Best Credit Cards With Extended Warranty Protection
Extended warranty protection is a benefit offered by a number of credit cards, typically those at the Visa Signature or World Mastercard level of benefits or higher. This perk provides some peace of mind for purchases where a retailer or manufacturer already offers a warranty, as your product is protected for an additional length of time through your credit card.
How Does Extended Warranty Work?
Credit card extended warranty protection applies to purchases made with your card where you are offered a valid manufacturer’s warranty, a store-purchased dealer warranty, or an assembler’s warranty. The warranty eligible for extension is also subject to a maximum length of time (i.e. your credit card benefits won’t apply to relatively long warranties) and a maximum length of additional coverage (often 1 extra year).
To be eligible for extended warranty protection, all you need to do is purchase an eligible product offering an eligible warranty with your card, according to your card benefits.
This is where the rubber meets the road. There are certain types of purchases that are excluded from extended warranty protection, including but not limited to:
- Boats, automobiles, aircraft, trailers, and any other vehicles
- Items purchased for resale
- Items purchased for commercial or professional use (typically in the case of personal credit cards)
- Rented or leased items
- Software
- Medical equipment
- Used or pre-owned items
You can choose to register your warranty with the credit card company ahead of time. This is optional. If you do not choose to register, you’ll need to keep the itemized sales receipt, credit card receipt, and applicable warranty documentation. Additionally, you’ll need to note timeframes, such as how quickly you need to file a claim and what documents are needed. An example of the terms and requirements is this one, from Chase.
While many cards offer this protection, there are some that are better than others. Here are five of our picks for best credit cards offering extended warranty protection.
Some of these welcome offers to new card members may have changed since posting.
5 Best Credit Cards Offering Extended Warranty
Citi Premier
Overall, some Citi products are the best credit cards offering extended warranty protection. This is because the coverage is extended for an additional 24 months, and it covers original warranties of up to 5 years (described as a total coverage maximum of 7 years from purchase date). Protection covers the cost to repair or replace the item, up to a purchase price maximum of $10,000. As an all-around great card, the Citi Premier is my top pick if you’re looking for an extended warranty benefit.
Other features of the Citi Premier Card:
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases with your card within the first 3 months of account opening
- 3X Thank You points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airlines, and hotels
- 1X points on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
Other Citi cards offering extended warranty protection include the Citi Rewards+ and the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select. The Citi Prestige (no longer offered) also includes this benefit.
American Express Gold Card
While American Express doesn’t offer the same lengthy extension on existing warranties, they do cover longer warranties than most issuers. You can enjoy an additional year of extended warranty protection on original warranties of five (5) years. This is up to a maximum of $10,000 per covered purchase, with a maximum of $50,000 per year. American Express only covers original manufacturer’s warranties, however. Check out the list of exclusions for the Gold Card on what types of purchases are not covered.
Other features of the Amex Gold Card:
- 4X Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide
- 4X Membership Rewards Points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per year
- 3X Membership Rewards Points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
- 1X Membership Rewards Points on everything else
- $120 annual Uber cash
- Up to $120 in dining credits annually
- Up to $100 in hotel credits annually
- $250 annual fee
Other American Express cards offer this coverage, too. I pulled the Amex Gold as the all-around best card, since it has great earning and solid perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an extended warranty of up to one (1) year for warranties of three (3) years or less. Coverage applies to a maximum of $10,000 per claim. The coverage includes items purchased for personal use and items given as gifts.
In addition to extended warranty benefits, the Sapphire Reserve offers the following:
- 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- $300 annual travel credit
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership
- 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel
- 10X points on hotel and rental car booked through Chase Travel
- 3X points on other travel and dining
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Excellent travel insurance protections
- $550 annual fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One has really been upping their game by adding transfer partners to their program. Their cards are far more valuable than they were just a few years ago. In addition to the transfer option, the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card also offers extended warranty protection of 1 additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less for items purchases with your card. This coverage caps out at $10,000 per claim. You’ll also need to check out Capital One’s excluded items.
Other features of the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card:
- 60,000 Bonus Miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- 2X unlimited miles on every purchase
- Access to Capital One transfer partners
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
Chase Ink Preferred
As a business card, the Chase Ink Preferred offers extended warranty protection of an additional year on items with a 3-year or less manufacturer’s, store-purchased, or assembler’s warranty. Unlike with personal Chase cards, business purchases are not excluded.
In addition to extended warranty coverage, the Ink Preferred card covers your cell phone with insurance protection of up to $600 (with a $100 deductible). You can make a max of three claims per 12 month period. All you have to do is pay your cell phone bill with your Ink Preferred card. Pretty sweet benefit.
Other features of the Chase Ink Preferred card:
- 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories: shipping, internet, cable, phone, social media advertising, travel
- Earn 1 point per $1 on everything else
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel insurance benefits, including auto collision damage waiver on business rentals
- $95 annual fee
Final Thoughts
For any credit cards with extended warranty protection, make sure you check the fine print. Like any insurance benefit, there are terms and conditions you must adhere to. This isn’t a benefit that comes up often, but it can potentially pay your card’s annual fee many times over if you end up needing to make a claim.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the old king of travel rewards cards. Right now
bonus_miles_full
Learn more about this card and its features!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
The single best card for extended warranties is the Citi Costco card. It adds 2 years to warranties of 5 years or less. And if you buy anything with a 1 year manufacturer warranty from costco, it is effectively 4 years.
Even if there is no costco near you, it is still better at $60 AF. If you have a costco near you, its a no brainer.
Why is it not in the list – maybe something to do with referrals ?
Max, that extension matches the Citi Premier card above.