needs to be paid by the eligible card to get reimbursed for that ticket. On the positive, most cards with travel insurance are travel rewards cards, so this isn't a hardship.
Get reimbursed for eligible non-refundable travel expenses when a trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
The types of covered events vary by insurance provider, but typically include:
If your trip is severely delayed, you could be reimbursed for reasonable purchases. This could include:
Most policies require your trip to be delayed a minimum of six hours. The delay also needs to be because of your carrier -- not you. For example, a delay caused by a technical malfunction on a commercial airplane is covered. A flat tire on your way to the airport probably isn't. This coverage typically maxes out around $500.
This is similar to the insurance they offer you at the rental car agency, though it may be a bit more limited. It reimburses for damages or theft of an eligible rental car caused in a covered event. There are two forms of this coverage:
You need to turn down the coverage from the rental agency to be eligible. Certain kinds of cars, like luxury or sports cars, may be excluded.
If you arrived but your baggage didn't, you could get reimbursed for certain essential items, such as:
Expensive items, like hearing aids, jewelry, and electronics, usually don't qualify for reimbursement. This benefit tends to max out around $100 a day.
Your luggage usually needs to be delayed for a minimum of six hours. Your coverage can reset each day, up to a maximum number of days.
You could be redeemed when your baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while in the possession of a common carrier. Keep in mind this doesn't apply to things you simply forget or leave behind.
This coverage applies to your bags as well as the stuff inside them. Both your carry-on and checked baggage can qualify. Coverage typically caps out around $1,000 to $3,000 per bag. Certain electronics and jewelry may have specific maximum payments.
This coverage pays out in the case of accidental loss of life, dismemberment, and/or loss of sight. It typically covers you and any immediate family members traveling with you. You won't be covered if you're injured or killed doing something illegal or as the result of a war. Coverage limits depend on the specific incident.
You could be reimbursed if you need to be evacuated from your destination in an emergency. This most often applies to emergency medical transportation as recommended by a physician.
If you want a card with travel insurance, you'll likely wind up with a Chase or American Express card. These issuers have the most cards with some type of travel insurance, even if it's just baggage coverage. These two issuers are also home to many of the top travel rewards cards, including some of the most popular hotel and airline credit cards.
That's not to say you can't find a card with travel insurance outside these two issuers -- you can. They're just few and far between. In most cases, the card will likely sport a Visa Infinite logo, or at least Visa Signature. You can check out your card's benefits documents to see if it offers any kind of travel insurance.
KEEP READING:
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Bonus rewards on travel and dining |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Luxury travel benefits |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Flat-rate rewards points |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Bonus rewards on travel and mobile wallets |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: United miles and lounge access |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Premium travel rewards with low annual fee |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Hyatt rewards and free night award |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: IHG rewards and elite status |
|
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Delta miles and lounge access |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Marriott rewards and property credits |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Bonus rewards on business travel |
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate travel credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria Includes rewards systems and bonus categories, rewards redemption flexibility, and sign-up bonuses.
Our highest-rated travel credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
Credit cards with travel insurance are usually travel rewards cards that require at least good credit. It's recommended to have a credit score of at least 670 for these cards. The best coverage is usually offered by premium travel cards that require excellent credit. That means you'll want a credit score of 750 or higher.
Travel insurance can be worth it when you need it -- and seem frivolous when you don't. Unless you travel frequently, you should probably ensure your card is worth its annual fee with or without travel insurance. Most cardholders can probably consider it a nice bonus or a tie-breaking feature.
Credit card travel insurance coverage varies widely, but typically includes:
Our Credit Cards Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.