Compare the best travel insurance credit cards in Canada
Most of us know that we should have travel health insurance before we depart, but we’re not all aware of the fact that travel insurance can cover us for much more than just medical expenses. What are the different components of travel insurance, and which Canadian credit cards offer what?
Top credit cards with travel insurance
| Travel insurance credit card | Card benefits | Apply now |
|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite |
Annual fee: $139
Insurance strengths: Hotel/Motel Burglary† Insurance weaknesses: None |
Apply now |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card |
Annual fee: $150
Insurance strengths: Delayed/lost baggage Insurance weaknesses: None |
Apply now |
| Rogers World Elite Mastercard |
Annual fee: $0
Insurance strengths: No annual fee Insurance weaknesses: No delayed/lost baggage, flight delay, hotel/motel burglary, or common carrier coverage |
Apply now |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard |
Annual fee: $150
Insurance strengths: Personal Effects coverage Insurance weaknesses: No hotel/motel burglary coverage |
Apply now |
| Amex The Platinum Card |
Annual fee: $799
Insurance strengths: Car Rental; Flight Delay Insurance weaknesses: Could be better relative to annual fee |
Apply now |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege |
Annual fee: $599
Insurance strengths: Car Rental; Medical for 65+ Insurance weaknesses: none |
Apply now |
| Scotiabank Platinum Amex |
Annual fee: $399
Insurance strengths: Senior emergency medical Insurance weaknesses: none |
Apply now |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express |
Annual fee: $120
Insurance strengths: Trip cancellation/Trip interruption Insurance weaknesses: none |
Apply now |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege |
Annual fee: $120
Insurance strengths: Emergency medical $5 million, $1,000 for lost stolen baggage, $85,000 car rental insurance Insurance weaknesses: none |
Apply now |
†Terms and conditions apply.
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
Best travel insurance credit card in Canada
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
1.5 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®)†
1 point Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases†
2x Earn points twice with Aeroplan partner brands and on the Aeroplan eStore.†
50% Earn 50% more Aeroplan points at Starbucks when you link your card to your account.†
1 NEXUS application fee rebate every 48 months†
1st checked bag free for you and up to 8 travel companions†
$139 Annual Fee Additional cardholder is $75.†
20.99% Purchase APR APR for purchases 20.99%†
22.99% Cash Advance APR APR for cash advances 22.99%†
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate APR for balance transfers 22.99%†
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee Foreign transaction fee: 2.50%†
Excellent Recommended Credit Score
$60,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer Ends Jun 3, 2024
Earn up to $1,200 in value† including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
Learn moreThe TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is very popular among fans of the Aeroplan program, who flock to the card’s big sign-up bonus and high earn rates on grocery and gas spending. But the below-the-radar standout feature of the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is its well balanced insurance package, which offers good coverage levels in every category travellers care about, and particularly impressive coverage against hotel/motel burglaries†—an insurance category that’s often left out from other travel cards.
Most of the below coverages apply to the Primary Cardholder + their spouse and dependant child. An Additional Cardholder (supplementary cardholder) can also be covered when travelling on the same trip as the Primary Cardholder. Unless otherwise noted, most coverages apply if at least 75% of trip costs are either charged to the TD card and/or paid for with Aeroplan points.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite insurance coverage breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Travel Medical† | Up to $2 million of coverage for the first 21 days. If you or your spouse is aged 65 or older, you are covered for the first 4 days of your trip. Additional top-up coverage is available. |
| Delayed and Lost Baggage† | Up to $1,000 overall coverage per insured person toward the purchase of essentials such as clothes and toiletries if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours or lost. |
| Trip Cancellation† | Up to $1,500 per insured person, with a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip. |
| Trip Interruption† | Up to $5,000 per insured person, with a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip. |
| Flight/Trip Delay† | Up to $500 to cover reasonable expenses for meals, accommodation, and ground transit when delayed 4+ hours. |
| Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage† | Up to 48 consecutive days of coverage on vehicles with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $65,000 or less. |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary† | Up to $2,500 maximum payout per occurrence for eligible personal items stolen from your hotel or motel room. |
| Common Carrier† (travel accident insurance) | Up to $500,000 for covered losses. |
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
†Terms and conditions apply.
