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Whether or not we like to admit it, our cell phones have become an integral part of us. We cringe at a broken screen as if it were a broken bone.
It’s no surprise. Over 97% of Americans own a cell phone and three out of four admit to feeling uncomfortable without their beloved device.
Luckily, certain credit cards with phone insurance have our back when it comes to covering the cost of cell phone damage or theft. This once-rare perk has now become widespread among many credit card issuers.
As long as you charge your monthly cellular wireless bill to a card with cell phone protection, you’ll be covered. So the next time your phone slips from your grip, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re protected from paying full price to repair or replace it.
Let’s take a look at the best credit cards with cell phone protection and how their coverage limits differ.
Cell Phone Protection Benefits
Credit card cell phone insurance covers you in cases of theft or damage to your cell phone.
This is a lesser-known card perk, similar to credit cards with car rental insurance, that can help save you money every month.
Instead of having to take out a third-party insurance policy to cover your cell phone in the event of theft or damage, you can simply pay your monthly wireless bill with a card that offers that protection as part of its perks.
If you buy your phone using an eligible credit card, you could also benefit from purchase protection and extended warranty perks, depending on the card. Not to mention, you could earn points on your purchase.
How Does Cell Phone Protection Work?
Unlike with credit card purchase protections or extended warranty card benefits, you typically don’t have to charge the original purchase of your cell phone to your eligible card to be covered by cell phone protection. Likewise, you don’t have to formally enroll in the benefit to be eligible.
However, you’ll need to pay your monthly wireless bill with your card to receive coverage.
Credit cards with cell phone insurance normally cover you for instances of damage, theft or “involuntary or accidental parting.”
The phrase, “involuntary or accidental parting” does not refer to simply losing your cell phone. Instead, it refers to events in which you’ve lost your phone and you know its location, but it’s inaccessible—for example, if you accidentally dropped it in a river and can’t retrieve it.
Typically, cell phone protection policies exclude the following instances from coverage:
- Cell phones purchased with the intent of reselling them or for use in a professional capacity
- Cell phones that are lost or subject to mysterious disappearance
- Cell phones under the control of a common carrier, such as the United States Postal Service
- Cell phones that are leased, borrowed or rented or those that are part of a prepaid plan
- Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the function of the phone, such as natural wear and tear
- Damage due to intentional acts, abuse, hostilities (such as acts of war), natural disasters or inherent product defects
- Losses that are covered under product warranty or a separate insurance policy
When an incident occurs, it’s key to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. If your phone is stolen, that begins with filing a police report within 48 hours of the incident. Otherwise, you can go straight to contacting your benefits administrator either online or via phone.
Depending on your card issuer, you’ll usually have anywhere between 60 to 120 days to contact your benefits administrator and submit all necessary supporting documents. Typical documents you may have to submit include but are not limited to:
- A copy of your eligible credit card statement with proof of your wireless bill payment
- A copy of the receipt for the previous month’s wireless bill payment
- A copy of the insurance claim made to your primary insurance provider (for example, homeowner’s insurance)
- Photo evidence of the damages
- A copy of the estimate of repairs
- Information about the phone, such as the serial number, date of purchase, make and model
- A copy of the police report filed within 48 hours of the incident, in instances of theft
You’ll also have to pay a deductible, typically between $25 and $100, depending on your cell phone insurance policy.
After your benefits administrator has all the necessary documents and has approved your claim, you’ll normally receive reimbursement of a pre-tax amount as a check in the mail. In some cases, you may be able to opt for other payment methods, such as ACH. The whole process can take as little as a week from end to finish.
Comparing Protection Across Credit Cards
Here’s an overview of the different credit card cell phone protection insurance policies.
Card | Max Claim Coverage | Max Claims/12 Months | Deductible | Max Coverage/12 Months |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | $1,000 | Three | $100 | $3,000 |
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card | $1,000 | Three | $100 | $3,000 |
Chase Freedom Flex® | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,000 |
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
American Express® Business Gold Card¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card¹ | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
The Platinum Card® from American Express¹ (Rates & Fees) | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Citi Prestige Card (not available to new applicants) | $1,000 | Two | $50 | $1,500 |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card² | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,600 |
Capital One Venture X Business Card² | $800 | Two | $50 | $1,000 |
Bilt Mastercard® | $800 | Two | $25 | $1,600 |
Choice Privileges® Mastercard® | $800 | Two | $25 | $1,600 |
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | $800 | Two | $25 | $1,600 |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | $600 | Two | $25 | $1,200 |
Wells Fargo AutographSM Card | $600 | Two | $25 | $1,200 |
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | $600 | Two | $25 | $1,200 |
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | $600 | Two | $25 | $1,200 |
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card | $600 | One | $100 | $600 |
Now, let’s take a look at each of these cards in detail and how cell phone insurance policies differ between card issuers.
