Juan is a travel writer that specializes in travel and personal finance, including content on credit card products and airline and hotel loyalty programs. Juan's passion is helping readers navigate through the complex world of frequent flier miles, c.
Juan Ruiz ContributorJuan is a travel writer that specializes in travel and personal finance, including content on credit card products and airline and hotel loyalty programs. Juan's passion is helping readers navigate through the complex world of frequent flier miles, c.
Written By Juan Ruiz ContributorJuan is a travel writer that specializes in travel and personal finance, including content on credit card products and airline and hotel loyalty programs. Juan's passion is helping readers navigate through the complex world of frequent flier miles, c.
Juan Ruiz ContributorJuan is a travel writer that specializes in travel and personal finance, including content on credit card products and airline and hotel loyalty programs. Juan's passion is helping readers navigate through the complex world of frequent flier miles, c.
Contributor Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
Caroline Lupini Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel RewardsCaroline Lupini has been traveling the world with the help of credit card rewards since 2011. She has visited over 110 countries and is able to utilize her knowledge of credit cards and to make travel both less expensive and more luxurious. Caroline.
| Managing Editor, Credit Cards & Travel Rewards
Updated: Oct 4, 2023, 11:07am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
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Many popular rewards credit cards come with generous welcome offers and useful benefits to attract consumers. For most people, the purchase protection benefit offered by some credit cards flies under the radar. Although this is an oft-overlooked benefit, purchase protection can provide exceptional value. Fortunately, several American Express credit cards are equipped with the handy purchase protection perk.
Purchase protection is included in many U.S. American Express cards at no additional cost to the cardholder. This benefit covers eligible items purchased with an eligible American Express card against damage or theft. Coverage applies for 90 days after purchasing the item. Terms and conditions will apply. Be sure to check your cardholder agreement for your specific benefits.
To be eligible for purchase protection, you must use an American Express card equipped with this benefit and charge at least a portion of your qualifying purchase to that card. You would only be reimbursed up to the amount charged on the card.
Many Amex cards offer purchase protection but coverage limits vary. The most common coverage amount is $1,000 per covered incident, but some premium American Express cards cover purchases up to $10,000 per incident. All policies have a maximum limit of $50,000 in claims per calendar year.
Any purchase that is not in an excluded category and is made with a qualifying American Express card will receive purchase protection. If you need to make a claim, you will receive a reimbursement either for the item or the cost to replace the item, up to the coverage limits on your American Express card.
So for example, if someone were to break into your car and steal your laptop, you’d be covered under purchase protection, as long as you purchased it with your American Express card. From bedroom furniture to clothing and cellular phones to handbags, purchase protection can be a worthwhile benefit—particularly for high-priced items.
There are a multitude of purchases that are excluded from purchase protection. Objects such as motorized vehicles, artwork, gift cards and perishable items like perfume, food, light bulbs and batteries are all typically ineligible for purchase protection coverage.
Other categories excluded are animals, living plants, rare stamps, coins, negotiable instruments such as travelers checks, objects rented, leased or borrowed, anything purchased for resale or commercial use, permanent household items such as carpet, flooring, air conditioners and refrigerators, as well as medical or dental equipment or devices. Additionally, purchase protection benefits are not payable on eligible items if the damage is caused by riots, acts of war or service in the military, normal wear and tear or damage through alteration. Items damaged by natural disasters are subject to different terms and limits notated in each card’s terms and conditions.
You should also know that purchase protection does not cover damage to items when shipped by a third party and under their temporary care, including a common carrier. In other words, if your item gets damaged when being shipped by FedEx, UPS or similar, it may not be covered under Amex’s Purchase Protection (it may however be eligible for some reimbursement by filing a claim through the third-party carrier).
American Express makes it easy for you to file a claim for your lost, damaged or stolen item within 90 days from the date of your purchase. Authorized users are also covered, as long as they’re U.S. residents. Claims can be made online or by giving American Express a call at 1-800-322-1277. For claims filed internationally, you can dial 1-303-273-6498.
If filing online, you will be prompted to submit required documents to support your claim. If filing a damaged or stolen item claim, you may be asked to demonstrate a photograph showing the damage to your item. If your item was stolen, you may need to show American Express a copy of the police report. Once you’ve submitted the necessary supporting documents, American Express will send you an email confirmation stating your documents were received.