Best Scotiabank travel insurance credit card
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including ride shares, buses, subways, taxis and more)
1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
$150 Annual Fee
20.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
5.00% Balance Transfer Fee
0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee
Good Recommended Credit Score
$60,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer Ends Jul 1, 2024
Earn up to $1,300* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived
Learn moreThe Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card is prized for its comprehensive travel insurance offerings, which include a delayed luggage benefit of $1,000 if your checked bag is delayed four hours or more (many other cards make you wait at least six hours before your delayed baggage insurance kicks in).
One of the most underrated coverages, flight delay insurance allows you to claim accommodations, meals, and personal items purchased after a lengthy delay. While many cards offer this coverage, Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card provides a robust $500 per insured person towards expenses after just a 4-hour delay.
Note that Scotia made some changes to previous details of the coverage. The emergency medical coverage went from covering people 65 and over for 10 days down to a mere three consecutive days, which is certainly not a good change for older Canadians. On a more positive note, however, the maximum amount of medical coverage was increased significantly from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. Coverage includes the cardholder, their spouse and dependant children. You must charge at least 75% of the trip to your card unless otherwise noted.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite insurance coverage breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Travel Emergency Medical | Coverage for the first 25 consecutive days for those under 65 years of age and 3 days for those 65 years of age or older; $2,000,000 per person. No mention of requirement to charge trip to the card. |
| Delayed and Lost Baggage | When you charge the full cost of your trip to your card, your lost luggage benefit is covered up to a combined max of $1,000; delayed luggage is $1,000 if checked luggage is not delivered within 4 hours of arriving at your destination. |
| Trip Cancellation | Up to $1,500 per insured person, to a max of $10,000 per trip. |
| Trip Interruption | Up to $2,500 per insured person, to a max of $10,000 per group, per trip. |
| Flight Delay | Up to $500 to cover reasonable expenses for meals, accommodation, and ground transit when delayed 4+ hours. |
| Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage | Up to 48 days of consecutive coverage when you charge the full amount of your rental car to your card. Limited to vehicles up to $65,000 in value. |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary | Charge the entire stay to your card and you’ll be covered worldwide, up to a maximum of $1,000. |
| Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance | Up to $500,000 per insured person; $1,000,000 per occurrence. |
¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.
Best no fee travel insurance credit card in Canada
Rogers World Elite Mastercard
3% Earn 3% unlimited cash back on purchases made in U.S. dollars.
1.5% Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on everything else.
$0 Annual Fee To maintain eligibility, you must spend at least $15,000/year.
19.99% Purchase APR Increasing to 20.99% April 2024
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
Excellent Recommended Credit Score
$80,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer
$25 Welcome Bonus in cash back rewards upon first card purchase within 3 months of receiving your card2
Learn moreDespite having no annual fee, the Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard is one of the few Canadian credit cards that provides at least some travel insurance for those over the age of 64, offering 3 days of coverage for Canadians aged 65 to 75. The card also comes with trip interruption and cancellation insurance, as well as an impressive 31 days of rental car insurance—not bad for a no-fee card.
Coverage with the Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard includes the cardholder, their spouse and their dependant children.
Unless otherwise noted, you must charge the full cost of your trip to the card to be eligible for coverage.
Rogers World Elite Mastercard travel insurance coverage breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Travel Emergency Medical | Up to $1,000,000 of coverage for 10 days for ages 64 and under; 3 days for ages 65 to 75. No coverage for those over 75. The Certificate of Insurance explicitly states that “You do not need to charge your trip to the Mastercard to be eligible for this coverage, providing you are travelling outside your province or territory of residence and the Rogers World Elite Mastercard account is in good standing.” |
|
Trip Cancellation
|
Up to $1,000 per insured person to a maximum of $5,000 per account, per trip. |
| Trip Interruption | Up to $1,000 per insured person to a maximum of $5,000 per account, per trip. |
| Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage | Up to 31 days of consecutive coverage. Limited to vehicles up to $65,000 in value. |
| Delayed and Lost Baggage | ❌ |
| Flight Delay | ❌ |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary | ❌ |
| Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance | ❌ |
Best BMO credit card for travel insurance
BMO Ascend World Elite
5x 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases*
3x 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments*
1x 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else*
$150 Annual Fee
20.99% Purchase APR
23.99% Cash Advance APR
23.99% Balance Transfer Rate 21.99% for Quebec residents
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee
Excellent Recommended Credit Score
$80,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer Ends May 31, 2024
Get up to 90,000 points and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.*
Learn moreAt first glance, the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*’s insurance offerings may appear middle-of-the-road for a premium card (especially for a card with an annual fee of $150). While it offers an impressive two million in emergency medical insurance, there is no coverage whatsoever for those 65 and older. Furthermore, the card doesn’t come with any hotel burglary insurance, which is arguably coverage you’d expect from a travel credit card with a higher-than-average annual fee, and you must wait 12 hours before you’re eligible for the baggage delay insurance. Where the card’s insurance offerings really shine is when it comes to coverage of personal effects—it’s one of the few cards in Canada that covers theft or damage to personal effects as part of its rental car insurance.
