Best Credit Cards for Travel Insurance Coverage – Cancellation, Interruption, Lost Bags, & More in 2024

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Most rewards credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance benefits so you don’t have to buy a standalone policy. You can be eligible for several reimbursements and allowances when your travel itinerary incurs delays or cancellations. 

While many travel credit cards provide built-in travel insurance, some cards are more generous than others.

How Does Credit Card Travel Insurance Work?

Travel credit cards offer a variety of these travel insurance benefits:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Reimburses non-refundable travel purchases for covered reasons that delay or cancel your trip.
• Trip delay reimbursement: Receive compensation for essential expenses like meals and lodging after common carrier delays.
• Rental car insurance: Covers collision and theft damages for most car rentals. Coverage is usually secondary but some cards provide primary coverage.
• Baggage insurance: Receive reimbursements for lost, damaged, or delayed carry-on and checked luggage.
• Emergency evacuation: Offsets medical treatment and transportation due to sickness and injury.
• 24/7 global assist: The credit card concierge can help you out of a medical, legal, or travel bind. This service is free but third-party charges may apply.

Coverage amounts vary by credit card with trip cancellation/interruption and rental car benefits being the most common.

Consult your credit card benefits guide to calculate your benefits when booking a trip. You may still decide to buy travel insurance to cover exclusions and for additional peace of mind. We recommend shopping at TravelInsurance.com and InsureMyTrip as both show the best prices from a variety of carriers.

In most instances, your credit card insurance benefits are provided by the issuer such as Visa or Mastercard. Premium credit cards tend to have more extensive coverage as a tradeoff for the higher annual fee.

This means that the coverage amounts for two Visa Signature or Mastercard World Elite cards are similar unless the bank provides additional perks. 

The best example is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Visa Signature) offering primary rental car insurance when the standard Visa Signature coverage is secondary.

Related: Best Credit Cards for Rental Cars and What Should I Do If My Luggage is Delayed, Lost or Damaged by My Airline?

Best Personal Credit Cards with Travel Insurance

Booking a trip with these cards can provide peace of mind for leisure travel.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best Overall Travel Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers the most valuable credit card travel insurance benefits. One primary reason is that it’s one of the only cards to offer complimentary emergency evacuation.

Featured coverage includes:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip
• Rental car insurance: Primary coverage up to $75,000 (other Visa Infinite cards share this benefit)
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket after 6 hours of delay 
• Emergency evacuation and transportation: Up to $100,000
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per person

This premium card also provides an annual $300 travel credit, Priority Pass Select, and free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Your purchases earn up to 10x Ultimate Rewards points. In addition, each point is worth up to 50% more for award travel bookings.

The annual fee is $550 for the primary card and $75 per authorized user.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Most Affordable Travel Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best credit card with an affordable annual fee. Your primary card is only $95 and additional cards cost $0.

Its benefits tend to have higher coverage amounts than most travel credit cards.

The valuable travel insurance benefits include:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip
• Rental car insurance: Primary coverage up to the actual cash value
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket after 12 hours of delay 
• Baggage delay insurance: Up to $100 per day for 5 days

In comparison, most Visa Signature credit cards offer secondary auto rental coverage which only activates after filing a claim with your car insurance provider.

Other notable card benefits include an annual $50 hotel statement credit, a 25% redemption bonus on travel rewards, and receiving 10% of your points back as an anniversary bonus each year.

Related: Our Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison helps you choose the better travel benefits for your budget.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best American Express Credit Card for Travel Insurance

The Platinum Card from American Express has some of the most extensive travel insurance benefits. However, most people get this card for its extensive travel and shopping benefits like airport lounge access, free CLEAR® Plus membership (get back up to $189 per year when using your Platinum card), and an abundance of statement credits.

The Amex Platinum travel insurance benefits include:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
• Rental car insurance: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket after 6 hours of delay.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Emergency medical transportation: There is no coverage limit for evacuation expenses coordinated through Premium Global Assist.
• Premium Global Assist Hotline: Receive complimentary roadside assistance when traveling at least 100 miles from home.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

While this card’s standard rental car coverage is secondary, you can purchase primary coverage on-demand at a reasonable cost. 

This card has a $695 annual fee (see Rates & Fees) and is best for luxury travel and frequent flyers.

Tip: You may also consider the American Express® Gold Card. This card has lower benefit caps yet has a reasonable $250 annual fee (see Rates & Fees).

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best Capital One Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards is a Visa Infinite credit card with a low annual fee for a premium card. The primary card is only $395 and up to 4 additional cards are free.

Travel insurance benefits include:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $2,000 per person
• Rental car insurance: Primary coverage up to $75,000
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket after 6 hours of delay 
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger

You will also enjoy earning up to 10 miles per $1 on travel purchases, 10,000 bonus miles each card anniversary, and up to a $300 Annual Travel Credit for bookings through Capital One Travel (statement credits)

Frequent flyers may also enjoy complimentary access to the Priority Pass Select and Capital One Lounge networks. 

