The best credit cards for extended warranties

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

When you make a purchase, it’s helpful to have the peace of mind of warranty protection from the manufacturer — especially if it’s an expensive item. But if your item breaks or is damaged after the warranty has ended, you may think you’re out of luck.

The good news is if you put your purchase on a credit card with extended warranty protection, you may still be able to receive reimbursement for repair or replacement costs or even have the original purchase cost reimbursed. That’s something to remember now, in particular, as we head into the holiday shopping season.

This guide describes how to utilize the extended warranty benefit offered by select credit cards as well as lists some of the best cards that offer extended warranty protection. Consider using one of them for your holiday purchases to ensure that the recipient is protected against the unexpected and can use the gift you give them well into the future.

The best extended warranty cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best mid-tier travel card
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for travel and dining
Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Best Citi card
American Express® Green Card*: Best Amex card for modern travelers
The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Best for luxury travel benefits
American Express® Gold Card*: Best for foodies
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate earning
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for easy-to-use statement credits
Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for flat-rate earning with no annual fee
Chase Freedom Flex: Best for rotating rewards categories
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express*: Best cash-back card
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card: Best for mobile wallet
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Best sub-$100 annual fee card for American Airlines travelers
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®: Best no-annual-fee card for American Airlines travelers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best mid-tier card for Delta travelers
United Explorer Card: Best sub-$100 annual fee card for United travelers
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: Best low-annual-fee card for Southwest travelers
British Airways Visa Signature Card: Best for British Airways travelers
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*: Best for Hilton loyalists
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card*: Best for Marriott loyalists
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best for Hyatt loyalists

The information for the American Express Green Card, U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, Citi AAvantage Platinum Select World Elite, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp, and Hilton Aspire cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

What is a credit card extended warranty?

The extended warranty protection offered by select credit cards effectively extends the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible products purchased with the card. This protection mirrors the protection provided by the original manufacturer’s warranty, so damage that the original warranty would have covered will be covered by the extended warranty.

Credit card extended warranty coverage varies. Some match the original warranty up to a particular period of time. Others add a set amount of time to the end of the original warranty. However, there are usually exclusions and maximum coverage limits. Note that extended warranty protection covers a wide variety of items, whereas the cell phone protection offered by select credit cards only covers cellphones.

Comparing the best credit cards for extended warranties

It’s important to note that only certain cards offered by these issuers or banks offer extended warranty protection.

The following sections describe some of the best consumer cards from issuers that offer extended warranty protection.

Other cards not mentioned here also offer extended warranty protection, so don’t assume that a card doesn’t offer this benefit simply because it is not listed in this guide. Check your card’s guide to benefits for details.

Issuer, bank or network	Extension period	Maximum coverage	Maximum length of initial warranty
Citi	2 years	$10,000 per item	5 years
American Express	1 year	$10,000 per item, $50,000 per account per year	5 years
Chase	1 year	$10,000 per claim, $50,000 per account	3 years
Visa Signature	Match up to 1 year	$10,000 per claim, $50,000 per cardholder	3 years
Visa Infinite	1 year	$10,000 per claim, $50,000 per cardholder	3 years
USAA	Match up to 1 year	$15,000 per claim, $50,000 per account	3 years

Comparing the best Citi credit cards for extended warranties

Card	Sign-up bonus	Earning rates	Annual fee
Citi Premier® Card	60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening	3 ThankYou points per dollar spent on air travel, hotels, gas stations, restaurants and supermarkets; 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$95 (see rates and fees)
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard	Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening	2 points per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations; 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$99 (waived for the first year; see rates and fees)
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp	15,000 miles after you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening	2 points per dollar spent on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases; 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	None

The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage MileUp has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Back in 2019, Citi removed many benefits from its cards to the dismay of many. However, the Citi cards listed in the above table still offer an extended warranty benefit. This benefit extends the manufacturer’s warranty by two years, with total coverage not exceeding seven years from the purchase date.

Citi doesn’t have a minimum manufacturer’s warranty required for coverage, so a one-month manufacturer’s warranty would still be extended by two years on covered items. If you purchase an extended warranty, Citi’s coverage begins at the expiration of that warranty. To be eligible for coverage, you must have paid for either all or part of the item with your Citi card and/or ThankYou points.

