How does travel insurance through Capital One cards work?

Things like lost luggage and canceled flights can be stressful—and costly. But many credit cards come with a benefit that could help when the unexpected happens.

To prepare for your next trip, check to see if your Capital One card comes with travel insurance and learn how it might work.

What you’ll learn:

• Travel insurance through a credit card may offer coverage for both domestic and international travel.

• Coverage typically varies by card, card issuer and the card network providing the benefit. 

• Travel insurance is offered to Capital One Visa® and Mastercard® cardholders. 

• You can check your card’s benefits guide for full details.

Typically, insurance through a credit card works a lot like private travel insurance. With both, you could be covered for things like flight delays and cancellations, accidents, medical emergencies, lost luggage and more. Some Capital One rewards credit cards offer travel insurance.* 

To benefit from credit card travel insurance, you’ll typically need to use your card to book and pay for your trip. Then when unexpected things happen on a trip, you could be compensated, up to a set limit.

Imagine traveling with peace of mind, knowing that a potential accident or expensive mishap could be reimbursed. With travel insurance through a credit 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 common types of coverage that may come with Capital One’s credit card travel insurance as well as other credit card travel insurance:

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 belonging to a network that offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, you may qualify for reimbursement in certain situations. For example, they can include unexpected health issues or accidental injuries. The death of an immediate family member or someone in your travel party may also qualify. 

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 or hotel goes out of business. Check your card’s terms to learn more about trip cancellation insurance.

Maximum reimbursement depends on your card and can vary significantly. For example, some Capital One consumer credit cards may offer up to $2,000 per trip. (For others, it could be less or more.)

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 through some Capital One cards could cover collisions and theft.

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.

Travel insurance is offered through Capital One cards, including most Venture X, Venture and VentureOne cards. It’s one of the many travel benefits available through the cards. 

Travel insurance might cover car rentals, trip delays, baggage delays or losses, and more. You can check your card’s benefits guide to learn more about the specific coverage provided.

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 after a travel incident to report an incident and file a claim. 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 through Capital One credit cards.

Travel insurance through a Capital One credit card can help protect you should things go wrong on your trip, whether you’re in the U.S. or abroad.

If you’re ready to take advantage of this travel protection, apply for a Capital One travel and miles rewards card today. Depending on the card, you could earn unlimited miles on every purchase and up to 10X miles on Capital One Travel bookings.

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 sign-up 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.