onyx mastercard travel insurance

Onyx Mastercard ® from TDECU

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on your everyday purchases 2, you deserve to be rewarded.

Do you love the flexibility of cash rewards? Well, then you should love Cash Rewards from TDECU! With our program, you can track and redeem your credit card rewards directly from the TDECU Digital Banking app. Plus, you have complete control over how and when you cash in on your rewards!

Unlock a world of features and rewards

The Onyx Mastercard ® is far from a hyped-up cash rewards program that requires you to spend a lot for little in return. With your Onyx credit card, you can earn unlimited 2% Cash Rewards on all qualified purchases 2 with no annual fee and rates as low as 9.50% APR 1 . Plus, Onyx cardholders receive the same great services and benefits as our other TDECU credit cards, including a 5% discount on fuel and in-store purchases at participating Buc-ee’s locations 3 .

The Onyx Mastercard ® from TDECU features these benefits:

Introductory APR 4

On Qualifying Purchases 2

9.50% - 17.50%

Additional benefits.

• No annual fees or cash advance fees
• No penalty pricing

Minimum payment and incentives

• Minimum payments as low as 2% of your balance (minimum $18)
• 25–day interest–free grace period if balance is paid in full by the next payment due date

Travel benefits

• Worldwide acceptance and ATM access
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance
• No currency conversion charges
• Mastercard® global services

Account and purchase protection

• Zero liability protection 6
• Free identity theft protection

Onyx Mastercard ® Cash Rewards Calculator

Average monthly spending, apply for your onyx mastercard ® today, annual purchase rates and fees, say goodbye to high-interest rate credit cards and transfer your balance to a tdecu credit card, onyx mastercard ® frequently asked questions  , how old do you need to be to apply for a credit card, what information does tdecu require when i apply for a credit card, how long will it take to receive my credit card.

You will receive your card 7-10 days after you are approved or from when your replacement is requested.

What is an APR?

What is the grace period, do tdecu credit cards charge annual fees, where can i learn more about the onyx cash rewards.

Please refer to our Cash Rewards page for more information about the Onyx Cash Rewards!

Does the TDECU Onyx Mastercard get Buc-ee's Benefits?

Yes! The TDECU Onyx Mastercard gets 5% discount at participating Buc-ee's locations.

1 APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates, terms and conditions subject to change. Credit approval required. 2 Qualifying Purchases do not include Balance Transfers, Cash Advances, ATM Cash Disbursements, Money Transfers, Gaming Transactions, Tax Payments, Finance Charges, Fees and purchases of other cash equivalents, even if used to purchase goods or services, any Buc-ee's fuel purchase. Non-Qualifying Purchases do not earn any Rewards. 3 Buc-ee’s fuel and in-store discount offer is subject to end without notice, and is not valid with other discounts. Other restrictions may apply. Learn more about the Buc-ee's  Credit Card Benefits Program . 4 Introductory rate good until the first day of the billing cycle that includes the six-month anniversary date of the opening of your account. 5 0% introductory APR for the first twelve months on balance transfers processed within the first 30 business days of account opening. 6 Zero Liability protection  from Mastercard provides protection against "unauthorized transactions”. For details or questions call Mastercard Assist at  800-622-7747 Download Agreement and Disclosure here. Download Onyx Cash Rewards FAQ here.

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Does the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard deserve a place in your wallet?

by Anne Betts | Jul 12, 2022 | Travel Hacking | 6 comments

Updated July 12, 2022

Does the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard deserve a place in your wallet? According to Credit Card Genius, it’s the best Air Miles credit card on the market. If most of the following features appeal to you, it certainly deserves some consideration.

Table of Contents

1. First year Free (FYF)

2. sign-up bonus of 2,000 air miles, 3. air miles (dream miles) can be useful for travel, 4. a decent mastercard is handy to have, 5. limited 25% discount on flight redemptions, 6. earning rates between 1 and 3 mile(s) for each $12 spent, 8. airport lounge access, 9. a full suite of insurance benefits, a few other features….

The current ‘Offer Period’ from May 1, 2020 to December 6, 2022 includes an annual fee waiver ($120) for the first year. The fee appears as a charge on the first statement, accompanied by a credit for the same amount. A FYF promotion and an attractive sign-up bonus are key features of a tempting credit card offer.

The sign-up bonus of 2,000 miles has a $3,000 Minimum Spend Requirement (MSR) within the first three months.

However, it’s worth looking around for better than the public offer appearing on the BMO site. For example, Credit Card Genius has an offer with a sign-up bonus of 3,000 Air Miles when using its application portal.

A sign-up bonus of 2,000 miles is enough to redeem for at least one short return flight. A sign-up bonus of 3,000 miles could be redeemed for a medium-haul return flight.

If you like to have a healthy cushion of Air Miles in your portfolio, this offer allows you to rack up over 3,000 Air Miles within a short period. The average collector takes years to accumulate anywhere near this amount.

Air Miles get a bad rap in some miles-and-points circles. They’ll never lead to a suite or shower in the sky. Those luxuries are the stuff of frequent flyer programs offering redemptions in first or business class cabins. Air Miles is a poor cousin occupying a small, but useful corner of a diversified miles-and-points portfolio.

For those of us with ‘hub-envy,’ they can be beneficial for short positioning flights to hubs served by airlines with other (and better) frequent flyer programs. For example, to redeem Avios points for a business-class Q-suite redemption with Qatar Airways, I could use Air Miles for a positioning flight from my home airport of Halifax to Montreal or New York.

Air Miles can be redeemed for a variety of travel expenses including vacation packages, cruises, hotels, and car rentals.

I love American Express. But, let’s face it, there are places where AMEX cards aren’t accepted and it’s handy to have a decent Visa and MasterCard in your wallet.

It’s not always an easy choice to switch to AMEX-accepting merchants. When you’ve established a relationship with health care providers such as dentists and optometrists, or a history with insurance agents or a legal firm, it’s an easier choice to simply pay with Visa or MasterCard (if that’s what they accept). That’s certainly my dilemma, and more so because I live in a rural community where options are limited.  

And then there’s the in-store MasterCard-only policy of Costco.

Another dilemma concerns the MSR. It’s higher than that of many premium credit cards. For many people, it’s achievable by switching everyday spend to the card for the first three months. One disadvantage of doing so is that your other miles-and-points programs don’t benefit from a $3,000 spend. It’s a more difficult choice if it means missing out on one or two other attractive sign-up bonuses because you’re diverting such a significant spend to this one card.

The BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard is an easier choice when:

• There are expenses within the first three months with merchants that don’t accept American Express (but they do accept MasterCard).
• You regularly shop at Costco. If you come up short in meeting the minimum spend, consider investing in one or more Costco Shop Cards to use on future visits.

Back in 2017, BMO devalued the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard flight benefit from a 25% discount to 15%. 

Effective July 4, 2022, the flight redemption discount changed yet again. BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard cardholders now receive a 25% discount on one worldwide flight booking per calendar year, up to a maximum of 750 Reward Miles. This replaces the previous 15% discount flight benefit and can be spread across all tickets on the booking. To take full advantage of the discount, the combined cost of all flights on the booking would need to amount to 5,000 miles.

While the 15% discount was limited to North American destinations, the updated flight discount now provides cardholders with an additional 10% savings available on flights anywhere in the world. You don’t need to use your card to pay the taxes and fees to be eligible for the discount.

The option to use the flight discount benefit appears during the booking phase once flights have been chosen.

On each $12 spend, the base earning rate of 1 mile increases to 2 miles at non-affiliated grocery stores (effective August 1, 2022), and 3 miles at participating Air Miles partners.

The 2x reward miles earned at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car locations was discontinued effective June 1, 2022. Savings of up to 25% on rentals at participating locations remain in effect.

Accumulating Air Miles based on organic spend can be a long and tedious journey. Credit card sign-up bonuses and points-boosting promotions are the best ways to accelerate earning rates. Newsletters from Air Miles will keep you abreast of points-boosting promotions.

By stacking promotions, it’s possible to increase the number of miles earned on your minimum spend.

I signed up for Share the Holiday Magic, Shop the Block, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and monthly offers from BMO and Shell. By doing so, it was possible to earn another 3,000 Air Miles from these promotions (and points in other programs from the same purchases).