Chase Cards with Cell Phone Protections
Chase currently offers three cards that come with cell phone protection benefits. These are the:
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
- Ink Business Premier Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex
The coverage limits, as well as the number of claims you can make within a 12 month period, are both higher on the two business cards. However, the cell phone protection insurance plan on the Freedom Flex comes with a lower deductible.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
90,000
bonus points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
$1,000
Bonus Cash
after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $195
$200
Bonus
after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Premier: A Deep Dive
The Ink Business Preferred offers credit card cell phone insurance of up to $1,000 per claim, with a maximum of three claims every 12-month period. You’ll need to pay a deductible of $100 for every claim you make, after which the insurance will cover you for the rest. The Ink Business Preferred shares the same credit card cell phone protection perk as the Ink Business Premier Card.
The Ink Business Preferred credit card cell phone protection policy covers you and any employees listed on your monthly wireless bill when you pay the bill using your card. It covers you in instances of damage, theft or involuntary or accidental parting.
Keep in mind that while employees listed on your wireless bill will be covered, family members are ineligible for coverage unless they’re also employees.
To file a claim, you can go online to cardbenefitservices.com. You’ll need to contact your benefits administrator within 60 days of the incident and ensure all necessary documents are filed within a maximum of 90 days.
For an annual fee of $95, the Ink Business Preferred offers the following benefits:
- 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on combined purchases per year (1X points thereafter), in the following categories: travel; shipping purchases; advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines; internet, cable and phone services.
- Points are worth 1.25 cents when redeemed for travel through Chase
- Additional employee cards for free
- No foreign transaction fees
- Rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Alternatively, the Ink Business Premier card offers the following perks for an annual fee of $195:
- 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or greater
- 2% cash back on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Rental car insurance
- Additional employee cards for free
Overall, both Chase business cards are a solid choice for cell phone protection in addition to a host of other perks.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
90,000
bonus points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Chase Freedom Flex: Protection on the Go
The Chase Freedom Flex offers the highest credit card cell phone protection of any $0 annual fee card.
You’ll receive up to $800 worth of coverage per claim and up to $1,000 worth of cumulative coverage per 12 months. You can make up to two claims in every 12-month period with a deductible of $50 per claim.
You’re covered for instances of damage, theft or involuntary or accidental parting.
As with the Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Premier, you’ll receive coverage from the first day of the month after charging your wireless bill to your card. However, unlike with the business cards, family members who are on your wireless bill will be eligible for coverage.
To make a claim, you’ll need to go through cardbenefitservices.com and submit the necessary documents. You’ll have a maximum of 60 days to contact your benefits administrator and a maximum of 90 days to submit documentation.
The Chase Freedom Flex comes with the following benefits:
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases for activated quarterly categories
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3% cash back at drugstores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Rental car insurance
$200
Bonus
after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Exploring Amex’s Cell Phone Protection
Cell phone protection is a perk exclusive to American Express’s premium consumer and business credit cards.
The cell phone protection coverage limits are the same across all Amex cards that offer the perk. You’re insured up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of two claims every 12-month period. Each claim has a deductible of $50.
You’re covered for incidents of damage or theft as long as you’ve paid the previous month’s wireless bill using your card. This benefit can also cover the cell phones of family members if their phone is listed on the wireless bill.
Premium Cards with Premium Protection
Compared to any other card issuer, American Express has the greatest range of cards that offer cell phone protection. Here’s a summary:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
Let’s run through the perks on these cards.
Amex Delta Air Lines Cards with Cell Phone Protection
If you’re a frequent flyer with Delta, one of Amex’s co-branded Delta cards could be a great fit for your wallet.
Both the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (see rates & fees) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (see rates & fees) offer the following benefits:
- 3X points on direct purchases with Delta
- 15% discount on award travel booked through Delta (excluding taxes, fees and partner-operated flights)
- 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) boost each Medallion Qualification Year
- First checked bag flies free
- $50 discount for every 5,000 miles you redeem for flights, using Pay with Miles on delta.com
- 20% savings on Delta in-flight food and beverage purchases, given as a statement credit
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a for a TSA PreCheck application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider), in each case when charged to your eligible card
- No foreign transaction fees
In addition to the perks above, the Delta Platinum card comes with an annual Delta Companion Certificate for Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights each year after renewal of your card.* You’ll also receive almost $400 worth of annual statement credits, complimentary Hertz Five Star® status and bonus category earnings on everyday purchases.
