The benefits of using the top credit cards go far beyond the rewards you can earn. Many cards have insurance coverages that automatically apply to eligible purchases. Among these protections is extended warranty coverage.
A credit card’s extended warranty can add an extra year or more to an item’s original warranty. While you may not use this benefit very often, it can be incredibly valuable when you need it.
Below, CNBC Select shares how extended warranty coverage works and the best credit cards that offer extended warranties.
Best extended warranty credit cards
Best overall
Citi Premier® Card
On Citi’s secure site
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Rewards
3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and on hotels and air travel, 1X points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
21.24% – 29.24% variable
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Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer, $5 minimum
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Pros
- Unlimited 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No special financing offers
Who’s this for? The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to earn transferable points and access to one of the top extended warranty coverages that’s available with a credit card without paying a high annual fee.
Extended warranty limits: The Citi Premier Card adds 24 months to eligible warranties of five years or less. That’s double the coverage most other credit cards provide. The maximum coverage is $10,000 per item for repairs, replacement or reimbursement (up to the amount you charged to your card, including Citi ThankYou points redemptions).
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Best for travel rewards
American Express® Gold Card
On the American Express secure site
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Rewards
4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
Not applicable
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Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Pros
- Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
- Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
- Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
- Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- No introductory APR period
- $250 annual fee
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Who’s this for? The American Express® Gold Card is a points-earning powerhouse that’s also a great card to use for purchasing expensive items because it comes with both extended warranty and purchase protections.
Extended warranty limits: When purchasing eligible items with your American Express Gold Card, the original manufacturer’s warranty can be extended up to one year. Eligible warranties must be five years or less. You’re covered for up to $10,000 per item not to exceed $50,000 per account per calendar year.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
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Best for no annual fee
Citi Rewards+® Card
On Citi’s secure site
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Rewards
For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening.
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Regular APR
18.74% – 28.74% variable
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Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Pros
- All purchases automatically round up to the nearest 10 points — with no cap
- Get 10% points back on all of your redemptions for the first 100,000 ThankYou® Points you redeem each year
- Special financing offer for new purchases and balance transfers
Cons
- 3% fee on purchases made outside the U.S.
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $431
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $1,556
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Who’s this for? The Citi Rewards+® Card is a solid option if you prefer not to pay an annual fee but still want extended warranty coverage.
Extended warranty limits: Eligible purchases you make with the Citi Rewards+ Card can have the warranty extended by 24 months. The original warranty must be for five years or less and the maximum coverage limit is $10,000 (up to the amount charged to your card, including ThankYou points redemptions).
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Best for bad credit
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Information about the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.
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Rewards
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Welcome bonus
No current offer
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
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Regular APR
30.74% variable
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Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
No credit history
Pros
- No annual fee
- $49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- High variable APR
- No rewards program
Who’s this for? If you have poor credit or a limited credit history, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a good card to consider because you can qualify with a reasonable security deposit.
Extended warranty limits: Eligible purchases you make with your Capital One Platinum Secured card can have the original warranty length doubled (up to 24 months maximum). If the original warranty is for longer than 24 months, this benefit doesn’t apply. The coverage limit is up to $10,000 or what you charged to your card (whichever is less).
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Best for small businesses
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
On Chase’s secure site
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Rewards
Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
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Welcome bonus
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases; N/A for balance transfers
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Regular APR
18.49% – 24.49% variable
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Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards
- Simple cash-back program
- Special financing offer for purchases
Cons
- 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Citi Premier® Card
The Citi Premier® Card is one of the best travel credit cards for earning Citi ThankYou points, which transfer to many valuable travel programs. It has a modest annual fee and earns bonus points in a variety of common spending categories.
Rewards
- 3X points per dollar at restaurants
- 3X points per dollar at supermarkets
- 3X points per dollar at gas stations
- 3X points per dollar on hotels and air travel
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Notable benefits
The Citi Premier® Card enables ThankYou point transfers to all 17 of Citi’s transfer partners. So if you have the Citi Rewards+® Card or the Citi Double Cash® Card, the rewards you earn instantly become more useful if you also have the Citi Premier card.
Once per calendar year, cardholders receive a $100 discount on hotel bookings (of $500 or more) made through Thankyou.com. You’ll pay no foreign transaction fees with this card and have access to Citi-specific perks, such as Citi Entertainment.
