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Many credit cards offer extended warranty coverage, which extends the manufacturer's warranty period on eligible purchases. This coverage can help you save money on repairs or replacements by providing an extra layer of protection for your purchases. Here's what you need to know about extended warranties and how they work.
What Is an Extended Warranty?
An extended warranty provides additional coverage beyond the manufacturer's original warranty, typically for an extra one to two years but sometimes up to five years, depending on the card. This extended protection usually matches what the original manufacturer's warranty offers.
Coverage is automatic if your credit card offers this benefit, but you must use your credit card for the full purchase amount in order for your credit card's extended warranty to apply. In some cases, even purchases made with reward redemptions are covered. Taking advantage of this free credit card feature can help you save on third-party warranties.
The credit card extended warranty kicks in after the manufacturer's original warranty expires. If you purchase an additional service contract or extended warranty, your credit card's extended warranty takes effect after that additional coverage period ends. Be sure to keep all your warranty documents and receipts to make it easier to file a claim if you need to.
Extended warranty terms:
- Eligible warranties: Coverage usually only applies to manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.
- Coverage limits: There's often a maximum benefit amount per incident, typically ranging from $500 to $10,000, with an annual limit on claims.
- Eligible purchases: Extended warranties usually apply to new items purchased in full with the credit card or using your credit card rewards. Items like plants, land and motorized vehicles are often excluded.
- Claim deadlines: You must initiate a claim within a certain time frame after discovering the issue, usually between 30 to 60 days, and then complete documentation within 60 to 180 days.
Specific extended warranty terms vary by credit card. Be sure to read your benefits guide to understand the details and any exclusions.
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Which Credit Cards Offer Extended Warranties?
Extended warranties are typically managed by the card payment networks—Visa, Mastercard, or American Express—and are available on certain credit cards. Card issuers decide whether to include extended warranties on their cards and may set varying levels of coverage. You can often find extended warranty protection on the following types of credit cards:
- Travel credit cards
- Cash back credit cards
- Premium credit cards
- Balance transfer credit cards
Not all cards in these categories offer extended warranties, however, so it's smart to check the benefits guides for each card.
How to File an Extended Warranty Claim
Follow these steps to make an extended warranty claim. Specific time frames and documentation may vary by card, but the process is usually similar.
- Contact the benefits administrator. Start by reaching out to the benefits administrator associated with your credit card. You can usually start a claim online or by phone. Check your card's benefits guide to confirm the specific contact method.
- Report your claim promptly. You typically have 30 to 60 days from when the issue occurred to report the claim.
- Submit required documentation. Once the claim is opened, you'll have 60 to 180 days to provide the necessary documents. These typically include:
- Completed claim form
- Original purchase receipt
- Copy of your credit card statement showing the purchase
- Copy of the manufacturer's warranty
- Proof of repair or replacement cost
- Other documents as requested by the claims administrator
Initiating the claim process promptly and submitting accurate documentation is important to ensure your claim is processed smoothly.
What Other Protections Do Credit Cards Offer?
In addition to extended warranties, many credit cards offer several other protections. To qualify for these benefits, you generally need to use your credit card for the purchase. Specific limits and exclusions will apply.
- Cellphone protection: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your cellphone if it's damaged or stolen, as long as you pay your monthly phone bill with the card.
- Purchase protection: Offers coverage for eligible purchases against accidental damage, theft or loss for a limited time, typically 60 to 120 days from the purchase date.
- Rental car insurance: Covers most rental cars for collision damage or theft when you pay with your credit card and decline the rental agency's insurance. Coverage is often secondary to your personal auto insurance.
- Trip interruption or cancellation insurance: Reimburses prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
- Trip delay insurance: Provides reimbursement for unreimbursed expenses, up to a certain limit, if your trip is delayed for several hours or overnight.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: Covers the cost of luggage lost or damaged by the airline. Coverage applies to you and other travelers for whom you purchased tickets.
- Travel accident insurance: Offers coverage for accidental death or serious injury while traveling.
- Return protection: Provides reimbursement, usually via check or statement credit, if a retailer won't accept a return.
- Price protection: Although less common, some cards can offer reimbursement if you find an identical item at a lower price within a set period (usually 30 days) after purchase.
Each benefit requires specific documentation, and most benefits require that you file within a certain time limit. Always review your benefits guide to understand the claims process.
The Bottom Line
Credit card extended warranties and other purchase protections offer valuable coverage, potentially saving you hundreds or thousands on repairs or replacements. Before buying an additional warranty from a retailer or other third party, see if your credit card offers extended warranty protection first. You may already have similar coverage with no extra cost.
If your current credit card doesn't offer this feature, consider upgrading or applying for a card that does. You'll have more purchase protection and peace of mind when you're buying big-ticket items.