The card’s insurance applies to the cardholder, their spouse and dependant children. Unless noted otherwise, you must charge the full or partial cost of your trip to your BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*. Note that the Certificate of Insurance does not define what “partial cost” means so it’s advisable to confirm how much you must charge to be covered with your provider.
BMO Ascend World Elite Insurance coverage breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Travel Emergency Medical* | Under age 65, up to 21 days of consecutive coverage. Covers up to $2,000,000. Does not mention if must charge trip to your card. |
| Delayed and Lost Baggage* | Up to $750 per person up to a maximum of $2,000 per trip for lost, stolen or damaged baggage. Up to $200 for baggage delay of over 12 hours. |
| Trip Cancellation* | Up to $2,500 per person up to a maximum of $5,000. |
| Trip Interruption* | Up to a max of $2,000 per insured person. |
| Flight Delay* | Up to $500 per person per trip for flight delays of more than 6 hours. |
| Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage* | Up to 48 days of consecutive coverage when you charge the full amount of your rental car to your card. Limited to vehicles up to $65,000 in value. Insurance also covers theft or damage to personal effects up to a maximum of $1,000 for each person, per occurrence. Total benefits during each rental period are limited to a max of $2,000. |
| Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance* | Up to $500,000 per insured person; entire cost of trip must be charged to the card to be eligible for insurance. |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary* | ❌ |
*Terms and conditions apply
Best American Express credit card for travel insurance
Amex Platinum
2x Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada
2x points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel
1x point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
$799 Annual Fee Includes $200 annual travel credit and $200 annual dining credit
20.99% Purchase APR The Preferred rate of 20.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance.
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee
Excellent Recommended Credit Score
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers particularly strong coverage in two categories: Its rental car coverage is some of the best in Canada, in that it covers vehicles with an MSRP of up to $85,000; most cards only cover vehicles up to $65,000. And its $1,000 in coverage for flight delays of four hours or more is also quite appealing, considering that will be one of the most frequently invoked claims for any regular traveller.
That said, when you’re shelling out big bucks for a card, you expect it to have top-tier insurance offerings that blow other travel credit cards away in every single coverage category. And while the The Platinum Card® does deliver comprehensive insurance, it should be even better given its premium price tag. Personally, while the $5M worth of emergency medical coverage is noteworthy, I would much rather have one or two million dollars’ worth of coverage but for a longer amount of time, and for a wider range of ages.
The American Express Platinum Card’s coverage applies to the cardholder, a spouse and dependant children. You must charge the full amount of your trip to your card unless otherwise noted.
American Express The Platinum insurance coverage breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coveerage |
|---|---|
| Travel Emergency Medical | Under 65 covered for up to first 15 consecutive days. Up to a maximum of $5,000,000. No mention of charging the cost of the trip to the card. |
| Delayed and Lost Baggage | For lost baggage: up to a max of $1,000 per trip for all insured people combined. Up to $1,000 per trip when baggage is delayed 6 or more hours. |
| Trip Cancellation | $2,500 per insured person to a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons combined. |
| Trip Interruption | $2,500 per insured person to a maximum of $6,000 for all insured persons combined. Payable as long as any portion of the trip’s costs are charged to the card. |
| Flight Delay | Up to $1,000 per person for flights delayed 4 or more hours. |
| Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage | Up to 48 days of consecutive coverage. Limited to vehicles up to $85,000 in value. |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary | Up to $1,000. |
| Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance | Up to $500,000 per insured person. |
Best credit card for travel insurance over 65
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
1.5 points for every $1 you spend on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel and dining.