The Delta Reserve card takes things up a notch, offering an annual Delta Companion Certificate for First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights.*
It also offers complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club®, with four one-time guest passes per calendar year, in addition to complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge®.** Total statement credits on this card have a value of more than $500, and you’ll receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle® status.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card share similarities with their consumer card counterparts. The Platinum Business card offers a host of Delta-related perks including the same companion certificate seen on the consumer version of the card, while the Reserve Business card comes with premium perks such as lounge access and a first-class companion certificate.
The main difference between the cards is their bonus spending categories.
With the Delta Platinum Business card, you’ll earn 1.5X miles on up to $100,000 worth of combined eligible purchases per year on transit (including rideshares, taxis and more) at U.S. shipping providers, and on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (1X miles thereafter).
In contrast, the Delta Reserve Business card earns you 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases, as well as on all other purchases after charging $150,000 to your card within a calendar year.
* Taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments), as well as baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
** Effective from Feb. 1, 2025: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card members will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. To earn unlimited access from Feb. 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on your card must be equal to at least $75,000 or more between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 visits have been used, you can purchase additional Delta Sky Club visits (including Grab and Go for $25) at a per-visit rate of $50 per person using your eligible card.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
60,000
Bonus Miles
after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $350 Terms Apply. | Rates & Fees.
The Amex Business Gold Card: Premium Protection
If you’re not a frequent flyer with Delta and instead want a card with solid perks for businesses including cell phone protection, the American Express Business Gold Card is a top option. For an annual fee of $375 (see rates & fees), it offers the following perks:
- 4X points on your top two eligible business spending categories per billing cycle on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year (1X points thereafter)
- 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
- 1X points on all other purchases
- $240 flexible business statement credit for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub and office supply stores, given in $20 monthly credits
- $155 Walmart+ credit to cover the cost of membership, given in $12.95 monthly credits plus applicable taxes
- No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
- $100 experience credit when you book a minimum stay of two nights with The Hotel Collection through amextravel.com
Amex’s Co-Branded Hotel Cards with Cell Phone Insurance
If you want a credit card with cell phone insurance that earns points at your favorite hotel chain, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card are two excellent choices.
The American Express Aspire Card offers the following benefits for an annual fee of $550:
- 14X points on eligible purchases at properties within the Hilton portfolio
- 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, as well as on direct rental car bookings with select rental car companies
- 7X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including delivery and takeout
- 3X points on all other purchases
- Annual free night reward
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
- $400 Hilton Resort credit, given in biannual $200 statement credits
- $200 flight credit for eligible direct flight purchases, given in $50 quarterly statement credits
- $199 CLEAR® Plus statement credit
- $100 on-property Hilton credit for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts
- National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status
- No foreign transaction fees
If you’re a Hilton loyalist and want to benefit from added cell phone insurance protection, you’ll have little problem offsetting the annual fee of the Aspire Card.
Alternatively, if you frequently stay with Marriott Bonvoy, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can offer you the following perks for an annual fee of $650 (see rates & fees):
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points on restaurants worldwide
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other purchases
- $300 dining statement credit for eligible restaurants worldwide, given in $25 monthly statement credits
- Annual free night reward (redeemable for one night stays equivalent to up to 85,000 points)
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
- 25 elite night credits per year
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider), in each case when charged to your eligible card
- No foreign transaction fees
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
175,000
Bonus Points
after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months. All information about The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by 10xTravel. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is no longer available through 10xTravel.
Annual Fee: $550 Terms Apply.
Platinum Card with Platinum Cell Phone Protection
If you’re looking for a general travel rewards card for maximum redemption flexibility, you’ll be hard-pressed to do better than The Platinum Card from American Express. In addition to cell phone protection, it offers:
- 5X points on eligible flights booked with American Express Travel or directly with the airline, on up to $500,000 in charges per calendar year (1X points thereafter)
- 5X points on eligible prepaid hotel reservations when booked with American Express Travel
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Up to $200 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings for stays of a minimum of two nights, through amextravel.com
- Up to $155 Walmart+ statement credit, given in $12.95 monthly statement credits plus applicable taxes
- Up to $240 digital entertainment credit, issued in $20 monthly statement credits for eligible purchases on Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times (enrollment required)
- Up to $300 Equinox credit, given in the form of statement credits
- Up to $199 per year in statement credits toward a CLEAR® Plus membership
- Up to $200 airline incidental fee credits, given in the form of statement credits (applies to one selected eligible airline)
- Up to $200 Uber Cash, issued in increments of $15 per month with a bonus $20 in December. Add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account, and then pay with any AMEX card
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, with 1,400+ lounges across 140 countries (including Airspace Lounge, The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounges, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select)
- Access to the American Express International Airline Program
- Access to the Fine Hotels and Resort Collection for bookings made through American Express Travel
- Either a $120 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum card
- Complimentary premium status for numerous car rental companies (enrollment required)
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold elite status (enrollment required)
- No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
And if you want access to premium benefits with a focus on business expenses, as well as cell phone insurance, The Business Platinum Card from American Express will be your best choice.
