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
The information for the American Express Green Card, U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite, Citi AAdvantage 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 the 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.
Related: Filing an extended warranty claim — a reader success story
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.
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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 |
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Comparing the best Citi credit cards for extended warranties
Back in 2019, Citi removed many benefits from its cards to the dismay of many. However, some Citi cards — like the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp — 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
The Amex benefit provides up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 in a calendar year per eligible card.*
Most Amex cards will match the manufacturer’s warranties of one year or less and extend the 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
Related: Choosing the best American Express card for you
Comparing the best Chase credit cards for extended warranties
Most Chase cards 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.
Related: How I used Chase’s extended warranty benefit to get a new phone
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
Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards — such as the Capital One Venture X 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.
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 valuable protection if your item breaks or is damaged after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. 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 Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