2 points for every $1 you spend with Air Canada directly, including through Air Canada Vacations®
1.25 points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.
2x Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore.
$599 Annual Fee $149 each for up to 9 additional cards
20.99% Purchase APR non-Quebec residents†
22.99% Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents†
Excellent Recommended Credit Score
$150,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$200,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer
Get up to 70,000 Aeroplan® points (up to $1,400 in travel value,) free checked bags, complimentary lounge access, and more.
Learn moreFor people over 65, it's hard to find a credit card for emergency medical insurance (or one that lasts more than 1-3 days). It's also important to note that if you have pre-existing conditions, there's a stabilization period in which your condition must be stable for so many days before your departure.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege helps solve this problem.
- For any age older than 65 years old, they give you 10 days of emergency medical insurance with a stabilization period of 180 days.
- For anyone younger than 65, you get 31 days of emergency medical insurance with a stabilization period of 90 days.
If you're not a fan of Aeroplan, CIBC offers the same coverage for the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege card.
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* insurance coverage breakdown
| credit card travel insurance type | amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance | Up to $5,000,000 per insured person, per trip. If you're under 64, you have a 31-day coverage period. If you're 65 or over, you have a 10-day coverage period. |
| Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance |
Trip cancellation: Up to $2,500 per insured person, per trip (maximum of $10,000 per trip for all insured persons combined)
Trip interruption: Up to $5,000 per insured person, per trip, to a combined maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons combined, per trip. |
| Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance |
Flight Delay: Up to $500 per insured person (maximum of $1,000 per occurrence for all insured persons combined)
Delay of Checked Baggage: Up to $500 per insured person (maximum of $1,000 per occurrence for all insured persons combined) Lost or Stolen Baggage: Up to $1,000 per insured person (maximum of $2,500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined) |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Up to $2,500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined |
| Auto Rental Collision and Loss Damage Insurance | Rental cars with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of up to $85,000 Rental period of up to 48 days |
| Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance |
Purchase Security: Up to 180 days from date of purchase.
Extended Protection: Up to two additional years following the expiry of the original manufacturer’s warranty |
| Mobile Device Insurance | Up to $1,500 per occurrence, per insured person |
| Common Carrier Accident Insurance | Up to $500,000 per insured person |
Best credit card with travel insurance for seniors
Scotiabank Platinum Amex
2x Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
0% No foreign transaction fees
10 Complimentary airport lounge passes per year
$399 Annual Fee
9.99% Purchase APR
9.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee
Good Recommended Credit Score
Welcome Offer Ends Oct 31, 2024
Earn up to $2,100* in value in the first 14 months, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points
Learn moreFor seniors, the Scotiabank Amex Platinum goes loaded with valuable features for slightly less money than the CIBC cards above.
There's no foreign exchange fees when travelling abroad, you get 10 Airport lounge passes to escape the noise and relax in comfort on your travels, and it's APR is a stunningly low 9.99% so you don't get hit too bad if you forget to pay your bill in time when you come back from your travels.
The Scene+ program makes it super easy to book travel and the premium concierge services from Amex makes booking a hotel, restaurant, or getting access to presale and hard to find tickets a breeze.
Here's how their emergency medical insurance coverage breaks down for the Scotiabank American Express Platinum card:
- For all ages over 65+, you get 10 days of emergency medical insurance.
- For anyone under 65, you get 31 days of emergency medical insurance.
The stabilization period for the Scotia Amex Platinum is 365 days for anyone over the age of 75 and 180 days for anyone under 74 years of age.
Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® insurance breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Travel emergency medical insurance | Coverage for cardholder, spouse and dependent children up to $2 million. Coverage is provided for eligible persons under age 65 for up to 31 consecutive days and for eligible persons age 65 and older for up to 10 consecutive days. |
| Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance | You must charge at least 75% of your trip costs to the card. You, your spouse and your dependent children are eligible for up to $2,500 per person for travel expenses (maximum $10,000 per trip) for trip cancellation benefits and for up to $5,000 per person for travel expenses (maximum $25,000 per trip) for trip interruption |
| Flight delay insurance | You may be reimbursed for eligible necessary and reasonable living expenses incurred during the period of a delayed flight or missed connection which lasts four hours or more to a limit of $1,000 per insured person on the same trip. |
| Rental Car collision loss/damage insurance | Vehicles up to $65,000 MSRP for no more than 48 consecutive days. You must charge the full cost of your rental car to the card. |
| Delayed and lost baggage insurance |
The lost luggage benefit is limited to to a combined maximum of $1,000.