Tip: You may also consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card as a runner-up. Your redemption options are similar and the travel insurance benefits are competitive with minor differences. It is also a Mastercard World Elite product that offers differing cardholder perks.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Best United Airlines Credit Card

The premium United Club Infinite Card offers these Visa Infinite travel protection benefits:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip
• Rental car insurance: Primary coverage up to the actual cash value 
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket after 12 hours of delay 
• Baggage delay insurance: Up to $100 per day for 3 days 
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger

Additional United Airlines benefits include complimentary United Club membership, two free checked bags, and Premier Access travel services.

This card also provides complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite loyalty status. As well, you can receive application fee credits for these expedited airport security programs:

• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS: Up to $100 every 4 years
• CLEAR®: Up to $70 off of a $189 annual membership

The annual fee is $525. 

Tip: If this yearly cost is too high for your flying frequency, you can consider one of the other three co-brand United Airlines credit cards. For example, even the United Gateway℠ Card ($0 annual fee) offers up to $6,000 per trip in cancellation/interruption coverage. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Best Delta Air Lines Credit Card

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the premium offering to maximize your Delta SkyMiles membership.

Its travel insurance benefits rival the Amex Platinum:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12 months
• Rental car insurance: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $1,250 per passenger
• Emergency medical transportation: No coverage limit for evacuation expenses coordinated through Premium Global Assist. 

Some of the finer benefits include Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access (when booking a Delta flight with your Reserve card). You can also enjoy complimentary upgrades and fast-track status to earn Medallion status.

The annual fee is $550. (see Rates & Fees)

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

Best American Airlines Credit Card

Barclays’s AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard is your best option for a co-brand American Airlines credit card. Admittedly, this airline has the weakest travel insurance perks and you may consider using a flexible travel rewards card.

• Trip interruption and cancellation: $1,500 per person
• Rental car insurance: Secondary coverage up to the actual cash value 
• Baggage delay insurance: Up to $100 per day for 3 days 
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $1,500 per passenger

The Citi-issued American Airlines credit cards had attractive benefits until the benefit cuts in 2020 for most Citi credit cards.

Other card benefits for American Airlines include:

• Free first checked bag
• Preferred boarding
• Up to $25 back each year on in-flight WiFi purchases
• 25% on in-flight food and beverage purchases

The annual fee is $99. See our guide on the American Airlines AAdvantage Loyalty Program.

Best Business Credit Cards for Travel Insurance

These credit cards can protect your business trips from unforeseen challenges.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Best Overall Business Credit Card

The American Express Business Platinum Card has the most extensive travel insurance benefits among business credit cards. However, you must be willing to absorb a $695 annual fee. (see Rates & Fees)

Some of the featured benefits include:

• Trip interruption and cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12 months
• Rental car insurance: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per trip after 6 hours of delay 
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

This card provides a full house of travel and business service benefits that can be well worth the high ownership cost. 

Some of the best benefits include:

• 35% airline bonus (up to 1 million points back per year)
• Global Lounge Collection
• $200 annual airline fee credit per calendar year payable via statement credits at one selected airline
• Expedited security application fee reimbursements
• $1,000+ in statement credits to select business services

Tip: If the Business Platinum isn’t within your price range but you want to earn Membership Rewards, consider the American Express® Business Gold Card. Your business trips can qualify for trip and baggage delay coverage plus secondary car rental insurance.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best Business Credit Card for Rental Cars

The Chase Ink Business Preferred can be your best option if you regularly rent cars for business travel.

The auto rental collision and theft coverage is primary with a coverage limit up to the vehicle’s cash value.

You can also receive trip cancellation and interruption benefits of up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip.

Other card benefits include:

• Earn up to 3x Ultimate Rewards on purchases
• Points are worth 25% more for award travel redemptions
• 1:1 airline and hotel point transfers
• Up to $600 per claim in cell phone protection ($100 minimum deductible, 3x per year)

The annual fee is $95 and additional employee cards are free.

Unlike the two $0 annual fee Chase Ink Business credit cards, the Ink Business Preferred doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a rarity among no annual fee credit cards as it offers primary car rental insurance. The coverage limit is up to the car’s actual cash value. 

Unfortunately, this card doesn’t offer trip cancellation or other travel protection benefits. You can request roadside assistance but additional fees apply. 

In addition to primary rental car insurance, your purchases earn 1.5% back. International purchases incur a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Tip: The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also offers primary car rental coverage for business rentals and doesn’t have an annual fee. You may prefer this card as it earns up to 5% back on select purchases. 

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Booking your trip with one of the best credit cards for travel insurance can easily save thousands of dollars when sickness, severe weather, or other incidents strike.

Using a premium travel credit card or airline credit card can be worth it if you have expensive trips or want access to enhanced benefits like primary car rental insurance or emergency evacuation. Even some no-annual-fee credit cards offer travel insurance.

If you’re simply looking to avoid spending $50 to $200 for single-trip travel insurance, any of these cards can meet your needs for most journeys. In addition to comparing travel insurance benefits, don’t forget also to earn the best travel rewards as you see the world.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: The Platinum Card® from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

American Express Insurance Benefits Information:

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance – The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance – Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Trip Delay Insurance – Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Baggage Insurance Plan (The Platinum Card and The Business Platinum Card) – Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry- on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, 11/11/2021 AXP Internal 7 there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Baggage Insurance Plan (Delta SkyMiles Reserve) – Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Premium Global Assist Hotline – You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third- party service providers.