UPDATE: During the latter months of 2022 and in early 2023, Sobeys, Safeway, Lawtons Drugs, and other stores under the Empire umbrella will leave the Air Miles program. Customers will earn Scene+ points beginning with Sobeys customers in Atlantic Canada in August 2022.

For more information on the Scene+ program, see  What’s the best use of Scene+ (formerly Scotia Rewards) when travelling the world on miles and points?

7. Automatic Onyx status

Collectors who earn 6,000 or more Air Miles in a calendar year qualify for Onyx status.

A BMO Air Miles World Elite cardholder automatically qualifies for Onyx status.

Onyx members can book select flights requiring up to 40% fewer Dream Miles. While I’ve never seen these kinds of savings, I believe Onyx status provides access to a wider inventory of flights. Other benefits include merchandise discounts of up to 10% fewer Cash Miles, and the ability to pay with cash and miles on hotel bookings.

The card offers a Mastercard Travel Pass membership that replaces ‘MasterCard Airport Experiences by LoungeKey.’ The Mastercard Travel Pass is provided by DragonPass that includes access to over 1000 lounges globally, including Plaza Premium Lounges. At the time of this update, it remains to be seen if BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard cardholders will join BMO World Elite MasterCard cardholders with four annual complimentary passes.  Otherwise, each visit costs 32 USD.

Sign up with your BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard to receive a membership number, and download the app to display your membership card and locate lounges and offers. For more information on DragonPass, visit Prince of Travel .

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Travel and Medical Protection Certificate of Insurance includes coverage for:

• out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical treatment (for cardholders under the age of 65);
• trip cancellation;
• trip interruption/trip delay and flight delay;
• baggage and personal effects; and
• car rentals.

Insurance is where this credit card shines, especially for miles-and-points enthusiasts who use their points for award travel.

Usually, to be eligible for insurance such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, and baggage and personal effects, the points must have come from the respective program associated with the card. For example, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card only covers trips (on points) using Scene+ (formerly Scotia Rewards). For Aeroplan redemptions, coverage is only available through one of the Aeroplan co-branded cards (e.g., with CIBC or TD). In both cases, all other award travel is ineligible.

In addition, most cards require a significant portion of the costs be paid with the respective credit card. For example, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and The Platinum Card by American Express refer to the “full cost” and “entire cost” respectively. For the Scotiabank Gold American Express it’s not less than 75%.

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is unique. Eligibility for insurance coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay and baggage and personal effects requires that the “full or partial costs” of a “ticket” be charged to the card. This can be a ticket with any common carrier (air, land, or sea) that’s part of a trip. It doesn’t need to be the primary ticket such as the return flight to and from your home airport. It could be a train ticket at your destination (as long as it’s booked and paid for prior to leaving your home province).

And, compared to other cards, the insurance is quite generous. For example, for trip cancellation it’s $2,500 per insured person, compared to $1,500 on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, and $1,000 on the two CIBC Aeroplan-branded cards (personal and business).

The “full or partial cost” language makes Air Miles a useful currency for car rentals. Most credit cards’ auto rental insurance policies require a cardholder to charge the full cost of the rental for the insurance to apply. By redeeming Air Miles and paying the taxes and fees with the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard, eligibility for insurance coverage kicks in.

If you value credit card insurance, the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard is worth a close look. For a more detailed review, see What is the best credit card with trip cancellation, trip interruption and flight delay insurance for trips on points?  

• It’s churnable. There’s no language limiting access to subsequent promotions and repeat sign-up bonuses. Apply on one promotion, cancel before the fee comes due, and then reapply on another promotion. However, you need to cancel before the effective date of the next promotion. You can’t cancel and reapply during the same ‘offer period’ (or transfer in from another product) and be eligible for the promotional benefits.  
• Purchase protection and extended warranty covers most items purchased with the card.
• The MasterCard Global Unlimited Plan provides unlimited Wi-Fi access to Boingo hotspots around the world. Download Boingo’s Wi-Finder app for the easiest way to gain access.

• It’s easy to set up preauthorized payments from your bank account. It doesn’t need to be a BMO account. You don’t need to complete a form, visit a branch, or mail a voided cheque. Simply call the service centre and provide the number of your bank account.
• BMO deposits Air Miles into your account on or immediately after your statement date. This includes miles earned on transactions, or bonuses from meeting MSRs. This is handy to know if you’re contemplating the best date to cancel the card.
• The online application takes approximately five minutes to complete. I was approved within one minute.
• If you don’t hold another BMO credit card or you’re not a current BMO customer, chances are you’ll have to pick up your new credit card at a branch and show the required pieces of identification.  

It’s a worthy card to have in your wallet if you:

• don’t live in or near a major hub and use Air Miles for positioning flights 
• use a variety of sources (e.g., miles, points, and cash) to fund travel and rely on the card’s excellent insurance for trip cancellation, trip interruption/trip delay, and flight delay.

Might you be interested in my other miles-and-points posts?

• Is a no-FOREX-fee credit card always the best choice for international travel
• Finding Aeroplan flights: A step-by-step guide
• Lounge and flight review of United Airlines’ Polaris experience
• Is the TD Rewards program worth it?
• What’s the best use of Scene+ (formerly Scotia Rewards) when travelling the world on miles and points?
• Why the Best Western loyalty program is good for travellers
• What is the best credit card with trip cancellation, trip interruption and flight delay insurance for trips on points?

Great article. I didn’t clearly understand the idea of cancelling & reapplying esp this issue of doing it b4 the effective date of the new promotion. Does that mean if I have a bmo elite card now acquired in the last promotion (2017/18) I can’t cancel this card to apply under 2018/19 promotion becoz it began a few months a few months ago?

I will be 70 in May. I am planning a 30 day European trip in September 2022. I have full medical coverage through my former employer, no age limit, no maximum in medical costs. I have a BMO World Elite Airmiles card that covers trip cancellation age 65 and under. My travel agent is trying to sell me more insurance for $690 for trip cancellation….does this make any sense? Thanks.

It’s not a blanket age restriction. The age restriction applies to pre-existing conditions. Take a look at the policy at 4.3.4 to see if it applies to you. $690? That’s steep!! That kind of premium would cover at least $7,000 of non-refundable travel bookings and I would presume that some of your bookings are refundable. Keep in mind that it’s only non-refundable bookings that are covered. I find that many travel providers are encouraging folks to travel, offering bookings that are completely refundable as incentives. Here’s a link to the BMO insurance booklet: https://www.bmo.com/pdf/AM_WE_Travel_Medical_Protection_Insurance_Certificate_En.pdf

What’s the minimum spend to get the 3,000 bonus airmiles on Creditcardgenius.ca? Also if I get this card as well as the American Express Airmiles Reserve, can I double dip on the benefit? BMO offers 25% off up to 750 airmiles, while the Amex offers annual companion voucher up to 1,700 airmiles back?

The Credit Card Genius MSR was the same as BMO’s public offer: $3,000. I haven’t seen any restrictive language limiting access to both benefits. Unlike the buddy pass, they’re different benefits.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• 25 Tips on earning Aeroplan miles - Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• Is the TD Rewards program worth it? - Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• Why the Best Western loyalty program is good for travellers - Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• What’s the best use of Scotia Rewards? - Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• Lounge and flight review of United Airlines’ Polaris experience | Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• Finding Aeroplan flights: a step-by-step guide - Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• Is a no-FOREX-fee credit card always the best choice for international travel? - Packing Light Travel - […] Is the BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard a good deal? […]
• BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard - Money, Eh? - […] https://packinglighttravel.com/travel-tips/travel-hacking/is-the-bmo-air-miles-world-elite-mastercar… 0 […]

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To learn about the benefits available with your credit or debit Mastercard, contact your issuing financial institution

The overview below outlines the most common benefits. This information is intended only as a reference for the types of shopping, travel and convenience-related benefits that may be available with your Mastercard.

Please Note: Benefits described below vary by card type and by issuing financial institution. * Refer to your issuing financial institution for complete benefit coverage terms and conditions.