The delayed luggage benefit is limited to $1,000 if your checked luggage is not delivered within four (4) hours from your time of arrival |
| Travel accident insurance | You, your spouse and eligible dependent children will be automatically insured against accidental loss of life, or dismemberment – up to a maximum of $500,000 (to a maximum of $1,000,000 per occurrence) |
| Hotel/Motel burglary insurance | Coverage against theft of your covered personal property if your room is broken into. Should your claim exceed the amount reimbursable by the hotel, and/or any applicable insurance protection, your coverage picks up the balance, up to a maximum of $1,000. |
| Mobile device insurance | You may be covered for up to $1,000 in the event your cell phone, smartphone, or tablet is lost, stolen, accidentally damaged, or experiences mechanical failure. |
| Purchase security & Extended warranty protection | Most items purchased with your Card are insured against theft, loss or damage for 120 days from the purchase date and the manufacturer’s warranty is doubled for up to one year. |
Best credit card with insurance for trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Scotiabank Gold American Express
6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agency stores.
3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes ride shares, buses, subway, taxis and more.
3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services.
1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
$120 Annual Fee $29 for each supplementary card
20.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee
Very Good Recommended Credit Score
Welcome Offer Ends Jul 1, 2024
Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Learn moreBooking a trip in advance is always a gamble. You never know what might happen that could prevent you from travelling, but with the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you’re covered. If you are forced to cancel or delay your trip because of eligible medical or non-medical causes, you are automatically insured for up to $1,500 per person for eligible expenses (maximum $10,000 per trip) when you charge at least 75% of such trip expenses to your card.
Plus, this card comes with delayed/lost baggage insurance. Like a delayed flight, losing your luggage is only a matter of time. And it’s gonna cost you if you have to buy a bunch of replacement clothes, toiletries, and other stuff (especially if there are foreign transaction fees). Insurance against this annoying situation generally covers essential items, but as discussed above, what is considered essential can vary widely. With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you’re covered for $500 per insured person after just a 4-hour delay and $1,000 for delayed baggage for all insured persons on the same trip.
It’s also a travel rewards credit card that offers great Scene+ points.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® insurance coverage breakdown
| Credit card insurance type | Amount of coverage |
|---|---|
| Travel Emergency Medical Insurance | Up to $1 million for eligible persons under age 65 for up to 25 consecutive days, and for eligible persons age 65 and older for up to 3 consecutive days (you can buy additional days). |
| Trip cancellation/Trip interruption insurance | You and your immediate family are eligible for up to $1,500 per person for travel expenses (maximum $10,000 per trip) when you charge at least 75% of such trip expenses to your card. |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $500 per insurance person on the same trip when you charge at least 75% of the full ticket cost to your card. |
| Delayed and lost baggage insurance |
Lost luggage: Combined maximum of $1,000
Delayed luggage: Limited to $1,000 for all insurance persons on the same trip if luggage is not delivered within four hours from your time of arrival |
| Travel accident insurance | You, your spouse and eligible dependent children will be automatically insured against accidental loss of life, or dismemberment – up to a maximum of $500,000 (to a maximum of $1,000,000 per occurrence). You must charge at least 75% of your ticket cost to your card. |
| Rental car collision loss/damage | Rental period cannot exceed 48 consecutive days and vehicles costing over $65,000 are not covered. |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary insurance | Use your card to pay for your stay in a North American hotel and any claim that exceeds hotel coverage is picked up by your card up to $1,000. |
| New mobile device insurance | You may be covered for up to $1,000 in the event your cell phone, smartphone, or tablet is lost, stolen, accidentally damaged, or experiences mechanical failure. |
| Purchase security and extended warranty protection | Most items purchased with your Card are insured against theft, loss or damage for 90 days from the purchase date and the manufacturer’s warranty is doubled for up to one year. |
*conditions apply. Please see the certificate of insurance for more details.