Making the Most of Your Amex Benefits
As already mentioned, you’ll need to charge your wireless bill to your eligible Amex card to be covered.
Coverage begins on the first day of the next month following payment of your bill. Likewise, if you pay your wireless bill with a non-eligible card, you’ll lose coverage starting on the first day of the following month.
To file a claim, you can contact the benefit administrator by calling 1-833-784-1467.
To file a claim due to theft, you’ll need to submit a police report within 48 hours of the incident. If your cell phone is damaged, you’ll need to submit a copy of the repair cost estimate as well as photo evidence of the damages.
Alongside these documents, you may need to submit:
- A copy of your eligible card statement showing proof of wireless bill payment
- A copy of your wireless bill receipt for the previous month’s payment
Claims need to be made within a maximum of 90 to 120 days following theft or damage to be eligible.
Keep in mind that Amex doesn’t cover loss, damage due to normal wear and tear or any intentional acts of damage, among other causes.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000
Membership Rewards® Points
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $695 Terms Apply. | Rates & Fees.
Citi’s Approach to Cell Phone Protection
Unlike other card issuers, Citi doesn’t currently offer a cell phone protection plan on any of its cards that are available to new applicants.
However, current cardholders of the Citi Prestige Card—which no longer accepts new applicants—have access to cell phone protection.
Navigating Citi’s Protection Features
The Citi Prestige Card offers coverage of up to $1,000 per claim and up to $1,500 per 12-month period. You’ll have to pay a deductible of $50 per claim and can make up to two claims every 12 months.
You can receive coverage for up to five phones when you charge your wireless bill to your Citi Prestige Card. You’ll be covered in instances of accidental damage or theft.
Citi Prestige Benefits:
The Citi Prestige comes with generous cell phone insurance coverage, but it’s not the only benefit available. This card comes with the following perks and earning rates:
- 5X points on air travel and restaurants
- 3X points on hotels and cruise lines
- 1X points on all other purchases
- $250 travel statement credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Complimentary 4th night on hotel stays booked through ThankYou.com, up to twice per year
- Complimentary Priority Pass SelectTM membership
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit
So if you’re a current cardholder, the Citi Prestige Card offers perks that could enable you to more than offset its annual fee of $495, all while benefiting from cell phone protection.
Capital One’s Take on Cell Phone Protection
Despite its wide range of lucrative travel rewards cards, Capital One offers cell phone protection on two of its credit cards only: the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card.
Let’s check out Capital One’s cell phone protection terms and conditions.
Capital One Venture: More than Just Miles
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Card covers you for up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. Coverage is limited to a cumulative maximum of $1,600 over the 12-month period. You’ll need to pay a $50 deductible for every claim you make.
You’ll be covered in instances of theft, damage and involuntary or accidental parting, as long as you charged your most recent wireless bill to your Venture X card.
All cell phones charged to your wireless bill will be covered, meaning your family can jump in on the benefit.
You’ll need to file your claim within 60 days of the incident and submit supporting documentation within 90 days.
The Capital One Venture X Business Card offers a separate cell phone protection policy to the consumer version of the card. This is because the business card is a World Elite Mastercard while the consumer card is a Visa Infinite card.
The Venture X Business Card covers you for up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of two claims every 12 months. However, you’re limited to a maximum cumulative claim value of $1,000 per 12-month period. You’ll be required to pay a $50 deductible for every claim you make.
You’ll need to file your claim within 90 days of the incident and submit all supporting documentation within 120 days.
Leveraging Capital One’s Perks and Protections
In addition to cell phone insurance, the Capital One Venture X Rewards card comes with the following perks:
- 10X miles on rental cars and hotels when booked through Capital One Travel
- 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchases
- Complimentary access for Priority Pass Select, Capital One and Plaza Premium Group lounges (enrollment required) (applies to you, authorized users and up to two guests)
- Up to $300 annual statement credit when booking travel through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, every four years
Capital One has up to 18 hotel and airline transfer partners, giving you maximum flexibility when redeeming your miles.
If you’re looking for a business card with the same benefits as the Venture X, the Capital One Venture X Business card will serve your needs.
