Edited by Peggy BennettCredit Card Protections and Insurance for 2026
Edited by Peggy Bennett
Quick Answer
Credit card travel protections remain popular, and could be a reason to pay with a credit card even if there’s a surcharge. Purchase protections can also be important, especially if you’re worried about porch piracy.
Credit cards may provide important travel and purchase benefits that can help you stretch your dollar and protect you from unexpected circumstances. Here's a look at how the most popular credit card travel and purchase protections work.
Credit Card Travel Protection Trends in 2026
Travel protections can help cover travel-related costs. However, you typically need to book your trip, lodging or other service with the card that offers these protections to be eligible. Alternatively, you can use points from the card's rewards program to pay for the trip.
For example, credit cards travel purchase and insurance benefits may include:
- Trip accident insurance: This offers coverage for when a traveler is killed or seriously injured during a trip. Serious injuries may include loss of speech, sight, hearing or a limb.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: It may reimburse you if your trip is canceled or cut short due to a covered event, such as covered illnesses or severe weather.
- Trip delay insurance: This can cover expenses, including meals, transportation and lodging, if your planned trip is delayed or canceled.
- Baggage delay insurance: This can reimburse you for necessary purchases, such as clothing and toiletries, while you wait for your bags to arrive.
- Roadside dispatch or assistance: This coverage could either help connect you with nearby roadside help while you're on the road or help cover the cost of certain services.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: This is primary or secondary coverage for when a rental car is damaged or stolen.
The benefits and coverage details can depend on the type of credit card you have, which is one reason that you want to compare the top travel credit cards before applying.
Best travel cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn valuable points or miles and unlock travel perks on flights and hotel stays.
Offers from our partners
American Express Platinum Card®
Intro bonus:
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Ongoing APR:See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:
1x - 5x (Points per dollar)
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Annual Fee:$895
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:
60,000 Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$95
American Express® Gold Card
Intro bonus:
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Ongoing APR:See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:
1x - 5x (Points per dollar)
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$325
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Metal Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% - 10% (cash back)
Earn 5% cash back rewards on eligible dining, gas, & travel purchases, 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, and 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotel and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner. Cash back rewards will be awarded as rewards points redeemable for a statement credit, gift cards, travel, and more. Terms apply.
Annual Fee:$95
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro bonus:
As High As 80K Miles + $250 Statement Credit
You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles and a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)
When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Intro bonus:
130,000 Points
Earn 130,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
3x - 12x (Points per dollar)
Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 4X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of U.S. Online Retail purchases. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Annual Fee:$150
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
85,000 Bonus Points
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$250
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro bonus:
200,000 Points
Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
3x - 14x (Points per dollar)
Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants. Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$550
See all our best travel credit cards for 2026.
Here's a close look at some of the current trends for travel-related benefits.
Delay, Cancellation and Interruption Remain Popular Benefits
Of all the travel benefits, trip delay, cancellation and interruption insurance benefits have been especially popular since the pandemic.
In recent years, claims increased as airlines dealt with systemwide computer issues, travelers got held up by long airport security lines and severe weather events led to delays and cancellations.
Nearly 1 in 4 flights (22.5%) were delayed in the first half of 2025, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation. Canceled flights are slightly higher than in 2024, though that number is likely to rise even more in the second half of 2025 given the government shutdown that canceled many flights.
Card Issuers Highlight Travel Benefits
Credit card issuers are increasingly focused on travel as a selling point. Some issuers have their own travel portals and incentivize booking travel through their website or app. Card rewards programs even have branded airport lounges for cardholders.
Although card issuers have to pay for benefits and insurance coverage, these perks are also a selling point that gets people to sign up for and use a credit card. With this in mind, you might see more marketing material and reminders about your card's benefits in the coming year.
Credit Card Purchase Protection Trends in 2026
Most credit cards include zero liability protection for unauthorized purchases, and many offer additional protections on products and services you pay for with your credit card:
- Return protection: Allows you to return a product and get a refund when the original retailer doesn't accept the return.
- Purchase protection (or purchase security): Get reimbursed for products that are damaged, lost or stolen.
- Extended warranties: Extends the manufacturer's warranty on a product.
- Price protection: Can cover the difference between your purchase price and a lower advertised price after you make a purchase.
- Cellphone protection: Reimburses you if your phone is stolen or damaged.
As helpful as these card benefits can be, it's important to remember they all have requirements and limits.
For example, return and purchase protections usually only last a few months from the purchase date, and there may be per-claim and annual limits. Or, the extended warranty benefit may only apply to purchases when the original manufacturer's warranty was for one or two years.
But many of the benefits, even cellphone protection, are available on cards that don't have an annual fee.
Learn more: How Do I Check My Credit Card Benefits?
New Credit Card Benefits in 2026
There really aren't any noteworthy new credit card benefits announced for 2026. Rather, some card issuers have recently revamped their premium credit card offerings. New changes to select cards include increased hotel and dining credits, enhanced status with travel loyalty programs and deeper partnerships with lifestyle brands. Additionally, some credit cards have devalued their rewards points, providing less benefit to users in the coming year.
Start Looking for Your Next Credit Card
Looking for a credit card that has all the benefits you want? Some of the best ones are only available with premium cards, which tend to require good credit. But Experian can match you to credit cards based on your credit profile. Review the results and compare the cards' fees, features and benefits to see which one might be the best fit.
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About the author
Louis DeNicola
Louis DeNicola is freelance personal finance and credit writer who works with Fortune 500 financial services firms, FinTech startups, and non-profits to teach people about money and credit. His clients include BlueVine, Discover, LendingTree, Money Management International, U.S News and Wirecutter.
Read more from Louis