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American Express® Gold Card
There are few cards as rewarding for purchases as the American Express® Gold Card, which is one of the best options for dining and U.S. supermarket spending.
Rewards
- 4X points per dollar for dining at restaurants worldwide, and delivery and takeout within the U.S.
- 4X points per dollar for shopping at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year, then 1X points
- 3X points per dollar on flights booked directly via the airline or through Amextravel.com
- 1X points per dollar for all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee
$250 (see rates and fees)
Notable benefits
Aside from the extended warranty, the American Express Gold Card offers other types of insurance benefits, including coverage for trip delays, rental cars and baggage. Cardmembers can also benefit from several valuable statement credit offers. You can receive up to $120 in dining credits each year (up to $10 back a month), which can be used with partners like Grubhub, Seamless and Goldbelly. The card also provides up to $120 in annual Uber Cash ($10 per month) that can be used for Uber Eats orders. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
Amex Membership Rewards points can be transferred to various airline or hotel partners or redeemed for gift cards, cash back and other rewards. This card also has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).
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Citi Rewards+® Card
The Citi Rewards+® Card is a no-annual-fee credit card with several interesting perks, such as a 10% rebate on points redemptions (on the first 100,000 points you redeem each year).
Rewards
- 2X points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year, then 1X points
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
The points you earn on purchases are also rounded up to the nearest increment of 10. For example, a $4 purchase earns 10 points and a $12 transaction would earn 20 points.
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 points after spending $1,500 in purchases on your card within three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
One of the best features of Citi Rewards+ Card is its 10% rebate on points redemptions, which applies to the first 100,000 points you redeem each calendar year. This points rebate applies to transfers to Citi’s travel partners, so if you have a card that unlocks all of Citi’s transfer partners (like the Citi Premier® Card), you’ll receive up to 10,000 points back a year on transfer to ultra valuable programs, such as Turkish Airlines or Emirates.
New card members can also qualify for a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then a variable 18.74% – 28.74% APR applies). For balance transfers completed in the first four months of account opening, there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5). Balance transfers completed afterward will cost 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
How credit card extended warranty coverage works
The way extended warranty coverage works is, typically, it takes the terms of the original manufacturer’s warranty and extends the window those protections apply to. This benefit is available to eligible cardholders at no additional cost. To file a claim, you’ll usually need proof of purchase, proof that you used your eligible card to make the purchase and the original warranty.
For an item to be eligible, the original manufacturer’s warranty needs to fall under a certain length, which is typically two to five years depending on the coverage. You’ll also need to make the purchase with your credit that has this benefit or with rewards associated with that card.
Each card’s extended warranty coverage has a list of items that are excluded, this usually includes purchases such as:
- Boats
- Cars
- Anything purchased for resale
- Pre-owned for refurbished items
- Antiques
- Services
- Software
Comparing extended warranty benefits
| Credit Card | Coverage length | Coverage limits |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Premier® Card | Up to 24 additional month for warranties of five years or less | Up to $10,000 per item |
| American Express® Gold Card | Up to one year for original warranties of fives years of less | Up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Up to 24 additional month for warranties of five years or less | Up to $10,000 per item |
| Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | Up to 24 months for original warranties of 24 months or less | Up to $10,000 per item |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | One additional year for original warranties of three years of less | Up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account |
FAQs
Do Visa credit cards offer extended warranty?
Many Visa cards offer an extended warranty benefit. However, whether this specific perk is available varies by card and the card issuer, so you’ll need to refer to your card’s benefits guide to see what protections you have.
Does Mastercard offer an extended warranty on purchases?
Certain Mastercards provides extended warranty coverage, however, this perk may not be available on your specific card. To see what benefits your Mastercard has, please refer to your card’s benefits guide.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer extended warranty coverage?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers extended warranty coverage. Eligible purchases can qualify for an additional year of warranty coverage (on warranties of three years or less) for up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account.
Bottom line
Many credit cards offer extended warranty coverage for eligible purchases. However, the value of this perk varies depending on the card. Original warranties are generally only extended for between one and two years, and additional restrictions apply. It’s important to read the fine print for your cards so you know when the coverage applies.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for extended warranty coverage.
Our methodology
To determine which credit cards are best for extended warranties, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers. We compared each card on a range of features in addition to the card’s extended warranty benefit, including the annual fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks and how easy it is to redeem points.
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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.