†These are summary descriptions only. Additional terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Contact your issuing financial institution for complete coverage terms and conditions. To file a Price Protection or Extended Warranty claim online, please go to www.mycardbenefits.com . ↩

*Selection of benefits on your card varies by card type and by card issuer. Please refer to your issuing financial institution for complete coverage terms and conditions. If there is any difference between the descriptive language regarding insurance benefits described above and the actual applicable master policy issued by the insurance carrier, the terms and conditions of the policy shall govern. Your card issuer can cancel insurance benefits at any time and must notify you at least sixty (60) days in advance. Coverage will still apply for any benefits you were eligible for prior to the date of such terminations, cancellation or nonrenewal, subject to the terms and conditions of coverage. ↩

1. Certain terms, conditions and exclusions apply. For more information, please refer to your benefits guide or contact your issuing financial institution. ↩

2. Certain terms, conditions and exclusions apply. For full details, please visit: http://www.boingo.com/legal/end-user-license-agreement-boingo-customer-agreement . ↩

3. Offer expires 09/30/2024. New customers who pay for their first annual McAfee Total Protection for Mastercard subscription using an eligible Canada-issued Mastercard credit card will receive a special introductory price on a 13-month subscription term. Customers will also receive 13 months of McAfee TechMate at no additional cost. Limit one offer per cardholder. Unless you cancel your initial 13-month subscription at least 30 days before it expires, you will be charged the renewal subscription price in effect at the time of your renewal, and it will renew automatically for a 12-month term. You can cancel at any time or change your auto-renewal settings by accessing your My Account page . Pricing is subject to change. Mastercard reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time without notice. You may request a refund by contacting McAfee customer support within 30 days of initial purchase or within 60 days of automatic renewal. Neither Mastercard nor any participating financial institution card issuer has any involvement in or responsibility for McAfee’s products or services and are not responsible for any claims or damages arising from the use of the McAfee products and services. Additional terms and conditions apply. Not all features may be available on all devices. For full terms and conditions, visit https://www.mcafee.com/mastercard-en-ca . ↩

4. Certain terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

New User Offer: Get CAD $20 in Ritual voucher credits when you sign up for Ritual using promotional code “MC2020” and use an eligible Mastercard as a form of payment on your Ritual account (the “Offer”). Eligible new users must access the Offer by entering the promotional code “MC2020” during sign-up. Offer is available only to new eligible Ritual signups in Canada. The new user voucher credits will expire if not used within 30 days of signing up on Ritual. New users must add and pay with a consumer World or World Elite Mastercard credit card issued in Canada upon sign-up (“Eligible Mastercard”). CAD $20 in new user voucher credits are issued as four staged CAD $5 vouchers. All vouchers must be applied on a minimum pre-tax order value of CAD $10. Eligible new users will receive: (1) a CAD $5 voucher credit upon sign-up, which will be automatically applied when placing their first order; (2) a CAD $5 voucher credit after using their first voucher, which will be automatically applied to their second order; (3) a CAD $5 voucher credit after using their second voucher, which will be automatically applied to their third order, and (4) a CAD $5 voucher credit after using their third voucher, which will be automatically applied to the next order. For any order, if the value of the voucher credit exceeds the value of the order after taxes, the remaining value of the voucher credit will be lost. Voucher credits are redeemable at select participating restaurants, once per restaurant. See in-app for a complete list of participating restaurants. This Offer cannot be combined with any other offers, or with promotional or referral sign-up credits. Promotion subject to change. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

For full details, please visit: www.ritual.co/mastercard .

All Users Offer: Earn 1,000 Ritual Reward points after you place your fifth hot beverage order in the same calendar month using your eligible Mastercard as payment. Ritual Rewards points will not be issued to users who do not use a consumer World or World Elite Mastercard credit card issued in Canada as the form of payment (“Eligible Mastercard”). Orders that are paid for using voucher credits will not be applicable to the count of hot beverages orders. Hot beverages are defined as coffee or tea menu items available for purchase at all restaurants within the Ritual merchant network in Canada. Cannot be combined with any other offers, or with promotional or referral sign-up credits. Promotion subject to change. Additional terms and conditions may apply. For full details, please visit: www.ritual.co/mastercard .

All Users Offer: Eligible users will receive 1.5x the Ritual Reward points on every order when using a consumer World or World Elite Mastercard credit card issued in Canada (“Eligible Mastercard”) as the form of payment. Cannot be combined with any other offers, or with promotional or referral sign-up credits. Promotion subject to change. Additional terms and conditions may apply. For full details, please visit: www.ritual.co/mastercard. ↩

• Book Travel
• Credit Cards

BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®*

Signup bonus:

Annual fee:, annual interest rates:, earning rate:, perks & benefits:.

The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a must-have card for avid AIR MILES®† collectors, as it offers a competitive earning structure along with perks such as a 25% discount on a flight redemption worldwide redeemed through the AIR MILES®† portal.

Bonuses & Fees

Currently, the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* offers a welcome bonus of 2,000 AIR MILES®† upon spending $3,000 in the first three months.†

The annual fee, which is normally $120, is rebated for the first year as part of this offer.†

Supplementary cards on the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* can be added for a fee of $50 per card.†

Earning Rewards

The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* allows you to earn 1 AIR MILE®† per $12 spent on any eligible purchases on the card.† You’ll also get 3x AIR MILES®† per $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners.† At all eligible grocery stores, wholesale clubs, and alcohol retailers, you’ll earn 2 AIR MILES®† per $12 spent.†

If you’re looking to top-up your AIR MILES®† balance to redeem them for something, it can make sense to put some of your spending on this card.†

Another good occasion to use the card would be during an AIR MILES promotion, when you might get bonus AIR MILES®† simply for using your co-branded credit card to make purchases.†

Redeeming Rewards

Compared to other loyalty programs, it can be relatively tough to plan an AIR MILES®† redemption properly due to the lack of a formal award chart, varying prices, and constantly changing availability.

There are two categories you can choose your AIR MILES®† to go in to, and these cannot be retroactively changed: Cash Miles and Dream Miles.

Cash Rewards are typically redeemed at the point of sale in participating stores, but can also be redeemed online for vouchers. The value is fixed at 95 miles = $10; however, certain stores often have special redemption offers where they give you bonus AIR MILES®† simply for redeeming your existing ones.

In the Dream category, AIR MILES®† allows redemptions for a few different travel options, including flights, hotels, and car rentals.

Perks & Benefits

First off, the card offers a DragonPass membership, which allows you to access the airport lounge and relax before your flight at the cost of $32 (USD) per lounge visit.

The main attraction of the card, however, is the AIR MILES®†-related benefits. You’ll start off with a 25% discount when redeeming AIR MILES®† for flights.† The discount applies once per calendar year, and has a maximum of 750 AIR MILES®† as a discount.†

Furthermore, you’ll enjoy automatic AIR MILES®† Onyx status as a cardholder.†

You’ll also have access to additional AIR MILES®† offers, which can be helpful during AIR MILES®†promotions. Overall, with all these AIR MILES®†-related benefits on offer, this is the must-have card if you’re an AIR MILES®† aficionado.

Insurance Coverage

The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* offers a good insurance package, including:

Emergency medical insurance for the first 15 days on out-of-province trips, up to $5 million†

Trip cancellation insurance for up to $1,500 per insured person and $5,000 per trip†

• Trip interruption insurance for up to $2,000 per insured person and $10,000 per trip†

Flight delay benefits of up to $500 per trip for reasonable expenses incurred on a flight delay of four hours or more†

Car rental insurance and Collision Damage Waiver benefits, which allow you to save on the insurance fees that car rental companies usually charge†

Historical Offers

Legal disclaimers.

† Terms and conditions apply. BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply Now link for the most up to date information.

As a World Elite* product, this credit card has a minimum annual income requirement of $80,000 (individual) or a $150,000 (household). Consider supporting Prince of Travel by applying for the card via our affiliate link below. Follow the link below to the BMO website to learn more about this card and submit an application.

Understanding What Travel Insurance Covers

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The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex℠. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Travel insurance is intended to cover risks and financial losses associated with traveling.
• Coverage can include trip cancellation, baggage protection, medical care, and emergency evacuation.
• When filing a claim, be specific and comprehensive in your documentation to ease the process.

Whether it's a trip across the world or a trip across the state, having travel insurance provides major relief if things go awry. Flight delays, lost baggage, illness, injuries, and other unforeseen events can disrupt even the best-laid plans. With a major disruption comes the potential for unanticipated expenses.

Travel insurance and the coverage it offers can help keep you protected and save you money in the long run.

Overview of Travel Insurance Coverage

Travel insurance policies protect travelers from financial losses should something go wrong during their trip. You can customize which coverages you want to include, and there are several to choose from.

