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10 best credit cards with travel insurance of July 2026

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Many things can go wrong on a trip, so having one of the best credit cards with travel insurance in your wallet can provide peace of mind. Protection against unforeseen trip delays and mishandled baggage can save you money when your travels don’t go as expected.

Many credit cards include travel insurance coverage when you use them to purchase your trip. But our expert team has chosen the best credit cards with travel insurance to help ensure that your trips are as secure as they are captivating.

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. Our travel and credit cards experts share their own experiences and give honest analyses to help you make decisions that benefit you the most. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads, and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analysis are entirely our own.

Comparing the best travel insurance credit cards

Best for premium travel value

4.5 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
8xEarn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠.
4xEarn 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct.
3xEarn 3x points on dining worldwide.
1xEarn 1x points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
100,000 bonus points
Annual fee
$795
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.99% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
740-850Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a no-brainer card for those who are looking to up their reward earnings to the highest level. Chase Ultimate Rewards are one of the most valuable points currencies. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Pros

  • Automatic $300 annual travel credit each account anniversary year
  • Earn 8 points per dollar spent on Chase Travel purchases and 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct
  • Over $2,800 in total annual cardmember value, including credits for StubHub, Apple Music, Apple TV+ and DoorDash
  • $300 annual dining credit (split up as two semiannual $150 credits) for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants
  • Access to Chase’s 14 hotel and airline travel partners
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status (through Dec. 31, 2027)

Cons

  • Steep $795 annual fee, plus a $195 fee per authorized user
  • Some credits are split biannually, requiring careful tracking to maximize value
  • Some credits require enrollment or specific platforms, which may make it more difficult to maximize value
  • May not be a good fit for those who don’t spend heavily on travel or select lifestyle categories
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
  • Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
  • Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
  • Member FDIC
Best Offer Ever

Best for business travel rewards

4 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
8xEarn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
5xEarn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
4xEarn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
3xEarn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising.
1xEarn 1x points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn 200,000 bonus points
150,000 bonus points
Annual fee
$795
Regular APR
Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Good Credit, Excellent Credit

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ is a top choice for business owners who prioritize travel and premium perks. It offers elevated rewards, including 8 points per dollar spent through Chase Travel℠ and 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct.

Cardmembers also receive flexible statement credits totalling over $2,500 annually, including more than $1,300 in travel value and $1,200 towards business services. These credits cover a wide range of expenses, such as a $300 annual travel credit and a $400 ZipRecruiter hiring credit.

While the card carries a high annual fee, its broad range of benefits and generous earning potential make it a solid choice for businesses with frequent travel and significant spending needs.

Pros

  • Earn 8 points per dollar spent through Chase Travel and 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct
  • $300 annual travel credit plus additional credits for rideshare and food delivery
  • $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every four years
  • Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, plus IHG Platinum Elite status and exclusive hotel perks via The Edit
  • Comprehensive travel protections and purchase coverage, including trip delay and rental car insurance
  • Up to $500 annual hotel credit with The Edit by Chase Travel (two $250 credits per year; two-night minimum required)
  • Up to $400 annual ZipRecruiter credit for hiring needs (up to $200 in semiannual credits)
  • $200 annual Google Workspace credit for business tools

Cons

  • Steep $795 annual fee, which may be hard to justify without frequent traveling or high spending
  • Many credits are split across the year or require activation, making them harder to fully maximize
  • Employee cards lack key perks like lounge access and hotel elite status
  • Must spend $120,000 annually to unlock some of the most valuable benefits (like IHG Diamond status and Southwest A-List)
  • Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
  • $7,000+ in value your first year. 200K points, valued at $4,000 for select flights and hotels through Chase Travel℠, plus $3,000+ in annual value through travel and business benefits.
  • Earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
  • Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • Earn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
  • Earn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising.
  • Get the most flexible travel credit compared to any other card, with up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year on travel purchases.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club network and Priority Pass™ Select membership. Two guests may accompany the Primary Cardmember to the lounges free of charge.
  • Member FDIC
Offer Ending Soon

