Credit Cards That Can Save You Money on Insurance
Car rental, cell phone and travel insurance are increasingly common perks on credit cards. Some cards even offer pet insurance and rewards on insurance payments.
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Many credit cards offer various types of insurance — cell phone, travel and rental car protection — as standard benefits. Even after factoring in the deductible and the card’s annual fee, if it has one, such insurance benefits can deliver hundreds of dollars in value.
Plus, there are options that reward holders for using their cards to make insurance payments, and others that let holders redeem rewards toward coverage or premiums.
Here’s a list of credit cards that can save you money on insurance.
Cards with free or included insurance
Travel insurance
To take advantage of your credit card’s travel insurance, you’ll need to pay for your trip with that card. Be mindful, too, that many cards require you to file a claim within a certain number of days after a qualifying event. Here's sampling of cards with solid coverage:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers robust travel insurance considering its $95 annual fee. For example, cardholders get trip cancellation insurance up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip, which can give you invaluable peace of mind knowing that you can get reimbursed for travel expenses if you have to cancel (for a covered reason).
United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card, a midtier airline card, has various types of travel insurance that are often on par with or better than what you’ll find on premium cards. Cardholders get up to $500,000 of travel accident insurance and up to $3,000 in lost luggage coverage per passenger, among other coverages. It comes with an annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150. But its comprehensive travel protections helped earn the card the title of best airline card of 2026, according to NerdWallet’s credit cards writers.
Cell phone insurance
As with travel insurance, you must pay your cell phone bill with your credit card to be eligible for the card's cell phone insurance. That can save you from having to buy coverage, separately, from the wireless company. Keep in mind, though, that many wireless providers offer discounts for paying your bill with a bank account or debit card — but not with a credit card. You may need to do some math to determine which saves you more: the card's included coverage (and rewards), or the wireless company's discount.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card delivers tremendous value for a $0-annual-fee card. In addition to earning 2% back on all eligible purchases, it offers cell phone insurance up to $600 if your phone is damaged or stolen. A $25 deductible applies, and claims are capped at two every 12 months.
Choice Privileges® Mastercard®
The cell phone insurance on the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® is generous, and its $25 deductible is modest. The $0-annual-fee card offers up to $800 in coverage in the event of damage or theft of a phone. Cardholders are limited to two claims per 12 months.
Rental car insurance
Rental car insurance comes in two flavors: Primary and secondary. Primary is superior because it kicks in before your own auto insurance, potentially saving you from paying a deductible should you have to file a claim.
To cover a rental car, you must pay for it with the credit card that offers the insurance, and you’ll likely need to decline the rental car company’s collision coverage.
Also note that international rentals may not be covered. For example, Visa Signature coverage excludes rentals in Israel, Jamaica, Ireland and Northern Ireland. No American Express cards offer coverage in Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
Given the variation in coverage among credit cards, it’s wise to research what your specific card offers. Check out our guides on rental car insurance on Chase cards, Delta cards, Southwest cards, American Express cards and Capital One cards.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
As a premium travel card, the $395-annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is loaded with travel-related benefits, one of which is primary rental car insurance. The Venture X’s coverage pays up to the actual cash value of the rental car.
American Express Platinum Card®
Despite the $895 annual fee on the American Express Platinum Card®, the card offers only secondary rental car insurance. Still, that coverage can reimburse you for the deductible that your personal auto insurance charges. Terms apply; see rates and fees.
Pet insurance
Nibbles credit card
Unlike travel or cell phone insurance, pet insurance is a rare credit card benefit. That’s what makes the Nibbles credit card a unique option. The card’s base plan covers up to $10,000 per year in vet expenses for accidental injury and illness, offering 80% coverage and a maximum deductible of $500. For an additional fee, cardholders can increase the annual coverage amount and reimbursement rate, and lower their deductible.
Before applying for the card, make sure to check Nibbles’ website to see whether your pet will be covered. Certain age, breed and health restrictions apply.
Depending on the payment network that your credit card runs on — Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express — you may have access to purchase protection and extended warranty, which could be viewed as types of insurance. The purchase protection benefit can reimburse you for an item that’s been damaged, lost or stolen. As its name suggests, extended warranty covers a purchase beyond the original manufacturer’s warranty in the event the item breaks or is defective.
Cards that earn rewards on insurance expenses
Although still a rare category, there are certain credit cards that earn rewards on insurance coverage or premium payments. Before paying your premiums with a credit card, though, check that your insurance company doesn’t charge a fee for credit card payments. If the fee is high, it could negate the value of earned rewards.
Insurance premiums
The State Farm credit cards
Both the State Farm® Premier Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card and the State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card earn 3% cash back on insurance premium payments, up to $4,000 annually. The 3% rate is not restricted to State Farm insurance — but you must be an existing State Farm customer to qualify for the credit cards.
Auto insurance
Fasten Rewards Visa Card
The Fasten credit card earns 3x points on car-related spending, which includes car insurance purchases. Points may be redeemed in a number of ways, but the value of one point ranges from 0.5 cent to 1 cent depending on the redemption method.
AAA Cashback credit card
In addition to offering rewards on everyday spending, the AAA Cashback credit card earns 2% cash back on insurance purchases made with the association. Cash back can be redeemed for AAA gift cards, merchandise, statement credit and as direct deposits, among other options. Note that you must have AAA membership to get the card.
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