"Common types of coverage include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, coverage for medical care if you get sick or hurt during your trip, and emergency medical evacuation," says Angela Borden, a travel insurance expert and product strategist for travel insurance company Seven Corners.

Travel insurance plans offer nonrefundable payments and other trip-related expenses. While monetary compensation is a primary benefit, there is another valuable perk of travel insurance. It can provide peace of mind.

What does travel insurance cover?

Your specific travel insurance plan (and its terms and conditions) will determine the minutia and specifics of what is covered. As with most other forms of insurance, a general rule of thumb is the more you spend, the better your coverage.

"Travel insurance can be confusing, so it's best to research a reputable company that specializes in travel insurance and has a long history of successfully helping travelers all over the world," says Borden.

Trip cancellation and interruptions

A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for a prepaid, nonrefundable trip if it is canceled for a covered event, such as a natural disaster or a global pandemic.

Trip interruption insurance covers you if you're already on your trip and you get sick, there's a natural disaster, or something else happens. Make sure to check with your travel insurance providers to discuss any inclusions, coverage, and more.

Travel delays and missed connections

Travel delay insurance coverage provides reimbursement for any expenses you incur when you experience a delay in transit over a minimum time. Reimbursements can include hotels, airfare, food, and other related expenses.

Medical emergencies and evacuations

Typically, US healthcare plans are not accepted in other countries. So travel insurance with medical coverage can be particularly beneficial when you are abroad. Medical coverage can also help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities.

Medical transportation coverage will also pay for emergency evacuation expenses such as airlifts and medically-equipped flights back to the US. Out of pocket, these expenses can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Certain plans may even transport you to a hospital of choice for care.

Travel insurance generally does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions. That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver, which we will talk about later.  

Baggage and personal belongings

Most airlines will reimburse travelers for lost or destroyed baggage, but be prepared for limitations. Travel insurance plans will typically cover stolen items, such as those stolen out of a hotel room. This may not include expensive jewelry, antiques, or heirloom items. Typically, airlines have a few days to recover your bag.

In the meantime, you can make a claim to pay for items like certain toiletries and other items you need to pick up. If your bag is truly lost or you don't get it for an extended period, you can file a true lost baggage claim.

What does credit card travel insurance cover?

A major perk on several travel credit cards is embedded credit card travel insurance . Typically, you will need to use the specific card for the transaction (at least with partial payment) for travel coverage to kick in.

Each card has specific rules on what exactly is covered. But one of the industry leaders is the $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Here's a snapshot of what is covered with this specific card:

• Baggage delay: up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a passenger carrier delays your baggage by more than six hours.
• Lost and damaged baggage: up to $3,000 per passenger per trip, but only up to $500 per passenger for jewelry and watches and up to $500 per passenger for cameras and other electronic equipment.
• Trip delay reimbursement: up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection: up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical evacuation benefit: up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation when on a trip of five to 60 days and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Travel accident insurance: accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $1,000,000 for common carrier travel).
• Emergency medical and dental benefits: up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Rental car coverage: primary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision up to $75,000 on rentals of 31 days or fewer

More protections are included with cards with an annual fee, but there are exceptions. The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex , for instance, includes up to $1,500 per person (and up to $6,000 per trip) in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

However, there are some differences between credit card travel coverage and obtaining coverage from a third party.

"Credit card coverage does not typically provide travel medical benefits," Borden says. "For protection if you get sick or hurt while traveling, you'll want a travel insurance plan with medical coverage."

Whether you get your travel insurance in a standalone policy or through a credit card, it's important to review your plan details carefully. In either case, there may be exclusions and other requirements such as deadlines when filing a claim, Borden notes.

What travel insurance coverage do you need to pay more for?

Knowing what travel insurance doesn't cover is as important as knowing what it does cover.

"Travelers should understand that travel insurance benefits come into play only if a covered reason occurs," Borden says. Most standard travel insurance plans won't reimburse you for the following:

Cancel for any reason (CFAR)

Cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance covers a trip cancellation for any reason, not just a covered event. your standard benefits won't kick in unless it's a covered event. For instance, you'll be reimbursed simply for changing your mind about taking a trip.

That said, CFAR travel insurance is not without its downsides. For one, it's more expensive than traditional insurance, and most CFAR policies will only reimburse you for a percentage of your travel expenses. Additionally, CFAR policies aren't available for annual travel insurance . 

You can find our guide on the best CFAR travel insurance here.

Foreseen weather events

Sudden storms or unforeseen weather events are typically covered by standard travel insurance plans. There are exceptions to be aware of. For example, an anticipated and named hurricane will not be covered.

Medical tourism

If you're going to travel internationally for a medical procedure or doctor's visit, your travel insurance plan will not cover the procedure itself. Most medical travel plans also won't cover you if something goes wrong with your procedure.

Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy

Those with specific pre-existing conditions, such as someone with diabetes and needing more insulin, will not be covered by most plans. In addition, pregnancy-related expenses will likely not be covered under most plans.

That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver for stable conditions. In order to obtain a wavier, you will need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time frame from when you booked your trip, usually two to three weeks, depending on your policy.

Extreme sports and activities

Accidents occurring while participating in extreme sports like skydiving and paragliding will typically not be covered under most plans. However, many plans offer the ability to upgrade to a higher-priced version with extended coverage.

Navigating claims and assistance

When a trip goes awry, the first thing you should do is document everything and be as specific as possible with documentation. This will make the claims process easier, as you can substantiate and quantify your financial losses due to the delay.

For example, your flight home has been delayed long enough to be covered under your policy, you'll want to keep any receipts from purchases made while waiting. For instances where your luggage is lost, you will need to file a report with local authorities and document all the items you packed.

Cancellation protection also requires meticulous attention to detail. If you're too sick to fly, you may need to see a doctor to prove your eligibility. If an airline cancels a flight, you'll also need to document any refunds you received as travel insurance isn't going to reimburse you for money you've already gotten back. 

Part of the benefit of CFAR insurance is the reduced paperwork necessary to file a claim. You'll still need to document your nonrefundable losses, but you won't have to substantiate why you're canceling a trip.

Choosing the right travel insurance

Each plan should be personalized to meet the insured party's needs. Some travelers prefer to stick to the bare minimum (flight cancellation benefits through the airline). Others want a comprehensive plan with every coverage possible. Before you buy anything, set your destination. Are there any travel restrictions or changes pending? Does your destination country require emergency or other medical coverage?

If the destination airport is known for lost or delayed luggage, travelers should keep important items in carry-ons. Lost or delayed luggage coverage protects insured parties in the event of a significant delay or total loss.

Second, check current credit card travel benefits to avoid redundancies. Savvy travelers don't need to pay for the same coverage twice.

Finally, consider your individual needs. Do you have a chronic medical condition, or do you feel safe with emergency-only medical coverage? Keep in mind, this does not include coverage for cosmetic surgery or other medical tourism. Do you have a budget limit for travel insurance? Asking and answering these important questions will help every traveler find the right product.

Most travel insurance plans are simple, and Business Insider's guide to the best travel insurance companies outlines our top picks. Remember, read your policy and its specifics closely to ensure it includes the items you need coverage for.

No one likes to dwell on how a trip might not go as planned before even leaving. However, at its core, travel insurance provides peace of mind as you go about your trip. While the upfront cost may seem significant, when you compare it to the potential expenses of a canceled flight, emergency evacuation, or a hefty medical bill, it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Get Travel Insurance Quotes Online

Protect your trip with the best travel insurance . Compare travel insurance quotes from multiple providers with Squaremouth.

What does travel insurance cover frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance cover trip cancellations due to a pandemic like covid-19.

Coverage for pandemics vary from policy to policy. Some travel insurance companies have specific provisions for pandemic-related cancellations, while others may exclude them entirely.

Are sports injuries covered under travel insurance?

Sports injuries are often covered under travel insurance, but high-risk or adventure sports might require additional coverage or a special policy.

Can travel insurance provide coverage for travel advisories or warnings?

Travel advisories have different effects on your travel insurance depending on your policy. Traveling to a country already under travel advisory may invalidate your coverage, but if you're already traveling when a travel advisory is announced, you may be covered.

How does travel insurance handle emergency medical evacuations?

Travel insurance usually covers the cost of emergency medical evacuations to the nearest suitable medical facility, and sometimes back to your home country, if necessary.