Best for a lower annual fee

4.5 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
5xEarn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3xEarn 3x on dining, vacation homes, gas & EV charging, top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs).
2xEarn 2x on all other travel purchases.
1xEarn 1x on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
100,000 bonus points
75,000 bonus points
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.24% - 27.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
670-850Excellent/Good

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains one of the easiest travel rewards cards to recommend because it has elevated rewards across everyday spending categories, valuable travel protections, useful statement credits and an approachable annual fee. Whether you're new to points and miles or already maximizing transfer partners, it offers a rare combination of flexibility and long-term value for both beginners and experienced travelers alike.

Pros

  • Earn elevated rewards in popular categories, including travel, dining, gas, EV charging and vacation home stays
  • Premium travel protection benefits include trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance
  • Versatile airline and hotel transfer partners
  • Features up to $100 in annual hotel credits through Chase Travel℠

Cons

  • Has an annual fee
  • No airport lounge access
  • Transfers to Hyatt at a lower rate than other Sapphire cards
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
  • Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
  • Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Member FDIC

Best for United loyalists

3 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
11xEarn 11x total miles on eligible United flights.
5xEarn 5x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
2xEarn 2x miles on dining and all other travel.
1xEarn 1x mile on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn up to 90,000 miles
Annual fee
$695
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Excellent Credit

The United Club Card comes with the most perks and highest earning rates of any of United’s personal credit cards. Read our full review of the United Club Card.

Pros

  • Earn 5x miles on United purchases; 2x miles on travel and dining; 1x on everything else
  • United Club℠ membership for you and your eligible travel companions at all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide
  • Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck application every four years
  • Free first and second checked bags for you and one travel companion on the same reservation
  • 25% inflight statement credit on eligible purchases

Cons

  • High $695 annual fee
  • Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles
  • NEW! 11x total miles on eligible United flights and 5x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
  • 2x miles on dining and all other travel
  • 1x mile on all other purchases
  • Unlimited United Club℠ access for you and a guest - a $750+ value per year
  • Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services.
  • Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts annually
  • NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
  • Member FDIC

Best for bonus earning

4.5 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
3XEarn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
1XEarn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn 100,000 bonus points
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
17.74% - 26.74% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
670-850Good, Excellent

This card has a unique set of perks that make it attractive for business owners looking to maximize their earning potential and unlock valuable rewards through the Ultimate Rewards program. And it currently comes with a strong welcome offer. Read our review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

Pros

  • Bonus categories that are most relevant to business owners for a reasonable $95 annual fee
  • Access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for points redemption
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement and primary car rental insurance when traveling on business
  • Additional perks including extended warranty, cellphone protection and purchase protection

Cons

  • High spending needed to get sign-up bonus
  • Subject to Chase's 5/24 rule on card applications
  • Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Go further when you book with Chase Travel℠. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
  • Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
  • Member FDIC

Comparing the best travel insurance credit cards

Credit card
Best forIntro offerEarning rateAnnual fee
4.5

at Chase's secure site

See rates & fees

premium travel value
100,000 bonus points
Open Intro bonus
1 - 8X points
Open Rewards rates
$795
Best Offer Ever
4

at Chase's secure site

See rates & fees

business travel rewards
Earn 200,000 bonus points
Open Intro bonus
150,000 bonus points
1 - 8X points
Open Rewards rates
$795
Offer Ending Soon
4.5

at Chase's secure site

See rates & fees

a lower annual fee
100,000 bonus points
Open Intro bonus
75,000 bonus points
1 - 5X points
Open Rewards rates
$95
3

at Chase's secure site

See rates & fees

United loyalists
Earn up to 90,000 miles
Open Intro bonus
1 - 11X miles
Open Rewards rates
$695
4.5

at Chase's secure site

See rates & fees

bonus earning
Earn 100,000 bonus points
Open Intro bonus
1 - 3X points
Open Rewards rates
$95

More details on the best travel insurance credit cards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers at least 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, an annual $300 travel credit and what is likely the most comprehensive credit card travel insurance available. On top of what is offered by many other cards in this guide, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers travel accident insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation and an emergency medical and dental benefit.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is best suited for travelers who can take full advantage of its elevated earning rates, statement credits and wide range of luxury benefits.

