Things to Know About Credit Cards
Be cautious with cards that offer long introductory period APR rates. Potentially high APR rates snap into effect after the card’s introductory period ends, which could cost you a lot in interest if you’ve left your balance unpaid. It’s really important to keep an eye on your finances, and keep an eye on the calendar.
APR rates and credit limits vary based on your individual credit. Credit limits and interest rates for each card are determined based on each cardholder's personal situation, so we did not take that information into account when evaluating these cards. One thing to remember is that if you pay your card off in full every month, you will not be charged interest.
Banks have final say on who they accept for a credit card. These recommendations were put together with the assumption that applicants would have average credit or above. That being said, banks decide who they will issue credit cards to using criteria including, but not always limited to, an individual's credit score when evaluating each applicant.
How We Evaluated
Credit card benefits vary with every credit card and issuer. Right now, our research shows that one issuer—Chase—is a clear leader in offering travel insurance policies with their cards, although that could change in the future. Banks can, and have, changed the insurance offerings that come with their cards. For example, Discover and Citibank no longer offer some travel insurance benefits on their credit cards, and American Express credit cards tend to include just a few basic coverages. (AmEx offers a fuller coverage in its stand-alone travel insurance, which you can buy separately.)
Some of the most common credit card insurance benefits include roadside assistance, trip cancellation/interruption, trip accident, and lost or delayed luggage. We chose cards that offer a wide range of coverages but also include rewards programs, (mostly) low annual fees and no foreign transaction fees. Where possible, we chose cards that include travel delay insurance, as about 1 in 5 flights have been delayed so far this year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
As with any travel insurance plan, you'll usually need to foot the bill first and file a credit card travel insurance claim before getting reimbursed. And, again, credit card travel coverages come with plenty of limitations. For example, to use a card's travel insurance, you'll need to book the travel on that card. In other situations, the card's coverage is secondary, which means you'll need to request compensation from other sources, such as primary insurance providers or common carriers, before the card's insurance will pay out. You'll also need to carefully review your card benefits to make sure any claim you're submitting follows its guidelines. It's always a good idea to check with your card issuer before filing a claim.
Please note: The offers mentioned above are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.
Reviewed has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Reviewed and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
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Meet the tester
Kim Porter
Contributor
Kim Porter has written about personal finance topics for U.S. News & World Report, Reviewed, Credit Karma, AARP Magazine, Bankrate, and more. When she's not writing, you can find her training for her next race, reading, or planning her next big trip.
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