Are lost or stolen passports covered by travel insurance?

Many travel insurance policies provide coverage for the cost of replacing lost or stolen passports during a trip.

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Introduction to iTravelInsured Travel Insurance

• Types of Policies Offered
• How to Purchase and Manage Your Policy
• Customer Service and Claims Experience

Compare iTravelInsured Travel Insurance

• Why You Should Trust Us

iTravelInsured Travel Insurance Review 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

Planning a vacation can be an exciting endeavor. Regardless of where and why you're traveling, it's vital to ensure that you're protected if something goes wrong. And this is why travel insurance is important.

In this review of iTravelInsured Travel Insurance , a well-known name in the industry, we'll share the company's insurance offerings, look at premium costs, and let you know how to file a claim. We'll also share a couple of comparisons between iTravelInsured and some of the best travel insurance companies . 

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Six different plans to choose from
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for Any Reason and Interruption for Any Reason coverage available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Specialized plans for missionaries, seniors, and students in a cultural exchange or study abroad program
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Higher-end plans are on the expensive side
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Travel Essential plan has lower coverage compared to comparable plans through some competitors
• Six travel insurance plans to choose from
• Travel LX plan is the most popular option, and includes up to $2,500 in trip delay coverage and the option to add CFAR insurance
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $500,000 (primary or secondary depending on the plan)
• Coverage for baggage delays, loss, missed connections, and more

iTravelInsured is a collection of travel insurance policies provided by International Medical Group, more commonly known as IMG. One of the industry leaders in travel insurance, IMG provides policies for travel medical insurance , international health insurance, and comprehensive travel insurance. iTravelInsured offers trip protection and medical coverage across six plans.

With six plans to choose from, including a low cost plan and a plan for adventure sports travelers, customers are likely to find a plan that suits their needs. iTravelInsured's Travel Lite plan is particularly interesting, managing to keep its rates relatively low, even for older travelers.

We'll get into more details about iTravelInsured's customer reviews, but it's worth mentioning at the top that the claims process for iTravelInsured isn't great, with many customers reporting unresponsiveness, partial claims payouts, and months-long processing times. 

Types of Policies Offered by iTravelInsured

iTravelInsured offers six primary plans: Travel Lite, Travel SE, Travel LX, Travel LX Basic, Travel Sport, and Travel Essential. Each plan has different coverage limits and various types of protection.

Here's a look at what you'll get with each plan:

Determining which of these plans will best suit your needs will depend on your budget and which coverages matter most to you.

For example, the Travel LX plan offers the highest coverage limits but will also cost the most. In comparison, the Travel Lite plan is designed for budget-conscious travelers. Its coverage limits are lower than the other plans, but you'll also pay less for your policy.

Additional Coverage Options from iTravelInsured

iTravelInsured only offers two optional add-ons to its top-tier Travel LX plan. These include CFAR (cancel for any reason) and IFAR (interruption for any reason) coverage. And these add-ons must be purchased within 20 days of the initial trip deposit.

iTravelInsured Travel Insurance Cost

The premium you pay will depend on various factors, including the age of the travelers, destination, and total trip costs. The  average cost of travel insurance  is 4% to 8% of your travel costs.

After inputting some personal information, such as your age and state of residence, along with your trip details, like travel dates, destination, and trip costs, you'll get an instant quote for iTravelInsured plans available for your trip. And from there, it's easy to compare each option based on your coverage needs and budget.

Now let's look at a few examples to estimate iTravelInsured coverage costs.

As of 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following travel insurance quotes:

• iTravelInsured Travel Lite: $ 87.77
• iTravelInsured Travel SE: $100.43
• iTravelInsured Travel LX: $183.06
• iTravelInsured Travel Sport: $194.01

Premiums for iTravelInsured plans are between 2.9% and 6.5% of the trip's cost, well within the average cost of travel insurance.

iTravelInsured provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

• iTravelInsured Travel Lite: $117.74
• iTravelInsured Travel SE: $135.36
• iTravelInsured Travel LX: $235.53
• iTravelInsured Travel Sport: $246.91

Once again, premiums for iTravelInsured plans are between 2.9% and 6.2% of the trip's cost, within and below the expected range of travel insurance costs.

A Texas family consisting of two 40-year-old parents with a 10-year-old and 4-year-old on a two-week trip to Australia for $20,000:

• iTravelInsured Travel Lite: $687.18
• iTravelInsured Travel SE: $807.78
• iTravelInsured Travel LX: $1,270.92

Quotes for this trip cost between 3.4% and 6.4%, within and below the average cost of travel insurance. 

A 65-year-old couple looking to escape New Jersey for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following quotes:

• iTravelInsured Travel Lite: $423.86
• iTravelInsured Travel SE: $449.74
• iTravelInsured Travel LX: $662.28

Quotes for this trip cost between 7.1% and 11%, which is generally higher than the average cost of travel insurance. Older people often pay more for insurance, and iTravelInsured is no exception. That said, its policies for older travelers aren't as high as some of its competitors.

How to Purchase and Manage Your iTravelInsured Policy

You can by iTravelInsured either through the IMG website . You'll need to be prepared to provide the following information about yourself and your trip:

• Travel dates
• Primary travel destination 
• Traveler(s) information (age, gender, citizenship, residence, state)

You'll be shown quotes for all of IMG's travel insurance plans that apply to you and your trip. 

How to File a Claim with iTravelInsured

You must submit a claim within 30 days of the loss.

Claims with iTravelInsured will be handled through its claims center . You can contact customer service or the claims center 24 hours a day at 866-347-6673 or 1-866-243-7524, respectively.

Claims forms and information can be mailed to:

IMG iTravelInsured Claims

PO Box 3231

Farmington Hills, Michigan 48333-3231

You can also email claims to [email protected].

iTravelInsured must pay your claim within 30 days of receiving your proof of loss. If you're not paid within 30 days, your claim starts accruing interest at 6% APY until the date of late payment.

iTravelInsured Customer Service and Claims Experience

IMG, the company that operates iTravelInsured, is very well reviewed, receiving an average of 4.6 stars out of five on Trustpilot and a 4.22 on Squaremouth. Many customers spoke highly of the company's buying process, saying that the price was reasonable, the application was easy to complete, and customer service agents were polite and knowledgeable.

That said, customer reviews of IMG's claims don't line up with the volume of outstanding reviews it has. Customers reported claims taking several months to process. Many of the five-star reviews of IMG's claims services are filed by people who have recently filed, but haven't heard back yet. 

In addition to long wait times, customers also reported that claims agents were largely unavailable, and customer service representatives, while polite, were ultimately powerless in escalating a claim. Additionally, multiple customers reported only receiving partial compensation without explanation. One customer mentioned that mental illness was not included as a covered illness, writing, "Almost a medieval view of what constitutes an illness."

While IMG and iTravelInsured aren't alone when it comes to a long, uncommunicative claims process, it's even more concerning that IMG's customer service team doesn't respond to any reviews, which is often a good way to reach your insurance provider. 

Learn more about how iTravelInsured travel insurance compares to top travel insurance providers. 

iTravelInsured vs. AIG Travel Guard

We'll look at a couple of different plans from both iTravelInsured and AIG Travel Guard  to compare and contrast the coverage between the two companies.

We'll start with iTravelInsured's Travel Essential and AIG's Essential plans.

AIG's Essential plan covers trip cancellations with up to $100,0000 in coverage, up to $150,000 in emergency medical evacuation expenses, and up to $100 per day ($500 total) for delays of 12 or more hours, and coverage for lost or delayed baggage.

In comparison, iTravelInsured's Travel Essential offers trip cancellation coverage of 100% of the trip cost, $0 of emergency medical evacuation coverage, up to $2,000 (with a $250 daily limit) for trip delays of 12+ hours, and no lost or delayed baggage coverage.

So in this instance, it's pretty easy to decipher the main differences between these plans. And to see that you'll get much better coverage with AIG's Essential plan.

Now we'll look at both of the highest-tier plans from each provider.

AIG's Deluxe plan, the highest-tier option, provides trip cancellation coverage of up to $150,000, emergency medical evacuation coverage of up to $1,000,000, up to $200 per day ($1,000 maximum) reimbursement for travel delays of 12+ hours, and coverage for delayed or lost baggage.

iTravelInsured's Travel LX plan provides trip cancellation coverage of 100% of the trip cost, up to $1,000,000 in emergency medical evacuation, up to $2,500 with a $250 daily limit )reimbursement for travel delays of 6+ hours, and relatively high limits on coverage for delayed or lost baggage.