If you regularly spend on travel and lifestyle purchases, and want a premium reward card that delivers both luxury benefits and long-term value, the Sapphire Reserve is a card you should consider.

If the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is too high, consider its sibling with a lower annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

The Chase Sapphire Business Card is built for business owners who want premium travel perks and solid everyday earning potential. With 3 points per dollar spent on select business categories, plus flexible redemption options through Chase Ultimate Rewards, it’s a high-value card for business owners on the move.

This card is ideal for business owners who travel frequently, want to earn valuable rewards on both business and everyday purchases and appreciate premium benefits like travel protections, airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees.

If you’re looking to turn business expenses into meaningful travel rewards — and want premium perks usually reserved for personal cards — the Sapphire Business Card’s strong earning power, flexible redemption options and travel-friendly benefits make it a standout choice.

If you want access to the Centurion Lounge and other top-tier travel perks, you might consider The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. While it carries a hefty $895 annual fee (see rates and fees), it offers 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, access to thousands of lounges worldwide and earns 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases in select business categories (on up to $2 million per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Cardholders earn strong rewards on travel, dining, gas, EV charging and vacation rentals while enjoying premium benefits like trip cancellation insurance and primary rental car coverage. Additional perks, including a $100 hotel credit and a credit for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee, add meaningful value. Combined with Chase's excellent transfer partners, it's one of the strongest travel cards in the sub-$100 annual fee category.

Travelers who regularly spend on dining, streaming, vacation rentals and general travel and who want flexible ways to redeem their rewards, including the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners without paying a premium annual fee.

The Sapphire Preferred packs an impressive collection of rewards and benefits into a card with a modest annual fee. Elevated earning rates across several categories, statement credits that outweigh the annual fee and strong travel protections make this card easily justifiable year after year. It offers an easy entry point into earning travel rewards while still providing enough upside to satisfy more experienced travelers with valuable transfer partners.

If you prefer a simpler rewards structure, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Rather than tracking multiple bonus categories, Venture cardholders earn elevated rewards on every purchase. However, travelers willing to maximize bonus categories may find greater long-term value with the Chase Sapphire Preferred thanks to its stronger earning rates on dining, gas purchases and vacation rentals, valuable transfer partners and robust travel protections.

United Club℠ Card

The United Club Card offers perks with United, the ability to earn United miles on purchases and travel insurance comparable to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This means you’ll get useful protections like trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and primary rental car insurance.

If you can benefit from travel perks with United, including a United Club membership and free first- and second-checked bags for you and a companion on United flights, the United Club Card is likely a good option. You’ll also get Avis President's Club status and IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status with your card, making it a good choice for travelers who use these programs.

If you’re considering buying a United Club membership, you’ll likely come out ahead with the United Club Card. You’ll get some nice perks with United, as the card offers perks for United loyalists as well as those who don’t travel with United frequently enough to earn elite status with the airline.

If the United Club’s card annual fee is too high for you, consider the lower-annual-fee United℠ Explorer Card.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred is a go-to travel credit card due to its bonus earnings on travel and its built-in travel insurance. It earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and provides travel insurance that’s comparable to what is offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

You should get the Ink Business Preferred if you’re eligible for a small-business credit card and want to earn bonus points on shipping purchases, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services and travel each account anniversary year. Getting such a good earning rate with a card with a sub-$100 annual fee is amazing.