Citi’s extended warranty coverage doesn’t apply to:

Boats, cars, aircraft or any other motorized land, air or water vehicles and their original equipment (tires aren’t covered, either)
Services, unless covered under the manufacturer’s warranty
Used, antique or pre-owned items
Items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use
Land or buildings; housing properties
Plants and live animals
Items that don’t come with a manufacturer’s warranty

Additionally, Citi’s extended warranty coverage doesn’t apply when:

You fail to care for or service the item appropriately as required by the manufacturer
The item has a product defect, recall or experiences normal wear and tear where no failure has occurred
The item is damaged because of an act of God, such as a flood, hurricane, lightning, wind or earthquake

Related: The best Citi credit cards

Comparing the best American Express cards for extended warranties

Card	Welcome bonus	Earning rates	Annual fee
American Express Green Card	Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership	3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit and restaurants; 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$150 (see rates and fees)
The Platinum Card from American Express	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership	5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	$695 (see rates and fees)
American Express Gold Card	60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first six months. Terms apply	4 points per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar); 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com; 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	$250 (see rates and fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	180,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first three months. Terms apply	14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts; 7 points per dollar spent on U.S. restaurants, car rentals booked directly with select companies and flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com; 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases	$550 (see rates and fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card	Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months	6 points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; 3 points per dollar spent on U.S. restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines; 2 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases	$650 (see rates and fees)
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card	Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership	3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and hotels booked directly; 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets; 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	$250 (see rates and fees)
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express	Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months	6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per calendar year, then 1%) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% on transit and U.S. gas stations; 1% back on all other eligible purchases	$0 intro annual fee for first year, then $95 (see rates and fees)

The information for the American Express Green Card and Hilton Aspire Amex card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Amex benefit provides up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 in a calendar year per eligible card.* Currently, most Amex cards will match the manufacturer’s warranties of one year or less and extend manufacturer’s warranties of two to five years by one year. However, select no-annual-fee cards no longer offer any extended warranty coverage. You can see the current guide to benefits for each American Express card that offers extended warranty protection on American Express’ website.

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

An item is eligible for coverage if it was paid for with an eligible card or purchased through the redemption of Membership Rewards points and/or Pay with Points.

The following items aren’t covered:

Items covered by an unconditional satisfaction guarantee
Items damaged through alteration or modification of any kind
Animals or living plants
One-of-a-kind items including antiques, artwork and furs or previously owned and used items (except when refurbished by the original manufacturer)
Purchases that have a limited lifespan like food, perfume, light bulbs, batteries, etc.
Credit cards, securities, documents and tickets, traveler’s checks and other negotiable instruments including gift certificates, gift cards, gift checks, food stamps, cash or its equivalent, notes, accounts, bills, currency, deeds, evidence of debt or intangible property and rare stamps or coins
Items that are rented, leased or borrowed
Motorized devices or motorized device parts, except for motorized devices and motorized device parts that are permanent residential or business fixtures that can be removed without damaging the structure
Permanent residential or business fixtures, additions or built-ins that can’t be removed without damaging the structure
Land or buildings
More than one article in a pair or set. Coverage will be limited to no more than the value of any particular part or parts, unless the articles are unusable individually and cannot be replaced individually, regardless of any special value they may have had as part of a set or collection
Downloadable services, application programs, computer programs, operating software, firmware and other software of any kind
Items voluntarily or involuntarily discarded
Indirect or direct damages to any other item or property resulting from a covered event
Items purchased for use as resale (i.e., goods purchased as inventory for sale)
Items purchased for professional or commercial use, including education, training or skills, or to be used in professional competition

No coverage is provided for:

Charges for shipping, handling, installation, assembly, professional advice, maintenance or other service fees, warranties or memberships, including costs or fees in addition to the replacement cost
Rebates, discounts or money from lowest-price programs
Any legal defense costs or expenses
Any request to return a covered purchase by a retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer, including product recall
Additional service contract, extended warranty coverage or purchased service contract for a computer, computer component or part that is bought which already comes with an original manufacturer’s warranty and/or retailer’s warranty, unless such coverage is provided and administered by the original manufacturer
Repairs not completed at an authorized repair facility or another repair facility acceptable under the original manufacturer’s warranty or using aftermarket parts not approved by the original manufacturer’s warranty
Physical damage, including damage as a direct result of natural disaster or a power surge, except to the extent the original manufacturer’s warranty covers such physical damage
Eligible beneficiary’s participation in a felony, riot, civil disturbance, protest or insurrection
Items for which the combination of the original manufacturer’s warranty coverage and/or purchase service contract exceeds five years