In this instance, the Travel LX policy provides superior coverage. But it's important to always get quotes for your particular situation to find the policy that best fits your needs and budget.

Read our AIG Travel Guard insurance review here.

iTravelInsured vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Both iTravelInsured and Allianz offer various plans with varying levels of coverage designed for different types of travelers. These include single-trip plans and policies covering those who take multiple trips per year.

Allianz's most popular single-trip option is the OneTrip Prime plan, which offers trip cancellation coverage up to $100,000, trip interruption coverage up to $150,000, emergency medical coverage for $50,000, coverage for baggage loss, theft, or damage up to $1,000, and up to $800 in travel delay coverage.

iTravelInsured's most popular plan is the Travel SE plan, which provides trip cancellation coverage of 100% of trip costs, trip interruption coverage of 150% of trip costs, emergency medical coverage for $250,000 (primary coverage), coverage for baggage loss, theft, or damage up to $1,500 ($250 per item), and up to $2,000 ($125 daily limit) in travel delay coverage for delays of 12+ hours. Overall, it offers more coverage than Allianz in this example.

Again, it's best to compare quotes using your personal and trip details to determine which policy is the best for you. Various factors will determine the final cost of any of these policies.

Read our Allianz travel insurance review here.

 iTravelInsured vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

If you have a travel credit card, check its insurance coverages before purchasing a travel insurance plan from iTravelInsured or another company. That way, you won't be paying twice for coverage you might already have! Some basic insurance coverages, like primary rental car insurance, are offered through many travel rewards credit cards.

It's worth considering whether your credit card travel protection is primary or secondary. Secondary coverage will only kick in after any other relevant travel insurance policies you have. And note that insurance provided through a credit card likely won't cover medical issues, just things like trip and baggage delays.

Once you're clear on the coverage you have through your credit cards, you can purchase travel insurance to fill in the gaps.

See our guide to the best credit cards with travel insurance.

iTravelInsured Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, iTravelInsured is great for international trips, offering coverage for medical emergencies, evacuations, and adventure sports.

iTravelInsured offers adventure sports coverage in its Travel Sport plan, with coverage for sports rental equipment, medical emergency coverage for hazardous sports, and search and rescue.

Customer reviews typically indicate that iTravelInsured has an efficient claims processing system, characterized by timely responses and a supportive claims handling team.

Coverage for pre-existing conditions depends on the iTravelInsured plan you purchase. Its Travel Lite plan doesn't offer pre-existing condition waivers , but its Travel SE and Travel LX plans do, as long as you purchase your policy within the specified window. You must purchase a Travel SE policy within 20 days of your initial trip payment and your Travel LX within 24 hours of your final trip payment.

iTravelInsured stands out for its variety of plans, long trip lengths, and lower rates.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed iTravelInsured

We looked at a variety of factors in reviewing the travel insurance plans offered by iTravelInsured. We also compared them to plans offered by other reputable travel insurance companies. And considered things like coverage limits, premiums costs, available add-ons, and more. 

Because the costs and available coverage depend primarily on the specific traveler's personal and trip details, it's best to compare a number of different options to determine which fits your needs. That way you'll know you're getting the right amount of coverage aligns with your needs and your budget.

Read more about how Business Insider reviews insurance products here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Table of Contents

Do Citi cards have travel insurance?

Car rental insurance, costco anywhere visa® card by citi travel insurance benefits, citi® / aadvantage® executive world elite mastercard® travel insurance coverage, does citibank offer travel insurance.

Citi credit cards provide a host of benefits, including some generous points and miles earning opportunities (depending on the card you have).

But, when it comes to travel insurance, let’s just say it’s not necessarily Citi cards' strong suit.

Still, there are Citibank travel insurance benefits you should know about to ensure you use the right card when paying for your next trip. Here are the primary benefits associated with Citi card travel insurance.

Only two Citi cards have travel insurance, and each one has a different set of benefits: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® .

on Citibank's application

Both cards provide rental car insurance.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi also offers roadside assistance, worldwide travel accident insurance and a 24/7 concierge for travel and emergency assistance. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , on the other hand, offers baggage protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay protections.

» Learn more: Best Citi credit cards right now

If you use either of the two Citi credit cards listed above to pay for a car rental, Citi travel insurance will protect any damages to a rental car up to $50,000.

This amount will cover the cost of repairs or the cash value of the car, whichever is lower. It applies anywhere you rent a car — there are no geographic limitations — as long as the rental period is no longer than 31 days. Citibank travel insurance covers accidental damage, theft, vandalism or a natural disaster, and any necessary towing costs.

Citi's rental car insurance is secondary when renting a car within the U.S., but if you're renting outside of the country, it switches to primary coverage.

With secondary insurance, you need to rely on any other insurance coverage you have before Citi’s car rental insurance kicks in. Primary insurance, alternatively, will be the first line of coverage you have.

Coverage wouldn't apply if you rent the car to someone else or operate a rental car as a rideshare vehicle. It also only covers the car, not any personal injuries that might result from an accident.

There are several types of vehicles that are excluded from coverage. These include:

Trucks, pickup trucks, trailers, full-size vans on a truck chassis or recreational vehicles like campers and off-road vehicles.

Motorcycles or motorized bikes.

Commercial vehicles or cargo vans.

Any vehicle with fewer than four wheels.

Antique vehicles older than 20 years or that have not been made in the past decade.

Limousines.

Sport-utility trucks or open, flat-bed trucks.

Any vehicle that retails for over $50,000.

» Learn more: Rental car insurance explained

Roadside assistance

When driving in the U.S., roadside assistance is available for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cardholders by calling 866-918-4670.

Roadside assistance is valuable in the event of an accident, loss of fuel or other vehicle malfunction. Keep in mind that you would still have to pay for the assistance (like a tow truck, for example), but this benefit makes it easy to reach someone with one phone call.

Citi card provides access to similar assistance as a membership program like AAA . The difference is that AAA’s annual fee covers roadside assistance fees while Citi's coverage doesn't; it solely provides access to someone who can help you for a reduced rate.

Several credit cards provide some type of roadside assistance and are worth considering before paying the annual fee for AAA.

Worldwide travel accident insurance

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi includes accident insurance, which covers the cardholder or family members if they are injured or killed when traveling on a common carrier (any vehicle that is licensed to carry passengers like a bus, plane, cruise ship or train).

You will need to have used the Citi card to cover the entire cost of the travel on that common carrier for the benefit to apply. The maximum coverage is $250,000.

» Learn more: How does travel insurance work?

Travel and emergency assistance

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi card provides access to a 24/7 concierge to help you with a disruption to your trip. This can include medical assistance, referrals to a doctor or legal help. It can also help if you need to adjust travel plans.

Just remember, you’ll be responsible for paying for any services used, but the call is toll-free.

Baggage protection

Only available for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , this luggage protection provides coverage if your checked bag is stolen, lost or damaged.

The insurance covers as much as $3,000 per person ($2,000 for New York residents), but only kicks in if you use the card or American AAdvantage miles to pay for the trip.

» Learn more: The guide to baggage insurance

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

If a covered traveler has a medical emergency or dies, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® coverage can provide reimbursement for up to $5,000 in eligible nonrefundable expenses.

You would need to use the card or American AAdvantage miles to pay for the trip.

Trip delay protection

Another benefit that’s reserved only for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is trip delay protection . This coverage kicks in if your trip is delayed by at least six hours, and offers reimbursement for expenses incurred during the delay, up to $500 per trip.

This would include reasonable purchases like hotel stays, rental cars and meals.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Citibank travel insurance is available, but limited. It is only offered on two cards and isn't as comprehensive as other credit cards with travel insurance .

Both cards include rental car coverage, but beyond this, each has its own set of benefits. Depending on which one you hold, it may include coverage like trip delay protection or roadside assistance.

People hold Citi cards for many reasons, including the ability to earn transferable Citi ThankYou Points . But, the travel insurance benefits are somewhat limited. If you have a Citi card, review the travel insurance perks before you take off to understand your coverage.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Auto insurance

Our car insurance ratings methodology

Jennifer Lobb

Kara McGinley

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Heidi Gollub

Published 8:52 a.m. UTC May 24, 2024

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How we rate car insurance 

To help consumers find the best car insurance for their needs, we evaluated 389 companies across the United States. Each rating considered two or more of the following key car insurance factors. 