"I originally signed up for the Ink Business Preferred primarily for its sign-up bonus. But, over the last year, I've found myself making it my go-to card when booking travel. After all, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel and provides excellent travel protections, including trip delay protection and rental car insurance." - Katie Genter, senior writer

If you are looking for a consumer card offering similar travel insurance and a slightly lower earning rate on most travel purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good option.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Business owners get to take advantage of solid travel perks but also business-specific perks such as an up to $120 wireless telephone service statement credit (up to $10 per month) for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. Enrollment required.

Business travelers who can take advantage of this card’s statement credits and would benefit from perks like lounge access and hotel elite status.

If you’re often on the go for work trips, this Amex Business Platinum card is a solid choice. It’s packed with travel-related statement credits and benefits in addition to offering business-specific perks that are pretty straightforward to use.

If you’re in the market for a premium business card but don’t want to commit to the Amex Business Platinum, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. Like its consumer counterpart, the Sapphire Reserve for Business earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points and also offers business-related statement credits and perks.

American Express Platinum Card®

The American Express Platinum Card® is a great travel companion thanks to perks like no foreign transaction fees and enhancements like a generous up to $600 hotel credit (disbursed as up to $300 in statement credits biannually). Now, it also features more lifestyle credits that cardmembers can take advantage of to help offset its hefty annual fee.

Frequent travelers and digital entertainment subscribers will enjoy travel perks like lounge access and an up to $219 Clear+ statement credit in addition to an up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 per month in statement credits). Enrollment may be required and you may be subject to auto-renewal.

Adding this card to your rotation makes sense if you can use its perks and statement credits to offset its $895 annual fee.

If you want a premium travel and lifestyle card that’s not nearly $900, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It features a $795 annual fee — which is still a big figure — but offers several similar perks and credits that offset this fee, and it earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most valuable reward currencies on the market.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta Reserve Amex offers many of the same travel insurance perks as other premium Amex cards, like the Amex Platinum. But we love the Delta Reserve for its Delta Sky Club access, 15% off Delta-operated award flights and 20% back on inflight purchases (as a statement credit) on Delta-operated flights.

Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

If you are a Delta loyalist who wants to earn Delta miles on your credit card purchases and will benefit from Delta-related benefits, the Delta Reserve Amex may be a good fit. However, bonus earning is limited to Delta purchases, so you may want to use a different card for many of your travel expenses.

"As a Delta Diamond Medallion, I spend a lot of time on Delta jets. The card's annual companion ticket is valid on first class itineraries and has helped me offset the card's annual fee multiple years in a row." - Andrew Kunesh, former senior points and miles editor

If you want to earn more on flights, consider the American Express Platinum Card® to earn bonus points per dollar on select flights. After all, you can transfer Amex points to Delta.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X offers 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Plus, cardholders get access to car rental insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay reimbursement and more when using their Venture X card for eligible purchases.

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.

If you can benefit from earning at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, the Capital One Venture X is a good option. The card offers two perks — a $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings and 10,000 bonus miles each year (starting on your first anniversary) — that fully offset the annual fee before you even consider the card’s other benefits.

"The Capital One Venture X comes with an annual $300 Capital One Travel Portal credit, which I use to book flights. That effectively brings the annual fee down to $95 per year. I use my Venture X card to earn 2 miles per dollar in spend categories where most cards would only accrue 1 mile (e.g. auto maintenance, pharmacies, medical bills)." - Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter

If you want to pay a lower annual fee in exchange for fewer benefits, you can still earn at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers travel insurance protections to its cardholders if they experience trip delays, baggage delays, lost luggage and more. Plus, cardholders can claim up to $100 in airline incidental statement credits annually for qualifying purchases, which is more than enough to offset the card’s $95 annual fee.

This card offers 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. But, if you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you’ll get 25% to 75% bonus rewards on every purchase. So, this card is a particularly good option for Preferred Rewards members.

If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you should seriously consider adding this card to your wallet. Other travelers should also consider this card, as it offers competitive travel insurance protections and earning rates given its sub-$100 annual fee that can be fully offset by the card’s annual airline incidental statement credits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good option since it carries a similar annual fee and offers 2 points per dollar spent on general travel purchases.

