7 Best Credit Cards for Extended Warranty Protection (and How It Works)
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Credit card extended warranty protection extends the coverage period of an eligible product’s manufacturer’s warranty. Policy terms can vary by card, issuer, and network, but typically include a $10,000 per-claim limit and at least a year of extra coverage on manufacturer warranties at least a year long.
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The information related to Capital One Spark Cash for Business, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, American Express® Green Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
What Is an Extended Warranty?
Though they seldom take the spotlight, credit card shopping protections can prove exceptionally useful.
The extended warranty is an excellent example.
In the world of credit cards, an extended warranty is a common shopping benefit that extends an eligible item’s manufacturer warranty by a preset period of time. The terms of an extended warranty — how long it lasts, the coverage amount, etc. — can vary by card and by financial institution.
Extended warranty coverage doesn’t usually encompass things like accidental damage or normal wear and tear (these things may be covered by purchase protection, however). It’s mainly used to cover workmanship-related issues that shouldn’t ordinarily occur, reflecting the terms of most manufacturer’s warranties.
So, an example: If you drop your smartphone and crack the screen, that’s on you. Your extended warranty won’t (usually) help. But if your smartphone camera stops working out of the blue despite the phone’s otherwise good condition, you’re probably covered, as long as you’re still within the coverage period.
Extended warranties are often provided by a credit card’s network (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) rather than its issuer, although the issuer ultimately decides which benefits to include on each card.
How Do You Know if Your Credit Card Offers an Extended Warranty?
To find out whether your credit card has an extended warranty, check your credit card’s Guide to Benefits. A physical copy should’ve come with your card when you received it in the mail, but you may be able to access a digital copy or similar information by logging in to the issuer’s online portal or mobile app, too, depending on the issuer.
If you’d prefer to check by phone, you could always call the number on the back of your card to ask (browse issuer contact information here if your card’s not handy).
Curious about a card you don’t already have? You may be able find its Guide to Benefits by Googling the card name followed by “Guide to Benefits,” or by simply exploring the credit card company’s website.
How Do You Use a Credit Card’s Extended Warranty?
First, an important point: In order to qualify for a credit card’s warranty coverage, the item must have been purchased with that card. Beyond that, the key to filing an extended warranty claim is paperwork. You’ll typically need three things, though more documentation may be requested:
- A copy of the original receipt for the item you bought
- The item’s manufacturer warranty information
- The credit card statement for the period during which you purchased the item
Depending on the provider, you might be able to register your purchase on the benefit administrator’s website right when you purchase it. Doing so would be wise — that way, you can send over the above information while it’s still on hand, and you won’t be left scrambling to find it if something goes wrong with the product down the line.
If you didn’t already register your product, then consult your card’s Guide to Benefits for further instruction (more about how credit card benefits work here), and to ensure whether the situation in question is actually covered. You’ll usually start by contacting your benefit administrator, and they’ll provide you with forms to fill out. You’ll then have to submit the requested information, likely alongside the above documentation.
Once everything’s been submitted, the benefit administrator will determine whether your product qualifies for reimbursement. Assuming it does, it’ll typically be replaced or repaired by an authorized service provider.
Insider tip
Extended warranty perks can typically be used by both the primary cardholder and any authorized users.
What’s Covered By a Credit Card Extended Warranty?
Extended warranties tend to encompass the same coverages (more or less) as the item’s manufacturer’s warranty, with occasional variations depending on the card and/or the benefit provider. That’s really the point — the benefit takes the existing warranty and makes it last longer.
So, in general, defects in workmanship are covered, but things like accidental damage and normal wear and tear are not.
As for the types of products that qualify for coverage, the list includes basically anything that’s not outright excluded. Most credit card issuers and networks who provide these warranties make exclusions clear, so the details for your particular card shouldn’t be hard to find.
Common exclusions include (but aren’t limited to):
- Items that don’t come with manufacturer’s warranties
- Motorized vehicles, including cars, boats, and aircraft
- Land and buildings
- Computer software
- Used and pre-owned items
- Products purchased for commercial use or resale
What Makes a Good Extended Warranty?