Best travel insurance credit card from CIBC Aventura
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege
3 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through CIBC Rewards Centre
2 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, entertainment, transportation, gas, electric vehicle charging, and groceries
1.25 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
6 complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally through Visa Airport Companion Program
$200 annual Travel Credit
2 NEXUS Application Fee rebates
$499 Annual Fee $99 for each additional card (up to 9)
20.96% Purchase APR non-Quebec residents†
22.99% Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents†
Very Good Recommended Credit Score
$150,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$20,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer
Get a total of up to 80,000 Aventura Points† (up to $1,600 in travel value) during your first year
Learn moreThe CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege card is often recommended for travelers due to its comprehensive suite of insurance benefits and travel-related perks, making it a valuable asset for frequent travelers. While specific benefits can vary over time, here are some typical reasons why this card is praised for its travel insurance offerings:
| Credit card coverage type | Details |
|---|---|
| Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance | Up to $5 million per insured person, per trip. Up to 31 days coverage for those under 64, and 10 day coverage if you're over age 65. |
| Trip Cancellation | Up to $2,500 per insured person, per trip up to $10,000 per trip. |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | Up to $5,000 per insured person, per trip, up to $25,000 per trip. |
| Flight Delay | Up to $500 per insured person (max $1,000) |
| Baggage Insurance |
Delay: Up to $500 per insured person (maximum $1,000)
Lost: Up to $1,000 per insured person (maximum $2,500 per occurrence for all persons) |
| Auto Rental Collision and Loss Damage Insurance | Rental cards with an MSRP of $85,000 for up to 48 days. |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Up to $2,5000 per occurrence for all insured persons combined |
| Common Carrier Accident Insurance | $500,000 per insured person. |
| Mobile Device Insurance | Up to $1,500 per occurrence per insured person (must buy the device with your card) |
| Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance |
Purchase: Up up 180 days from date of purchase
Warranty: Up to two additional years following the expiry of the original manufacturer's warranty. |
Other travel related perks
- 1.
Priority Pass Membership and Airport Lounge Access: While not insurance, these benefits enhance the travel experience, offering access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, often with complimentary visits each year.
- 2.
Concierge Service: Another non-insurance benefit, but worth mentioning, is the personalized concierge service that can assist with travel bookings, recommendations, and more, making travel planning and execution smoother.
- 3.
Aventura Points: The rewards program allows you to earn points on purchases, which can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more, offering a way to save on travel expenses directly.
It's important to note that terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all insurance coverage. The coverage limits, eligibility requirements, and covered reasons for claiming vary, so it's critical to review the current Cardholder Agreement and insurance certificates for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Additionally, the availability of benefits can change, so verifying with CIBC directly or consulting the latest cardholder documentation is advisable for the most current information.
What to consider when using travel credit card insurance
Before we get into the nitty gritty details of the different kinds of travel insurance out there, let’s make sure we understand the essentials:
➡️ Charge travel expenses to the right card
With most credit cards, travel medical insurance kicks in regardless of whether or not the cardholder charges their travel-related expenses—e.g. flights, accommodations, and car rental—to the credit card with the travel insurance. However, for additional travel insurance benefits to apply, such as trip cancellation, flight delay, car rental, etc., you must typically charge 75% – 100% of your travel expenses to your card. If you happen to have two credit cards that offer travel insurance, then use the card that gives you better coverage when you’re ready to pay.
➡️ Try not to double up on what you already have
When making your decision about which card is best for your needs, consider what coverage you already have. E.g. if your current car insurance policy already covers you for car rental insurance, then you shouldn’t get a travel credit card that offers car rental insurance as its primary perk.
➡️ Conditions apply
Keep in mind that your credit card travel insurance will not cover any pre-existing condition you have. Nor will your protection apply if you’re doing anything extreme such as bungee jumping or diving. Pregnant women should also be aware that certain conditions apply to them. If you fall into one of those categories, you’ll need to purchase an outside travel health insurance plan as credit card travel insurance is not designed for those scenarios.
➡️ Be aware of ageism
The coverage available to you is dependant on the length of your trip and your age.
If you’re under age 65, the cards we recommend will cover you from 10-60 days of travel (depending on the card). However, if you’re over the age of 65, the longest amount of coverage offered is just 15 days. And, unfortunately, no card that we feature covers anyone over the age of 75.
If you need additional coverage, you’ll need to call your credit card provider to see if you can pay to get it extended or you’ll need to purchase a separate travel insurance package for any days in which you’ll be travelling beyond your card’s coverage limit.
