What to know about credit card extended warranty coverage

Your credit card may offer an extended warranty that can help protect your purchases. To take full advantage of your credit card’s extended warranty benefit, it’s important to know just how that coverage works.

Key takeaways

• Some credit cards offer an extended warranty that may add an additional year to a product’s original warranty. 

• Extended warranty protection is offered by the credit card networks—not card issuers. 

• You can find your extended warranty information in your card’s guide to benefits.

An extended warranty is an extra level of product protection. In general, it extends a product’s original manufacturer’s written warranty. Some credit cards offer this warranty extension as an added cardholder benefit.

Extended warranty coverage is offered through credit card networks—not credit card issuers—such as Visa® or Mastercard®. 

If your credit card offers an extended warranty, it will add time to a manufacturer’s warranty—provided that the original manufacturer’s warranty lasts three years or less. Eligible purchases might also be automatically covered, so you won’t have to register or apply. But be sure to check your card’s specific details and requirements for its extended warranty coverage.

Credit card extended warranties may apply to manufacturer-covered items purchased with an eligible credit card. Some common items covered under extended warranty protection could include: 

• Appliances 

• TVs

• Cellphones 

But keep in mind that each product’s eligibility will vary. Sometimes, warranties won’t apply to items above a certain price tag, and there also may be a limit on how many purchases will be covered. For example, extended warranties may only cover up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder. And keep in mind that if you paid partially for something with your credit card, only that amount may be covered by the extended warranty—not the full purchase price.

Here are some examples of things that are generally excluded: 

• Motorized vehicles, including cars, boats and motorcycles

• Items with product guarantees 

• Used items, including antiques and collectibles 

• Professional services

• Computer software

To file a claim, you’ll likely use your network’s benefits portal. 

And you may need to submit copies of the following documents: 

• An itemized sales receipt 

• A copy of the manufacturer’s warranty 

• Original repair estimates noting the product failure cause

• A monthly statement showing the product was purchased with an eligible credit card 

You’ll also need to be aware of any time frames to submit your claim that are stated in your guide to benefits. Some extended warranties require you to report the issue within as little as 60 days of the incident. So don’t wait to file.

An extended product warranty might give you some extra coverage for your purchases. But it’s not the only benefit you might get from a credit card network. For instance, yours may offer things like rental car insurance, cellphone protection and concierge service.