We analyzed over 3,500 car insurance rates, including those for the following:

• Good drivers, or those with no infractions on their record. 
• Drivers with an at-fault accident that resulted in bodily injury or property damage.
• Drivers with a speeding ticket on their record.
• Drivers with a DUI on their record. 
• Teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) on a parent’s policy.
• Teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) on their own policy.
• Young drivers (ages 19 to 25).
• Senior drivers (ages 60 to 80).

As part of our analysis, we reviewed the average national rate for each driver profile at the national and state levels. 

Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female with a clean driving record shopping for full coverage on a 2023 Toyota Rav4. 

For our analysis, full coverage includes: 

• $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance coverage per person. 
• $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance coverage per accident. 
• $100,000 in property damage liability insurance per accident. 
• Collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible. 
• Any additional coverage (and associated limits) required by state car insurance mandates. This can include personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage (MedPay) and uninsured motorist coverage. 

Note that key factors, such as age and driving record, may change for some ratings to best reflect the cost of coverage for a specific driver profile. For instance, the rates used in our best teen car insurance rating are based on teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) on a parent’s policy, while those used in our best car insurance for seniors rating are for ages 65, 70, 75 and 80. 

A methodology section that outlines the factors used is available on each rating page. 

>> Why this is important: Nearly every state mandates that drivers carry at least some level of liability car insurance, with many other states mandating additional coverages, such as uninsured motorist insurance. These laws make car insurance an obligatory budget item for most drivers and car insurance rates a significant factor when shopping for coverage. 

Coverages and features

Car insurance companies generally offer the same basic coverage, such as liability car insurance, but many offer additional coverages and features that may benefit some drivers. Companies that offered the following coverage options may receive a higher score, depending on the rating and/or driver profile examined:

• Accident forgiveness.
• New car replacement.
• Vanishing deductible.
• Usage-based car insurance. 
• Pay-per-mile car insurance. 

>> Why this is important: Customizing your coverage with additional coverages or features can create a robust car insurance policy that meets your specific needs, budget and desired level of protection. For instance, if you finance a vehicle, you may want or need to purchase gap insurance, which helps bridge the “gap” between the market value of your vehicle and your loan balance if your vehicle is totaled. Some coverage options may even save you money. For example, a usage-based car insurance or pay-per-mile car insurance policy may help you reduce your premium if you don’t drive often.

Customer complaints

We looked at data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ( NAIC ), which shows the volume of consumer complaints made to state insurance departments across the nation. Car insurance complaints vary but can include issues with an insurance company’s claims process, such as delays, denials or settlements. 

The NAIC lodges and tracks complaints, issuing a complaint ratio for each insurer. The average complaint ratio is 1.0. Insurers that receive fewer complaints receive a higher score. 

>> Why this is important: A car insurance company is only as good as the service it provides. A trend of claim denials, delays or unsatisfactory settlements can indicate a less-than-satisfactory customer experience. NAIC complaint data helps us evaluate an insurer based on their individual complaint level and how that complaint level compares to insurers nationwide.

Collision repair score

We looked at the CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card, an annual survey of over 1,000 collision repair professionals about their experience dealing with insurers. The survey focuses on how professionals view an insurer’s claims handling policies, payment practices, quality of repairs and overall attitude.

Based on survey results, each car insurance company receives a grade ranging from A+ to F. The national average is a C+. The insurers we evaluate are only eligible for points if they receive a C or higher on the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card.

>> Why this is important: Collision repairs can be costly, time-consuming and confusing for policyholders, and collision repair professionals can provide significant insight into how an insurer meets (or doesn’t) their obligation to policyholders. A high collision repair score can indicate an efficient collision repair process with fewer delays and issues along the way. 

Our star ratings explained

We determine our best car insurance star ratings by assigning a weight to the key factors listed above. Each car insurance company can score up to 100 points, and its total score determines its star rating, ranging from 5.0 to 1.0. The top scores earn 5.0 stars. 

Methodologies

• Best car insurance companies
• Best car insurance for teens
• Best car insurance for seniors
• Best car insurance for high-risk drivers

Best auto and home insurance bundles

Best car insurance methodology.

The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates, low customer complaint levels, a strong collision repair process and a range of coverages and features that make it easy to customize your car insurance policy. We rate car insurance companies based on rates, customer complaints, collision repair scores, and available coverages and features. 

Bonus points: Car insurance companies with low rates for teen and senior drivers, two demographics that typically have high rates, were eligible for up to 10 bonus points. 

Best car insurance rating factors

• Rates: 50 points. 
• Customer complaints: 20 points.
• Coverage and features: 20 points.
• Collision repair score: 10 points.
• Available bonus for teen and senior rates: 10 points. 

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance companies .

Best car insurance companies for teens methodology

Teens have some of the highest car insurance rates, making the cost of coverage one of the critical factors in our analysis of the best car insurance for teens. We also looked at customer complaints, collision repair scores and coverage features, such as accident forgiveness and vanishing deductibles, which can help keep rates low after a claim. 

Some teen drivers may benefit from user-based car insurance (UBI) programs, which monitor a driver’s behind-the-wheel habits, such as speed, acceleration, hard braking and mileage. 

UBI programs can provide parents and teens with insights about potentially dangerous driving habits and ways to become safer drivers. However, some insurers increase car insurance rates if the UBI program data reveals risky driving habits. As such, we allotted 5 bonus points to insurers that offer UBI programs but don’t increase rates based on the data collected. 

Best car insurance for teens rating factors

• Rates: 60 points.
• Coverage and features: 10 points.
• Available bonus: 5 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance for teens .

Best car insurance for seniors methodology

Seniors, like teens, often have higher car insurance rates. The best car insurance company for seniors is one that offers competitive rates, a low number of customer complaints to state insurance departments, a high collision repair score and features, like usage-based car insurance, vanishing deductibles and new car replacement coverage. 

Best car insurance for seniors rating factors

• Cost: 50 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance company for seniors .

Best car insurance for high-risk drivers methodology

Car insurance companies often see DUIs, at-fault accidents and poor credit scores as indicative of increased risk, and high-risk drivers typically pay more for coverage. We reviewed rates, coverage features and options, customer complaints and collision repair scores to find the best car insurance companies for high-risk drivers. 

Best car insurance for high-risk drivers rating factors

• Customer complaints: 10 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best car insurance for high-risk drivers .

Bundling or multi-policy discounts are common, but not all discounts or insurers are created equal. To find the best auto and home insurance bundles, we evaluated each insurer’s average bundling discount and home and auto rates and consumer complaints. 

Best auto and home insurance bundles rating factors

• Bundling discount: 20 points.
• Auto insurance rates: 30 points.
• Home insurance rates: 30 points.
• Auto insurance complaints: 10 points.
• Home insurance complaints: 10 points.

See the results of our analysis in our rating of the best auto and home insurance bundles .

How we collect data

Our insurance editors collect car insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services . We look at rates for a variety of driver profiles and coverage types, as indicated in our explanation of cost data above. We then collect data from the insurer website and S&P Global Inc. to determine other key factors, such as the type of coverages available.

Our analysis of customer complaints is based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) . Collision repair scores are collected from CRASH Network , using their annual Insurer Report Card. 

Our data is subject to three levels of fact-checking to ensure accuracy. Data is collected annually and ratings are updated each year.

USA TODAY Blueprint’s editorial standards

Our goal as insurance editors is to provide readers with an unbiased analysis of insurance products on the market and break down the pros and cons of each. 

For insurance ratings, we collect thousands of data points to evaluate by assigning weights to the most important factors. These weights determine each product’s score out of 100, which translates to a star rating. Top-scoring insurance products get 5 stars. 

Our ratings are designed to let rigorous methodology determine the winners so all star ratings are data-based. Advertisers never influence our editorial content. 

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Jennifer Lobb is deputy editor at USA TODAY Blueprint and is an experienced insurance and personal finance writer. Jennifer served as an insurance staff writer and editor at U.S. News and World Report and deputy editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor. She also spent several years covering finance and insurance for various financial media sites, including LendingTree and Investopedia. For nearly a decade, she’s helped consumers make educated decisions about the products that protect their finances, families and homes.

