It hardly seems fair that an item you purchased inevitably breaks or stops working just after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, but indeed it does happen. Next time it happens to you, however, you may want to reference the credit card you used to purchase the item. You could find that there is coverage beyond what the manufacturer’s warranty provides. Wouldn’t it be great to be made whole again as a result of coverage you didn’t realize you had? You bet.
While you wouldn’t decide to secure a specific credit card just for its extended warranty coverage, it’s good to know which cards carry such coverage so you can consider using those cards when you purchase eligible items. We’ve studied the credit card landscape for cards that offer extended warranty coverage and will review how the coverage works. We’ll also share with you what’s generally covered, what’s generally excluded, and how much you can expect to receive should you need to file a claim for your applicable item.
The 11 Best Credit Cards for Extended Warranty Coverage — Overview
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95
- Extended Warranty Coverage and Limits: Manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less are extended by 1 year; $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $550
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: LIMITED TIME OFFER: Earn 120,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $695
- Extended Warranty Coverage and Limits: Manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less are extended by 1 year; $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account
American Express® Gold Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: LIMITED TIME OFFER: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months, up to $100 back. Offer ends 11/6/24
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: ELEVATED OFFER: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $695
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
- Extended Warranty Coverage and Limits: Manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less are extended by up to 24 months, for a maximum of 7 years total; $10,000 per item
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 20,000 miles when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0
- Extended Warranty Coverage and Limits: Manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less are extended by 1 additional year; $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: LIMITED TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $395
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee: Earn 60,000 online bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Annual fee of $95
- Extended Warranty Coverage and Limits: Manufacturer’s warranties are doubled up to a maximum of 1 additional year; $10,000 per item
What Is Extended Warranty Coverage?
When you purchase an eligible item that has a manufacturer’s warranty, the extended warranty coverage that comes on your credit card extends the manufacturer’s warranty for an additional period. The coverage that comes with your credit card will generally mirror the manufacturer’s warranty coverage, but there could be additional limitations and different claim procedures. An extended warranty is offered by several credit card payment processing networks, including American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. The card issuers that use those payment processing networks, such as Chase, American Express, Citi, Capital One, etc., subsequently decide which of their credit cards will offer the coverage. For this reason, not every card from each issuer will have the coverage. The extended warranty protection on your credit card is also secondary to any other warranty coverage that might apply to the claim. For example, you must first file your claim with the manufacturer if that warranty is still active.
What Is Generally Covered
The first requirement for an item to be covered under your credit card’s extended warranty coverage is that the item must have a manufacturer’s warranty. Examples of purchased items that might be covered for extended warranty include cell phones, clothing, computers, luggage, TVs and game consoles, small appliances, watches, and some jewelry. This is not an all-encompassing list, of course, just a few examples of items that might be covered. Also, keep in mind that manufacturer’s warranties are not designed to cover the same perils as a normal insurance policy — they’re designed more to repair or replace an item that stops working or has a manufacturer’s defect. The extended warranty on your credit card will also reflect that limited scope of coverage.
What Is Generally Excluded
Items such as antiques, boats or vehicles, computer software, items that do not come with a manufacturer’s warranty, living items, medical equipment, motorized devices, real estate, rented or leased items, and used or pre-owned items are normally excluded from credit card extended warranty coverage. In addition to excluding specific items, benefits may be limited to only the amount you charged on your eligible card. If you were to charge just a portion of an item’s cost to your card, the benefit could be limited to just that amount, depending on the actual terms and conditions. Also, note that the credit card you used to purchase the eligible item must be active and in good standing to have valid coverage.
Best Chase Cards
Several Chase credit cards offer extended warranty coverage. The coverage applies to items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less and serves to extend the coverage for 1 additional year. Benefit limits are $10,000 per item with a maximum of $50,000 per account. Let’s look at some of the best Chase credit cards that come with extended warranty coverage.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Top Pick)
- A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
American Express® Gold Card
- This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is a great travel rewards card for those looking for a simple approach to earning and redeeming rewards.
How To File an Extended Warranty Claim
It’s always good to review in advance what might be needed should you need to file an insurance claim as it can be difficult to secure needed items after the fact. For this reason, it’s best when you purchase an item to file away the original receipt, the manufacturer’s warranty, and any pertinent documentation (serial number, model description, etc.), to allow for easy access in the event of a claim. If the item is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, you should, of course, contact the manufacturer first. Credit card extended warranty coverage does not apply when the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid. If the manufacturer’s warranty is expired, call the number on the back of your credit card as soon as possible after the loss. Cards have limited periods in which you need to report the extended warranty claim. Items you may be asked to provide include the original store receipt, a copy of your credit card statement showing the purchase date and description of the item, a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty, any purchased contract warranty agreement, a photo of the item, and a repair estimate. Be especially aware of deadlines to report claims and to submit the required documentation. Also, note that the credit card you used to purchase the eligible item must be active and in good standing in order to have coverage.
Other Credit Card Protection Coverages
If your purchase is accidentally damaged or stolen, there may be other coverage on your card that could apply during the manufacturer’s warranty period. For example, if an eligible item you’ve purchased becomes damaged, you may find coverage on your card, such as cell phone protection or purchase protection, that could apply in that circumstance. Time limits and coverage conditions apply, of course, but it’s worth checking to see if you have coverage on your card. Other shopping protections to look for on your card include price protection, which reimburses you if an item goes down in price after you purchase it, and return protection which refunds the purchase price if the merchant will not accept a return. Terms and conditions apply.
Final Thoughts
While an extended warranty conveniently serves the purpose of offering coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty, coverage is limited to the same found in your manufacturer’s warranty and does not include events such as accidental damage or theft. Your credit card may offer a variety of consumer protection benefits to take advantage of in the event of an incident within or outside of the manufacturer’s warranty coverage. As we mentioned previously, you wouldn’t select a specific credit card based solely on whether it had extended warranty coverage. If you’re aware of the coverage offered on each card, however, you can make your eligible purchases knowing you’ll have the associated extended warranty coverage.