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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards
Ryan is a former TPG credit cards writer who has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet and The Points Guy. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points & miles stuff is illegal.
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
also contributed to this story
December 25, 2025 • 10 min read
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Quick summary
The article outlines the main shopping protections available on a range of cards, including cellphone, extended warranty, return and purchase protections.
Coverage limits and eligibility requirements differ by card and by type of benefit, with some offering higher maximums for claims.
Cellphone protection typically covers theft or damage (not loss or cosmetic damage), with set claim limits and deductibles.
Extended warranty, return protection and purchase protection each have specific coverage caps, annual limits and exclusions.
What to consider
Coverage for each protection type varies by card, so reviewing your card’s specific benefits is essential.
Cellphone protection requires the phone line to be on a plan paid with the eligible card during the most recent billing period and is subject to a per-claim deductible and annual claim limit.
Return and purchase protections exclude certain items and have annual and per-item or per-claim caps; terms and conditions apply.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of which protections are available on which cards and the specific coverage limits for each benefit.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Numerous American Express cards offer shopping protections that can protect your purchases and the money you’ve spent on them. Coverage terms and limits vary by card. Rather than trying to remember all of this on your own, we’ll guide you through the various shopping protections offered by American Express cards.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the shopping protections available across the American Express card portfolio. Each section outlines a type of coverage and the cards that offer it. Coverage limits are also included.
Cellphone protection
Smartphones aren’t cheap. Cellphone protection covers a stolen or damaged phone. Note that cosmetic damage and phones that are lost (even during shipping) are not usually covered.
All American Express cards with this benefit offer the same level of protection. If your phone is damaged or stolen, American Express's maximum liability per claim is $800. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible, and coverage is limited to two claims per eligible account in a 12-month period. Covered phones are restricted to cellphone lines listed on a mobile phone plan that's paid with the eligible card during the most recent billing period.*
The Corporate Centurion® Card from American Express**
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**The information for these 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.
Extended warranty
When you use your eligible card to purchase items that have a manufacturer’s warranty, extended warranty protection can add up to one extra year to the manufacturer's warranty. Coverage applies to warranties of five years or less. However, some purchases do not receive extended warranty protection from American Express, such as motor vehicles.
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All Amex cards with this benefit provide the same level of protection. The extended warranty coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item, with a maximum of $10,000. There is an annual limit of $50,000 per cardmember account in a calendar year.*
Here are the cards that include this protection when you use them to purchase travel:
*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.
**The information for these 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.
Return protection
Have you ever tried to return an item and the store or seller wouldn’t take it back? In these instances, you can return eligible purchases to American Express for up to 90 days from the date of purchase.
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With return protection, American Express may refund the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling) up to $300 per item and up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account. To be eligible, you must pay for the entirety of the item with your eligible American Express card, and purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.*
Here are the cards that provide return protection when using them for purchases:
Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred American Express Card**
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details.
**The information for these 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.
Purchase protection
While the return protection allows you to return items, purchase protection is for items you want to keep but which have been accidentally damaged, stolen or lost during a period extending for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Purchase protection is an embedded card benefit and does not require enrollment.
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This benefit has two different “levels” of coverage, depending on the card you carry.
Level 1: Higher-end cards
Cards at this level offer coverage with a limit up to $10,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year.*
Other American Express cards offer purchase protection with a limit of up to $1,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year.*
Here are the cards that include this protection when you use them to pay for your items:
*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.
**The information for these 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.
Bottom line
Understanding your card’s shopping and purchasing benefits will help you know what to do if something goes wrong. American Express provides multiple shopping protections across its family of cards, protecting items you want to keep and those you want to return.
Coverage limits within the same benefit can vary by which card you have, so consult your card’s detailed benefits at americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for full details.