Kara McGinley is deputy editor of insurance at USA TODAY Blueprint and a licensed home insurance expert. Previously, she was a senior editor at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. Her work and insights have been featured in MSN, Lifehacker, Kiplinger, PropertyCasualty360 and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Help! Our Cruise Operator Went Bankrupt and We Are Out $17,905.

A couple purchased an Arabian Sea voyage, but Vantage, the cruise company, went under. Their travel insurance was supposed to cover financial default, but the claim was repeatedly denied.

By Seth Kugel

Dear Tripped Up,

In September 2022, I booked a 17-day Arabian Sea cruise through Vantage Travel Services to celebrate my 80th birthday with my wife. The cruise was to set sail in October 2023. I used my credit card to leave a $2,000 deposit and paid the remaining $17,905 shortly afterward by bank transfer. I also bought the Worldwide Trip Protector plan from Travel Insured International (for $1,954), in part because it covered financial default and bankruptcy of cruise lines. Vantage then canceled the cruise and offered me an alternative date I could not make; I also declined their offer of credit and asked for a refund, which they agreed to. But no refund ever came, and they stopped answering the phone. My credit card returned the $2,000, and I filed an insurance claim for $17,905. It was denied, as was my first appeal. Then Vantage filed for bankruptcy, and my second appeal was denied too. The reasons given by the insurer were outrageous. They cited a vague parenthetical phrase in the policy’s bankruptcy clause, claiming I wasn’t covered because I purchased the cruise directly from the cruise line (rather than, say, through a travel adviser). Then they said my policy lapsed when I canceled the trip. But I did not cancel; Vantage did. I also filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Financial Services, which was rejected. Can you help? Michael, Smithtown, N.Y.

Dear Michael,

When Boston-based Vantage filed for bankruptcy last year, it owed thousands of customers a total of $108 million for cruises and other travel products they had paid for but never received. The company’s former owner is facing lawsuits in New York and Pennsylvania. But you had purchased an insurance policy to cover just such a risk, a smart move. Or so you thought until the insurance company, Travel Insured International, denied your claim and then used exasperating logic to fend off your two appeals, first interpreting the policy’s financial default and bankruptcy clause in a maddening way and then twisting the meaning of the word “cancel.”

You made a few mistakes as well — most notably, by making a claim based on a financial default that had not yet happened. But after speaking with law professors, insurance experts and competing insurance companies, I believe Travel Insured International was wrong, at least by the time of your second appeal, and should pay up.

What does it have to say for itself? For nearly five months, Travel Insured International and its parent company, Crum & Forster, did not respond to my detailed inquiries. Days before publication, however, a spokeswoman, Amy Whilldin, sent the following statement:

“The claim was properly considered, and the correct determination was made based on the facts of this claim, which was to the satisfaction of both the New York Department of Financial Services and the New York State attorney general.”

Ms. Whilldin is correct about the state’s financial services department . An examiner with the department, which regulates the insurance industry, rejected your complaint. “After a review of the policy language," he wrote, “we do not find they are acting in an arbitrary or capricious manner,” referring to Travel Insured International. I disagree with that determination, as we are about to get into.

But the attorney general’s office was not satisfied. You had complained to its Department of Consumer Frauds and Protection, and they did not receive a response from the company. “Despite our repeated efforts,” an employee wrote, “they have failed to respond.” The letter goes on to recommend you consider suing the company.

I have a better idea. You should file a formal grievance with Travel Insured International, which under your policy allows you to submit new evidence, and if that fails even argue your case in person. (You told me you are not interested in a third option, to accept travel credits under the conditions offered by the Australian company that bought Vantage’s assets.)

In the meantime, your story provides great lessons on how travelers should choose the appropriate travel insurance policy, and what can go wrong even when they do.

In your initial claim to Travel Insured International, filed in late 2022, you cited Vantage’s “very poor record” in refunding its customers and your “assumption that the company is in default in making payments.”

This was an error: Your policy defines financial default as “the total cessation of operations,” and Vantage at the time was running at least some cruises. Travel Insured International’s response simply said that “your travel supplier canceling your trip is not a covered reason.” True.

When you first appealed in April, Vantage was two months short of declaring bankruptcy outright, and was not yet in financial default as defined by the policy. But it was teetering. (That one of its cruises left at all made headlines in The Boston Globe .) This time, Travel Insured International denied your claim, citing the bankruptcy clause, which protects policy holders in case of “Bankruptcy or default of an airline, cruise line, tour operator or other travel provider (other than the Travel Supplier, tour operator, travel agency, organization or firm from whom you purchased your travel arrangements).”

That parenthetical says you are not covered if the organization that sold you the cruise goes bankrupt. You purchased the cruise directly from Vantage, so you are not covered, according to the claims adjuster’s reasoning. (Why the company even cited this clause, if the cruise line was not yet in default, remains a mystery.)

Similar clauses appear in many travel policies, but that’s not what they’re supposed to mean, said Loretta Worters, vice president for media relations at the Insurance Information Institute , an industry group.

Such provisions, she explained, are intended to exclude coverage for an unscrupulous or financially flailing middleman that goes belly-up after collecting your money but before passing it along to the actual travel provider.

“Some of these are fly-by-night, travel-agencies-in-their-kitchen kinds of things,” Ms. Worters said. ( We encountered one such agency in a previous Tripped Up column .)

Guess who agreed with Ms. Worters: The agent who answered the phone when I called Travel Insured International’s customer care line as a potential customer. I asked about the clause and she agreed it was ambiguous, checking with a supervisor before saying: “If you are booking directly with the company and the company itself goes under default or bankruptcy, you would be able to file a claim for the nonrefundable portion of your trip.”

Ms. Whilldin, the spokeswoman for Travel Insured International, did not specifically answer my question about this apparent conflict. But it seems their claims adjuster made a mistake, aided by the ambiguous language of the underwriter who wrote the policy. (That’s United States Fire Insurance, another Crum & Forster company.)

Now, let’s discuss the second appeal. “Once you cancel your trip, the coverage under the plan ends,” Travel Insured International said. Your argument is that you did not cancel; Vantage did.

I think almost anyone who isn’t a lawyer would agree with you. But Oren Bar-Gill , a professor at Harvard Law School and the author of “Seduction by Contract: Law, Economics and Psychology in Consumer Markets,” explained to me the opposing argument. Vantage was contractually allowed to change the dates or offer credit, and you refused, the equivalent of canceling.

But, he added, when Vantage agreed to refund your cruise, it could be “considered a waiver of their contractual rights,” weakening the argument that you canceled your contract.

In a lawsuit New York State filed against the now-defunct Vantage and its former owner, Henry Lewis, the issue also comes up: The suit says Vantage “deceptively” mislabeled cancellations as “postponements.”

Even Travel Insured International admitted that Vantage had canceled, in its original letter rejecting your claim. “It is our understanding that your travel supplier, Vantage, canceled your cruise,” the claims adjuster wrote. Somehow, however, by the third response you had gone from cancelee to canceler.

You also missed a red flag when you chose your policy. Suzanne Morrow, the chief executive of InsureMyTrip , where you found your plan, told me you called the company within minutes of your purchase and asked an agent to point you to the bankruptcy clause. (You confirmed this to me.)

That means you’re not the typical insurance customer blindsided by small print you never read. If you were so concerned about the cruise line’s solvency, you could have canceled your plan during the insurer’s “free look” period and chosen one with more straightforward language — I found several on the InsureMyTrip website.

What lessons can we take away from your debacle?

To begin with, pay for everything with a credit card when your credit limit allows. Because of an odd quirk in a 1974 law , card issuers are required to reimburse you if the company you interacted with goes bankrupt.

Beyond that, the basic advice for travel insurance remains unchanged: Shop for a plan separately through a provider you trust or an aggregator like InsureMyTrip, rather than adding trip protection by checking a box just before you purchase a big-ticket item. Read the policy summaries fully and click through to the actual policy document to read fine print on issues that concern you most (say, bankruptcy protection or medical coverage for pre-existing conditions).

If you don’t understand anything, call the company. If it cannot answer satisfactorily and follow up in writing, choose another provider.

If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Seth Kugel is the columnist for “ Tripped Up ,” an advice column that helps readers navigate the often confusing world of travel. More about Seth Kugel

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