Capital One Venture X Business
150,000
Bonus Miles
after you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee: $395
Other Noteworthy Cards with Cell Phone Protection
Aside from major card issuers such as Amex and Chase, there are other card issuers offering solid cell phone protection perks.
Let’s take a look at some alternative card issuers and their cell phone insurance plans.
Wells Fargo: A Hidden Gem for Protection
Wells Fargo cards are something of a hidden gem when it comes to cell phone protection perks.
Every Wells Fargo credit card offers cell phone protection.
The Bilt Mastercard®, Choice Privileges® Mastercard and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® all offer cellular telephone protection coverage of up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. You’re limited to a maximum cumulative coverage value of $1,600 for every 12-month period and will be required to pay a $25 deductible for every claim you make.
The Bilt Mastercard® is a solid choice when it comes to earning points on rental payments, with a $0 annual fee (see rates & fees). You’ll earn 1X points per dollar spent on rental payments, up to 100,000 points per calendar year (see rewards & benefits). Even if your landlord doesn’t accept credit cards, Bilt will convert the payment to a suitable type and prevent you from having to pay a transaction fee. Additionally, the card comes with the following perks:
- 3X points on dining
- 2X points on travel
- 1X points per dollar spent on rent
- Double point earnings on rent day (excluding on rental payments)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel insurances including trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation and interruption protection
Just keep in mind that you’ll need to use your card a minimum of five times within a billing cycle to earn points in the Bilt rewards program.
Alternatively, the Choice Privileges Mastercard offers the following perks for a $0 annual fee:
- 5X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties, as well as on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 3X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Complimentary Gold Elite membership
- No foreign transaction fees
For an annual fee of $95, you could go for the premium Choice Privileges card, the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. It offers the following perks:
- 10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties, as well as on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Complimentary Platinum Elite membership
- 30,000 annual anniversary point bonus
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
In contrast, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Wells Fargo AutographSM Card and Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offer cell phone insurance coverage of up to $600, with a maximum of up to two claims per 12-month period. You’ll be limited to a maximum cumulative coverage of $1,200 per 12-month period and will need to pay a $25 deductible for every claim you make.
The Wells Fargo Autograph JourneySM Card offers up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage, theft or unintended separation. This coverage is also subject to a $25 deductible.
With the Active Cash Card, you can earn unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, making this card excellent for purchases that fall outside of typical bonus spending categories. On the other hand, if you want to earn 3X points on transit, dining, travel, gas, EV charging stations, popular streaming services and phone plans, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card will have your back. And for a card that emphasizes travel categories, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card offers 5X points on hotel, 4X on airlines and 3X on restaurants and other travel.
Regardless of the specific card, you’ll need to charge your wireless bill to your eligible card for the benefit to apply from the first day of the subsequent month. You’ll be covered for instances of damage, theft and involuntary or accidental parting.
You’ll need to file a claim within 60 days of the incident and you’ll have up to 120 days to submit any supporting documentation.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
20,000
Wells Fargo Rewards Points
after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
60,000
Wells Fargo Rewards Points
after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee: $95
Exploring Niche Cards with Unique Benefits
A lesser-known card issuer for premium cell phone protection is U.S. Bank.
It offers cell phone protection on two of its cards: the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card and the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card.
The Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers up to $600 of coverage per claim, with a maximum of one claim per 12-month period. A deductible of $100 applies to each claim you make.
The Altitude Connect card offers some serious benefits to the frequent traveler. Here are the perks you’ll receive:
- 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly through the Altitude Rewards Center
- 4X points on travel, at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 2X points at grocery stores, on grocery delivery and on dining and streaming services
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Four complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select lounges per calendar year
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four years
- $30 credit for purchases with Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and more
- No foreign transaction fees
On the other hand, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card offers $600 of coverage per claim, with a maximum of two claims every 12 months. There’s a total cumulative coverage limit of $1,200 per 12 months and a deductible of $25 applies.
In either case, you’ll need to charge your wireless bill to your eligible card to be covered in instances of theft, damage and involuntary or accidental parting. Likewise, you have a maximum of 60 days to file your claim and up to 90 days to submit all necessary documentation.
Don’t Risk a Crack or Hack: Credit Cards That Have Your Back
While you shouldn’t select a credit card based purely on whether or not it offers cell phone protection insurance, it’s a benefit that can come in handy. That’s especially if you use your eligible card to pay for multiple phones on the same wireless bill.
Instead of having to pay an extra monthly cell phone insurance fee, you can charge your wireless bill to a card with cell phone protection and enjoy the peace of mind of protection without the extra cost.
¹ Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
² For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.
With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.