With extended warranties, you’ll seldom see much variation between policies. Most simply extend manufacturer warranties; nothing more, nothing less. But there are at least a few key traits you should consider:
- Coverage amount: Extended warranty benefits typically set a clear per-product coverage limit. For the Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review) and Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Review), for example, cardholders can get up to $10,000 in coverage per item, and up to $50,000 per account. That’s about normal; anything more would be excellent.
- Coverage length: Most extended warranties provide one extra year, but you may find others that provide more.
- Manufacturer warranty limit: With some issuers, like Chase, your product will usually only qualify for extended warranty coverage if the manufacturer’s warranty offered coverage for three years or less. Any longer than that and you’re out of luck. Other issuers, like American Express, allow initial warranties that last up to five years.
Quick Guide
Extended Warranty vs. Purchase Protection vs. Return Protection vs. Cell Phone Protection
Because they’re all somewhat related in terms of function and terminology, it’s easy to get extended warranty coverage mixed up with other credit card shopping benefits — particularly purchase protection, price protection, and cell phone protection.
It’s important to know the differences between these four perks if you think you’ll get a lot out of them:
- Extended warranty: Extends the existing manufacturer’s warranty; doesn’t usually cover accidental damage.
- Purchase protection: Offers protection from accidental damage, theft, and/or loss (depending on the card), usually for around 90–120 days after the date of purchase.
- Return protection: Allows you to get reimbursement for products in situations where you may not ordinarily be able to, like if you want to make a return a few days past the retailer’s typical return window.
- Cell phone protection: Provides insurance-like damage and theft protection when you pay the applicable device’s phone bill with your eligible credit card.
Extended Warranty Policies By Network and Issuer
Issuers and networks often have different policies with respect to the benefits they provide. Extended warranty coverage is no exception.
We’ve outlined typical policies by card network and issuer below. Just remember that using a credit card from one of the providers listed doesn’t necessarily mean you have an extended warranty — availability can still vary by card.
| Company | Coverage Policy | Claim Limit | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | Covers up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less | Up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year | 1-800-228-6855 | American Express Online Claim Form |
| Bank of America | Varies by card | See Guide to Benefits | See Guide to Benefits | See Guide to Benefits |
| Capital One | Varies by card | See Guide to Benefits | See Guide to Benefits | See Guide to Benefits |
| Chase | Covers up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less | Up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year | 1-800-874-7702 | Chase Online Claim Form |
| Citi | No longer available | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Discover | No longer available | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mastercard | Doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty of up to a maximum of 24 months | Up to $10,000 per covered purchase | 1-800-627-8372 | Mastercard Online Claim Form |
| Visa | Doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty for warranties under a year; adds another year for manufacturer warranties up to three years | Up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year | 1-800-551-8472 | Visa Online Claim Form |
| Wells Fargo | Varies by card | See Guide to Benefits | See Guide to Benefits | See Guide to Benefits |
What Are the Best Credit Cards With Extended Warranties?
Extended warranty protection is one of the more common credit card shopping benefits. You’ll find it packaged with everything from fairly basic flat-rate cash back cards to premium airline cards.
We’ve listed some of our favorites below. Notably, you’ll see a lot of American Express, since its extended warranty benefit typically applies to manufacturer warranties of up to five years. That’s quite a bit longer than the usual three.
- No annual fee: Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review)
- General travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review)
- Premium travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)
- Cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Review)
- Dining: American Express® Gold Card (Review)
- Business: Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review)
- Business travel: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less; up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year
- Annual fee: $0
- Introductory bonus: $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Rewards: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, Lyft rides (through March 2022); 5% back in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent each quarter; 3% back at restaurants and drugstores; 1% back on everything else
- Other benefits: Purchase protection, cell phone protection, car rental insurance, trip interruption insurance, free DoorDash membership, Shop through Chase, Chase Offers
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less; up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year
- Annual fee: $95
- Introductory bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards: 5X points on Lyft rides (through March 2022); 2X points for travel and restaurants; 1X point on everything else
- Other benefits: Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, 25% Chase Ultimate Rewards travel redemption bonus, purchase protection, various travel protections, free DoorDash membership
The Platinum Card® from American Express
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- 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 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Covers up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less; up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year
- Annual fee: $550
- Introductory bonus: 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Rewards: 5X points on flights booked directly through airlines, and on both flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1X); 2X points on other eligible travel expenses booked through Amex Travel; 1X point on everything else
- One-year Eats Pass: Enroll to get a complimentary Uber Eats membership for one year, which provides free delivery and 5% off restaurant orders over $15, and free delivery on grocery orders over $30 (through 2021).
