Benefits of the American Express Green Card
With a generous welcome offer, ample ongoing rewards and useful statement credits, this card is a contender for travelers.
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Updated · 1 min read
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Managing Editor The American Express® Green Card earns rich and flexible rewards on dining and travel at a relatively low cost compared with other American Express cards. Its annual fee is $150.
It also offers some unique travel credits, as well as side perks and protections for shoppers and those on the go.
Here’s what you can get with the American Express® Green Card.
Points: Spending rewards
1. A generous welcome offer
New cardholders are eligible for a welcome bonus, which American Express describes this way: “Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.”
2. Ongoing rewards
- Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, campgrounds, trains, taxis, ridesharing, tours, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, subways, third-party travel sites and amextravel.com.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide.
- Earn 1 point per $1 everywhere else.
- Terms apply ( see rates and fees ).
Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for things like travel, statement credits, gift cards and merchandise. You can also transfer points to one of American Express’ hotel and airline partners, or pay with your points with select merchants including Amazon and PayPal. Point values may vary depending on how you redeem them.
Perks: Benefits for travelers
3. $199 CLEAR statement credit
You'll also get up to $199 per year in statement credit to cover the cost of a CLEAR+® membership. CLEAR uses biometric information to verify your identity and speed you through eligible prescreening lines at participating airports and venues. An annual membership costs $199 for an individual, and an additional $50 for up to three adult family members (family members under 18 are free). Terms apply.
4. Travel coverage
- Trip delay insurance: Receive up to $300 per trip (up to two claims per year) to cover unexpected expenses if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours for a covered reason, like weather delays or a stolen passport. Terms apply.
- Baggage insurance: Receive up to $1,250 for a carry-on bag or $500 for checked luggage (or a $10,000 aggregate maximum for New York residents) in the event your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Terms apply.
- Rental car coverage: This can help protect you if your rental car is damaged or stolen. As with all rental car insurance, there are terms, exclusions and restrictions to be mindful of. For example, not all countries or types of rental cars are covered.
- 24/7 global assistance hotline: Get help with medical and legal issues, missing luggage, emergency cash wires and more when you travel more than 100 miles away from home. You’d be responsible for the cost of any third-party service providers needed to complete your request. Terms apply.
Read about the benefits of other popular credit cards
Payment options and protections
5. Purchase protections
Get up to $1,000 in coverage for up to 90 days (up to $50,000 per calendar year), plus an extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty, when you use your American Express® Green Card. Terms apply.
6. Payment flexibility
- Pay Over Time feature: The American Express® Green Card allows you to choose between paying in full or carrying a balance with interest.
- Divide up purchases between friends: Split the cost of a night out? Divvy it up evenly through the AmEx app. It’ll calculate the amount owed and send a PayPal or Venmo request for you. Once your friend pays you back, the money will be sent to your Venmo or PayPal account. Enrollment is required.
- Terms apply.
Exclusive perks for cardholders
7. Exclusive entertainment access
Access to ticket presales means you can beat the rush for popular shows, concerts, sporting events and more. Terms apply.
8. Complimentary ShopRunner membership
Enroll at shoprunner.com/americanexpress for a free ShopRunner membership and get free two-day shipping on eligible items from more than 100 online stores. Terms apply.
All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
- Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan
- 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.
- 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.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
- 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
American Express Insurance Benefit:
Purchase Protection
When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member 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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