Many American Express cards offer Purchase Protection, which protects your purchases and the money you spend. Coverage terms and limits vary by card. Instead of trying to remember them all on your own, we’ll walk you through the various purchase protections offered by American Express cards.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the purchase protection available across the American Express card portfolio. Each section outlines a type of coverage and the cards that offer that type of coverage. Coverage limitations are also included.
cell phone protection
Smartphones aren’t cheap. Cell phone protection covers stolen or damaged phones. Please note that cosmetic damage and loss of the phone (even in transit) are generally not covered.
All American Express cards with this offer offer the same level of protection. If your phone is damaged or stolen, American Express’s maximum liability is $800 per claim. There is a $50 deductible per claim and coverage is limited to two claims per eligible account within a 12-month period. Covered cell phones are limited to cell phone lines listed on cell phone plans paid for with an eligible card during the most recent billing cycle. *
Here are the cards that include this protection:
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. The policy is underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AIG.
**Information for these cards is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
extended warranty
Extended Warranty Protection extends the manufacturer’s warranty by up to one year when you use an eligible card to purchase an item with a manufacturer’s warranty. Warranty coverage is available for five years or less. However, certain purchases are not eligible for American Express extended warranty protection, such as motor vehicles.
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All American Express cards with this offer offer the same level of protection. Extended warranty coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item, up to a maximum of $10,000. The annual limit per Cardmember account is $50,000 in a calendar year. *
Here are the cards that include this protection when you use them to purchase travel:
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policy underwritten by American Express Insurance Company.
**Information for these cards is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Return protection
Have you ever tried to return something but the store or seller wouldn’t return it? In these cases, you may return your eligible purchase to American Express within 90 days of the date of purchase.
With Return Protection, American Express provides full refunds (excluding shipping and handling fees) up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per card account per calendar year. To qualify, you must pay for all items with an eligible American Express card, and purchases must be made in the United States or its territories. *
Here are the cards that offer return protection when you use them to make purchases:
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details.
**Information for these cards is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Purchase protection
While Return Protection allows you to return items, Purchase Protection applies to items that you want to keep but are accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost within up to 90 days of the date of purchase. Purchase Protection is an embedded card benefit and does not require registration.
There are two different “levels” of coverage for this benefit, depending on which card you have.
Level 1: High-end cards
Cards at this level offer coverage limits of up to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per Cardmember account per calendar year. *
This offer is available with the following cards:
Level 2: Intermediate card
Other American Express cards offer purchase protection with limits of up to $1,000 per purchase and $50,000 per Cardmember account per calendar year. *
The following cards include this protection when you use them to pay for items:
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policy underwritten by American Express Insurance Company.
**Information for these cards is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
bottom line
Understanding your card’s shopping and purchase benefits will help you know what to do if something goes wrong. The American Express family of cards offers a variety of purchase protections to protect items you want to keep and items you want to return.
Coverage limits for the same benefit may vary depending on which card you have, so check the detailed benefits for your card at americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for complete details.
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