- Other benefits: Airport lounge access via the Global Lounge Collection, $200 annual airline fee credit (through 2021), Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit, various luxury hotel perks, various shopping and travel protections
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- $95 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Covers up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less; up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year
- Annual fee: $95
- Introductory bonus: $250 statement credit for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards: 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent annually, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services; 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit; 1% back on everything else
- Other benefits: Purchase protection, return protection, car rental insurance, complimentary ShopRunner membership, Amex Offers
American Express® Gold Card
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Covers up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less; up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year
- Annual fee: $250
- Introductory bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 6 months
- Rewards: 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X) and restaurants; 3X points on flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel; 1X point on everything else
- One-year Eats Pass: Enroll to get a complimentary Uber Eats membership for one year, which provides free delivery and 5% off restaurant orders over $15, and free delivery on grocery orders over $30 (through 2021).
- Other benefits: $100 annual airline fee credit (through 2021), $120 annual dining credit, The Hotel Collection, purchase protection, various travel protections
Capital One Spark Cash for Business
Capital One Spark Cash for Business
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The information related to Capital One Spark Cash for Business has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Varies based on benefits tier
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Introductory bonus: $500 cash bonus for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Rewards: 2% cash back for every purchase
- Other benefits: Quarterly and year-end summaries, downloadable purchase records, unlimited free employee cards, various shopping and travel protections
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Key Features
- Extended warranty terms: Covers up to one additional year on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less; up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per eligible account per calendar year
- Annual fee: $595
- Introductory bonus: 85,000 bonus points for spending $15,000, plus 5X points in select categories up to 80,000 points per category, all in the first 3 months
- Rewards: 5X points on flights booked directly through airlines, and on both flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel; 2X points on other eligible travel expenses booked through Amex Travel; 1.5X points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 1 million extra points per calendar year; 1X point on everything else
- Other benefits: Airport lounge access via the Global Lounge Collection, up to $200 annually in airline fee statement credits, various elite hotel statuses, various shopping and travel protections
Other Great Credit Cards With Extended Warranties
As mentioned earlier, extended warranties are common among mainstream credit cards. This is merely an abridged selection, but all the cards you see below are solid offers all around, with extended warranties to boot.
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 15,000 Membership Reward® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- Earn 50% more points: Make 30 or more purchases with your Card in a billing period and get 50% extra points on those purchases less returns and credits. Terms and limitations apply.
- 3x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 2x points at US gas stations; 1x points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
- You can use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points to pay for all or part of your flight, hotel booked and paid in advance, vacation or cruise booking through amextravel.com.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a rate of 13.99%–23.99% Variable, based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
- Terms and limitations apply.
- Visit our credit card partner’s site in order to learn more and securely apply for The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express
The information related to Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours.
- Earn up to $100 in annual statement credits to help you get through security faster with CLEAR®.
- Earn up to $100 in annual statement credits to access 750+ airport lounges globally through LoungeBuddy.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $150 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to American Express® Green Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- No annual fee
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- NEW OFFER: Maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement /furnishings
- Now earn 3% cash back in your choice category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the Mobile Banking app or Online Banking, or do nothing and it stays the same
- No expiration on rewards
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 16.24% – 26.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more cash back on every purchase
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees
- Comes with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro APR ends, 17.24% – 25.24% Variable APR will apply
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The information related to Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
The information related to Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The information related to Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
The information related to Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
The information related to Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Sean Messier
Sean Messier works to empower individuals with the knowledge required to use credit cards responsibly and to their advantage. His writing- and research-based background has granted him experience in an array of topics, from finance to business and beyond. Sean distills the knowledge accumulated over years of experience in the credit space into consistent, actionable articles, guides, and reviews.
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