By Sarah BradyWhat Is Credit Card Purchase Protection?
By Sarah Brady
If a package is stolen from your front porch, or you purchase an item that breaks as soon as you use it, you could unfortunately be stuck with the bill.
But certain credit cards offer a benefit that protects you against having to eat the cost. Credit cards with purchase protection can help you get your money back, or get a replacement, if your purchase ends up damaged or stolen.
Best credit cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners with intro bonuses, cash back or points offers, and annual fees as low as $0.
Offers from our partners
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:17.74%, 24.24%, or 28.49% Variable APR
Rewards:
N/A
Annual Fee:$0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro bonus:
$100
Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR
Rewards:
2% (Cash Rewards)
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Annual Fee:$0
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:
As High As $300 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% - 6% (cash back)
Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual Fee:$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% (cash back)
Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
Annual Fee:$39
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa Signature® Metal Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% - 5% (cash back)
Earn 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile phone service purchases each year, and then 1% thereafter. Plus 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply.
Annual Fee:$95
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:
1% (cash back)
Cash back will be awarded as points redeemable for a statement credit
Annual Fee:$75*
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Intro APR:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Ongoing APR:17.74% - 27.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% - 6% (cash back)
Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category. Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
Annual Fee:$0
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Intro APR:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Ongoing APR:17.74% - 27.74% Variable
Rewards:
1.5% (cash back)
1.5% cash back on all purchases
Annual Fee:$0
See all our best credit cards for 2026.
How Does Purchase Protection Work?
If your credit card comes with purchase protection, you may be eligible for repair, replacement or reimbursement of lost or stolen items that you purchased with the card.
Coverage varies a lot between card issuers and specific cards, but generally it includes new items that are damaged, defective or stolen within 60 to 120 days of your purchase. Used items and objects that can expire, like antiques or batteries, are not generally eligible.
Purchase protection is secondary coverage, meaning it can only be used after you've exhausted all of the other coverage you have available. That could include renters insurance, homeowners insurance, car insurance and any reimbursement available from the vendor.
To take advantage of purchase protection, make sure you made your purchase with an eligible credit card. If you need to file a claim, you'll have to contact the creditor and file within a set timeline. You may also need to submit additional documentation, like receipts, photos of the damaged item or a police report for items that were stolen.
Who Offers Purchase Protection?
Purchase protection may be offered as a benefit through your credit card network, such as Visa or Mastercard. The amount of coverage for each card can vary, and certain credit cards may even be excluded, but here's what's generally available from major networks.
| American Express | Discover | Mastercard | Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Which Cards Are Covered? | Most | None | Some | Most |
| Duration of Coverage | 90 days | N/A | 90 days | 180 days |
| Coverage Limit Per Incident | $1,000 | N/A | Varies | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Coverage Limit Per Year | $50,000 | N/A | Varies | $1,000 to $20,000 |
Choosing Your Next Credit Card
When you're shopping for your next credit card, check and see if purchase protection and other benefits are available. Just like rates and fees, benefits will vary from one card to the next. Note that credit cards with lots of rewards and benefits usually require higher credit scores.
Not sure what your score is? Take a look at your free credit score and report from Experian before applying. Most applications for a new credit card can cost your credit scores a few points, but you can limit the impact by comparing card features using comparison tools like those from Experian before you start applying.
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About the author
Sarah Brady
Sarah Brady is a personal finance consultant, content writer and all-around money nerd. A former credit counselor (NFCC) and housing counselor (HUD), Sarah's passion is financial literacy and education. Sarah teaches financial literacy workshops all over the San Francisco Bay Area, and she's written for CreditKarma and LendingTree.
Read more from Sarah