If submitting a claim by phone, you will be asked certain questions about your claim. Be ready to provide an itemized online receipt or original store receipt of the item as you will need it to receive claim consideration. Once American Express has all the information needed to process your claim, it will notify you via email once a decision has been made. If successful, you will get a follow-up email letting you know the details of the outcome and instructions on how to replace, repair or get reimbursement for the lost or damaged item.
Purchase protection coverage limits vary among American Express cards, so it’s important that you review your card’s guide to benefits so that you understand the coverage limits and exclusions that apply to you. If you have multiple American Express cards with varying coverage limits, make sure that your large purchases are made on your cards with the largest coverage limits. If you purchase a high-end $2,500 laptop, you should charge it to your premium card with a $10,000 per incident limit rather than a card with a $1,000 per incident coverage limit.
Remember that only purchases made with your eligible American Express card and only the amount charged to your card are eligible for purchase protection. If there is a chance that an item might get broken or stolen, make sure that it is charged to your eligible American Express card.
If an item is stolen, file a police report immediately. You will likely need to produce a police report for purchase protection claims against item theft, so having this on hand can speed up the time it takes to submit and process your claim. Fortunately, in many places, you don’t need to go down to the local police precinct as many cities have an online portal to submit reports for incidents like theft, lost property or damage to property.
If an item is broken, take pictures to document the broken item and make sure that you keep the broken item until either it is requested by American Express or your claim is paid and closed. Many times, claims examiners will ask you to submit photos of your broken item to verify its condition and American Express may request that you send your broken item to them.
Finally, be diligent, complete and timely when you file your claims.
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American Express is the industry leader amongst credit card issuers offering purchase protection to its customers due to its generous terms and simple claim process. Virtually all Amex Membership Rewards, cash back and travel credit cards come with this benefit, ranging from basic cards to ultra-premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and co-branded cards with Hilton and Delta (Terms apply). Notably, American Express prepaid debit cards do not come with this benefit.
Though the majority of cards within the American Express portfolio carry purchase protection as a perk, you won’t get the same level of coverage from all credit cards. For example, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * credit cards carry up to $1,000 coverage per incident, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year¹ (Terms apply.)
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.
In contrast, several premium American Express Cards provide coverage of up to $10,000 per incident, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year². Coverage limits apply. The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees) are just a few examples.
Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits 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.
Be sure to check each card’s individual purchase protection policy before making an expensive purchase on an Amex card. For a complete description of the policies of your American Express card, select your card on this page.
Almost every American Express credit and charge card offers purchase protection of some degree. Business cards are no exception. However, there are varying levels of protection. American Express consumer cards all offer purchase protections for eligible purchases for 90 days from the date of purchase to file a claim.
There are more than a dozen personal cards that offer $10,000 in purchase protection coverage per item. Only two American Express business cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply), elevate coverage to $10,000. Other American Express business cards offer the standard $1,000. Purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits 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.
Furthermore, there are only two American Express business cards that include purchase protection¹ benefits for lost items, which are also the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Terms apply) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply). Other business cards only offer coverage for damaged or stolen items on purchase protection claims. In contrast, more than a dozen personal American Express cards include loss as a qualified purchase protection reason in their benefits.
Many other issuers offer some form of damage against loss or theft for eligible items purchased with the card. If you have an item that was damaged or stolen shortly after you purchased it, it can be worth checking the guide to benefits of the card you used to purchase that item to see if a form of purchase protection applies.
Chase, for example, offers purchase protection for up to 120 days on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom Flex®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. This purchase protection perk on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card covers damage and theft, but only up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per year. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® elevates the purchase protection to up to $10,000 per claim, but still $50,000 per year.
Other issuers often offer their own purchase protections as part of their network affiliation. For example Mastercard offers Purchase Assurance to many Mastercard holders. And Visa offers Purchase Security to Visa Infinite cardmembers. As always, check your credit card’s guide to benefits to see which benefits apply to you.
Purchase Protection is normally not the first benefit that comes to mind when you think of your American Express card perks. Nonetheless, this useful benefit can save you hundreds (maybe thousands) if you have the misfortune of theft or damage on a covered purchased item within 90 days of purchasing the item. When considering which card to use for your next big purchase, don’t forget about the purchase protection coverage perk on your American Express cards.
¹When 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.
²Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits 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.
To view rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express , please visit this page.