How we rate

We rated the best travel insurance credit cards based on several factors, including bonus category earning rates, perks and benefits associated with each card and the overall value each card delivers to you, the consumer. To learn about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology here.
Welcome bonusWe included cards that come with strong welcome bonuses at varying minimum spend thresholds to fit your budget.
Annual feeOur top picks for credit cards with travel insurance feature varying annual fees to provide a larger range of benefits.
Earning ratesWe chose travel insurance cards that feature popular bonus categories to help you get the most from your spending.
Redemption optionsThe best credit cards provide you with different various redemption options, including cash back.
Added benefitsIn addition to travel insurance and strong earning rates, our top picks also offer solid welcome bonuses and other perks.

38% of TPG readers rank getting rental car insurance as a top-three most valuable card benefit

According to a recent TPG newsletter survey, 70% of TPG readers enjoy getting rental car insurance from their cards, making rental car insurance a standout card benefit. 38% of TPG readers even rank this perk as a top-three most valuable card benefit which showcases how important travel insurance is for travelers. This benefit provides cardholders with peace of mind and helps them save on pricey car insurance policies. Some card providers offer primary car insurance, which means users are protected against theft and damage without affecting their personal car insurance policy. If you frequently rent cars on your travels, consider choosing a card with a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers your trip and rental.

This information was collected via opt-in surveys of TPG’s roughly 900,000 daily newsletter subscribers in May-June 2024. All data is anonymous and aggregated; you can view our full methodology for collecting and utilizing data here.

Ask our experts

What's your favorite travel insurance card — and why?

How to choose a credit card with travel insurance

If you want a specific type of travel insurance, such as trip delay protection that kicks in after just six hours or emergency evacuation protection, you can quickly narrow down your options to just cards that offer that benefit. However, many travelers just want a card that provides decent travel insurance. In this case, consider the other perks offered by the cards in this guide. Then, once you have found a card you like, double-check that its travel insurance fits your needs.
Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing a travel insurance credit card:
  • 1
    Sign-up bonus
    Select a credit card with travel insurance that has a solid sign-up bonus with an achievable spend threshold. You can use this reward for future travel plans or to pay down a balance if you're earning cash back. Seek to earn the currency that's most valuable to you, be it points, miles or cash back.
  • 2
    Annual fee
    Credit cards with travel insurance come with varying annual fee prices. Some are higher for more premium benefits, while others are lower with less perks. We included a range of annual fee rates for every traveler to consider.
  • 3
    Bonus categories
    Many travel insurance credit cards feature bonus categories. We selected cards with a range of bonus category earnings to fit each consumer. Select a card that matches with your regular spending habits to maximize your expenses.

Pros + cons of travel insurance credit cards

Pros

  • Travel insurance cards are good to have for protections while you're traveling
  • Using a credit card with travel insurance responsibly can help you build your credit score
  • Many cards with travel insurance come with other perks, such as elevated earning rates

Cons

  • Credit cards can encourage overspending
  • Carrying a balance on your card with travel insurance can damage your credit score
  • The cost of borrowing on credit cards is higher than traditional loans

Frequently asked questions

Many travel rewards cards offer travel insurance. We’ve discussed some of our favorites that offer the most comprehensive travel insurance in this guide. But many other cards also offer travel insurance — these cards may have lower benefit maximums, fewer types of coverage, and more exclusions.

The best way to determine if your credit card has travel insurance is to study the guide to benefits that came in the mail when you received your card. You can also usually find the guide to benefits or detailed information about your benefits in your online credit card account. However, you can also call the number on the back of your card and inquire about what travel insurance, if any, your card offers.

Many travelers wonder if more than credit card travel insurance is required. In particular, you may wonder whether you should get travel insurance if you have credit card protection. There’s no right answer, and it often depends on your health, the type of trip you are taking and whether you have an emergency fund that can cover unexpected costs if needed. In short, if you fear your credit card insurance isn’t enough, it may be smart to purchase a travel insurance plan.