How does travel insurance through Capital One cards work?

Ever found yourself scrambling for lost luggage when you’re traveling? Or trying to book alternate flights due to bad weather? These kinds of events can be stressful—and costly. When the unexpected happens, travel insurance through your card could help protect you from travel expenses beyond your control.

Many cardholders have travel insurance as part of their card benefits. Coverage varies by card, issuer and the network that provides the benefits. To prepare for your next trip, you might want to check out whether your card offers travel insurance and what benefits come with it. 

Key takeaways

• Travel insurance through your card could help protect you from paying for unexpected expenses if something goes wrong when you travel.
• Card travel insurance may offer coverage for both domestic and international travel.
• Your coverage depends on your card. Check your card’s benefits guide for details.
• Travel insurance is offered to Capital One cardholders through the Visa® and Mastercard® networks.

Card travel insurance can help protect you financially when you incur unexpected expenses during travel. Whether you’re visiting family, flying abroad or driving across the country, card travel insurance can be a kind of safety net.

By booking and paying for a trip with a card that offers travel insurance benefits, you could get compensation up to a set limit for your unexpected expenses. For example, some Capital One rewards credit cards offer benefits like travel accident insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.* 

Imagine traveling with peace of mind, knowing that a potential accident or expensive mishap could be reimbursed. With travel insurance through your card, you could be covered in a number of scenarios. 

Every card is different, so be sure to check your card’s terms and conditions to see what types of travel insurance you might receive. Here are a few of the most common types of coverage you may have access to:

Canceling a trip at the last minute or cutting it short can be disappointing. But getting your money back for flights and reservations you didn’t end up using might help relieve your stress. 

If you booked and paid for your trip with a card that offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, you may qualify for reimbursement in certain situations, like these:

• Severe weather at the beginning of a trip
• Unexpected health issues or accidental injuries 
• Death of someone in your travel party or an immediate family member

You may want to make sure you’re aware of situations that aren’t typically covered by this type of insurance. For example, exclusions can include preexisting medical conditions or when a travel agency, hotel or airline goes out of business. Check the terms of your card to learn more about trip cancellation insurance.

Maximum reimbursement depends on your card and can vary significantly. Some cards might offer up to $2,000 per trip. (For others, it could be less.)

Travel schedules don’t always go as planned. Flights may get delayed or severe weather may affect your travels. Or you may need to pay for a meal or last-minute hotel room while you wait. If you paid for your trip with a card that has trip delay insurance, certain reasonable costs you incur during the delay might be covered.

Cards may vary in how long the delay must be before coverage kicks in. But having travel delay insurance could help take care of your most urgent needs.

If you pay for a rental car with your card, you might be able to skip the added cost of buying insurance through the rental company. Credit card rental car insurance could cover collisions, theft and towing if your car breaks down while you’re traveling.

This type of insurance usually goes into effect after your regular auto insurance policy does. Whether you’re renting a car in the U.S. or abroad may affect whether you’ll need additional coverage and how much. Remember, rental car insurance usually only covers the vehicle. You may need to buy liability coverage when traveling internationally if your personal auto policy is limited to the U.S.

Imagine that you’re waiting in the baggage claim area after a flight, confident that you packed everything you need for your trip. But your luggage never rolls by on the carousel. 

Lost, delayed or even stolen baggage can interrupt your trip. If you need to buy replacement items, you could be reimbursed.

While travel often goes smoothly, sometimes it doesn’t. Accidents happen. Travel accident insurance could provide an added layer of support. In cases of severe injury or death, you or your family members could receive benefits if you booked and paid for your trip with a card that offers travel accident insurance.

If you need to file a travel insurance claim, you can start by reading your card’s benefits guide to get the specifics on your travel insurance. That way, you can know which travel events are covered and for how much.

It can be a good idea to save your purchase receipts while you’re traveling. Then you’ll have a paper trail if you want to be reimbursed for things like replacement articles of clothing, a last-minute hotel booking or a trip to the emergency room.

Finally, you can file a claim by contacting the administrator listed in your card’s benefits guide. Check if there’s a time limit on how long you have to file a claim after the travel incident. You may have to answer a few questions, complete a form and submit your receipts to complete the claim. If your claim is accepted, you may be compensated for the covered expenses you paid for with your personal funds. 

Here are a few frequently asked questions about travel insurance in general and travel insurance through a Capital One card  in particular: 

Capital One’s card travel insurance can help protect you when things go wrong while you’re traveling, whether you’re in the U.S. or abroad. If you’re interested in learning whether your card comes with travel insurance, be sure to check its benefits guide to learn more.

If you’re ready to take advantage of this travel protection, apply for a Capital One travel and miles rewards card today. If you’re approved for either Venture or Venture X, you’ll have the opportunity to earn 75,000 bonus miles that you can redeem for flights, hotels, vacation rentals and more.

Who wouldn’t want to get the most out of their credit card? Here are some things to know about Capital One travel rewards credit cards: 

• Get a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Capital One Venture X card and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary. (View important rates and disclosures.)

• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and get 75,000 bonus miles upon signup with the Capital One Venture card. (View important rates and disclosures.)

• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles with no annual fee with the Venture One card from Capital One. (View important rates and disclosures.) 

• Explore travel rewards card options by comparing Capital One Venture cards. 

• Learn how Venture X cardholders can get access to a worldwide network of airport lounges thanks to a complimentary Priority Pass membership.