Comparing the best Chase credit cards for extended warranties

Card	Sign-up bonus	Earning rates	Annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening	5 points per dollar spent on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 anniversary credit. 3 points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. 3 points per dollar spent on select streaming services. 3 points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel. 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$95
Chase Sapphire Reserve	60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening	10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $300 annual travel credit). 5 pointer per dollar spent on flights purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $300 annual travel credit). 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining. 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides through March 2025. 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases.	$550
Chase Freedom Unlimited	Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match	5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores 1.5% on all other purchases	None
Chase Freedom Flex	$200 after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening	5% on select categories that rotate quarterly (activation required) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 3% on dining and drugstores. 1% on other purchases	None
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card	Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening	2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases. 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services). 2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming. 1 point per dollar spent on everything else	$69
United Explorer Card	Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open	2 points per dollar spent on United purchases, restaurants and hotel accommodations booked directly with hotels. 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$95, $0 intro the first year
British Airways Visa Signature Card	Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening	3 points per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. 2 points per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$95
World of Hyatt Credit Card	Up to 60,000 points: 30,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 points per dollar spent on purchases that normally earn 1 point, on up to $15,000 in your first six months	4 points per dollar spent on Hyatt purchases. 2 points per dollar spent on local transit, commuting, dining, gym memberships and airline tickets purchased directly from airlines. 2 points per dollar spent on purchases that normally earn 1 point, on up to $15,000 in the first 6 months of account opening. 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$95

Most Chase cards, including but not limited to all of the cards listed above, will extend eligible U.S. manufacturers’ warranties of three years or less by one additional year. Purchases made using rewards points are also eligible for the extended warranty benefit. You’re covered up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.

The following items aren’t covered:

Boats, automobiles, aircraft and any other motorized vehicles and their motors, equipment or accessories, including trailers and other items that can be towed by or attached to any motorized vehicle
Any costs other than those specifically covered under the terms of the original manufacturer-written U.S. repair warranty, as supplied by the original manufacturer, or other eligible warranty
Items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use
Rented or leased items
Computer software
Medical equipment
Used or pre-owned items (refurbished items will be covered as long as they have a warranty and would not be considered used or pre-owned)

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Other cards with extended warranty benefits

Woman in cafe shopping online with laptopPhoto by filadendron/Getty Images — FILADENDRON/GETTY IMAGES

Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards — such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card — offer extended warranty protection. Both card types will extend warranties of three years or less and will cover up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per cardholder.

Visa Signature cards will match warranties of less than one year and extend warranties of one to three years by one year, while Visa Infinite cards will extend warranties of up to three years by one year. Benefits are only available to accounts approved for a Visa Signature or Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.

Related: The best Visa credit cards

USAA credit cards also offer extended warranty protection that will match warranties of less than one year and extend warranties of one to three years by one additional year. You can be covered up to $15,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.

How to utilize credit card extended warranties

There are a few items you should save after buying something that has a manufacturer’s warranty if you’ve used a credit card that features an extended warranty benefit:

Original store receipt
Credit card statement for the month showing the charge
Manufacturer’s warranty booklet or document

If something you own breaks and has a manufacturer’s warranty:

Check the manufacturer’s warranty. If the item is still covered, begin a claim with the manufacturer
If it’s outside the manufacturer’s warranty, check the benefits guide for the credit card that you used to make the purchase
Call a benefits administrator if you need to file a claim or have questions regarding the claim process or eligibility. Call before getting the item repaired in case you are required to send it to a particular repair facility
Collect documentation — which may consist of a repair quote, photos of the damaged item, the original receipt and the credit card statement showing the charge — and submit the claim

If approved, you’ll usually receive a check or statement credit reimbursing you for repair costs, replacement costs or the original purchase cost. In some cases, the benefits administrator may ask you to send back the item for inspection or repair.

What isn’t covered by credit card extended warranty protection

The extended warranty benefit offered by select credit cards doesn’t cover all purchases or all types of damage. Your purchase won’t be covered if an eligible manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t originally cover it. Additionally, most extended warranty benefits have maximum coverage lengths and coverage limits per item, claim or account.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: A man holds a Wempe aviator watch from 1943 (£5200) at the Mayfair Antiques and Fine Art Fair on January 5, 2017 in London, England. Running from January 5 to Sunday 8, the fair sees over forty exhibitors with pieces ranging from 1300BC to the present day available for sale. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) — LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

Most extended warranty benefits have set exclusions. Some types of items are commonly excluded, like cars, boats, software, plants, animals, antiques and products normally hard-wired into a house. Likewise, some types of damage like power surges, accidental damage, catastrophes, wear and tear and riots are usually excluded. You can find all of the exclusions in your card’s guide to benefits.

Bottom line

Credit cards can offer you valuable protection if your item breaks or is damaged after the manufacturer’s warranty has ended. Still, warranties vary from card to card so be sure to check what your specific card covers. If you do lodge a claim, make sure that you have all the required documentation ready to submit.

Related guides:

For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.