Types of travel insurance provided by Canadian credit cards
The travel insurance lexicon can be confusing for those who are new to travel credit cards, and even for those who have had a travel card for years. We’ve translated everything into plain English so that you’ll know what you’re getting (and what to look for) with each type of coverage.
Lost, stolen, or delayed luggage insurance
In my opinion, the best travel insurance packages should include lost, stolen, or delayed luggage insurance since there’s a good chance regular travellers will need to make a claim for this at some point.
This type of insurance allows you to claim essential items if your luggage is delayed for a specified period of time. The term ‘essential item’ is somewhat ambiguous, but generally speaking, you should be able to purchase any clothing you need—including business attire—until your luggage is returned to you as long as the total doesn’t exceed the amount that you’re covered for.
If your bag is lost or stolen, the same maximum amount provided by your insurance applies, but it would only be relevant to what you lost. There’s often a line in the fine print that limits the maximum amount per item, so if you’re carrying any valuables, it’s best to keep them in your carry-on luggage.
If you feel that this type of insurance is important to you, then consider the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card. It offers up to $1,000 in reimbursement for baggage delayed for a period of only four hours or more—most policies require a delay of at least six hours or more.
Emergency medical insurance
Without a doubt, emergency medical insurance is an essential type of credit card travel insurance you’ll absolutely need. Canadians are accustomed to getting free healthcare, but once you travel out of your province of residence or the country itself, the cost of medical attention skyrockets. A quick trip to the doctor overseas could cost you a few hundred dollars while a trip to the emergency room could be in the thousands. Yikes.
All of our featured credit cards offer at least $1,000,000 in travel health insurance per insured person, with most topping out at 25 days of coverage. Technically speaking, the more you’re insured for, the better, but to be realistic, $1,000,000 in coverage should be enough for even serious accidents. What you should look at before you pick a credit card with travel insurance are the other coverages listed on this page beyond emergency medical.
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Travellers often don’t understand how trip cancellation/interruption works. This type of insurance only covers the non-refundable portion of your unused travel arrangements, plus any transportation up to a fixed amount should your trip be interrupted or delayed for a covered reason.
In other words, you can’t just decide that you no longer want to go on your trip and then try to put in a trip cancellation insurance claim. Depending on the policy, you’ll likely be insured for many different reasons, so you’ll want to read the details before you commit, but some of the most common causes are as follows:
- The insured traveller, travelling companion, or a family member dies
- The insured traveller, travelling companion, or a family member suffers a serious, covered injury or illness
- The birth of an immediate family member which requires your attendance after your coverage has begun
- You or your travelling companion suffer a traffic accident on the way to the airport that needs immediate medical attention
- You or your travelling companion suffer a job loss through no fault of your own (conditions apply)
- Your carrier (airline, train, cruise, etc.) does not operate for at least 24 hours due to a strike, natural disaster, or suspended operations
- A natural disaster makes your home or destination uninhabitable
- A terrorist event happens within 30 days of your scheduled arrival at your destination
The best trip interruption policy is offered by the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard, offering unlimited coverage. It’s hard to beat unlimited.
As for trip cancellation, the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* has a great maximum payout of $2,500 per person, and a group maximum of $5,000.
This type of insurance may seem trivial at first, but it can be very useful for travellers who have elderly parents at home, since it’ll help cover the costs in the event of an emergency that requires you to cut your trip short. Note that the definition of who is a covered ‘family member’ differs per policy, so you’ll need to read the travel insurance plan documentation to ensure your needs are met.
Read more: Best credit cards for trip cancellation
Flight delay insurance
Of all the credit card travel insurance benefits out there, flight delay insurance may end up being the one you claim first. Depending on which credit card you have, after a flight delay of 4-6 hours or more you’ll be able to claim all reasonable accommodations, meals, ground transit, entertainment, and personal items purchased up to a certain amount if no alternate flights are available.
Planes are often delayed or cancelled for a variety of reasons, and it’s in your best interest to make a qualifying claim since it’ll make your delay more comfortable. This is especially true if your flight is cancelled and you’re not able to fly out until the following morning. You can book a hotel of your choice, have a nice meal, and purchase some personal items instead of relying on whatever hotel and meal vouchers are thrown at you by the airline.
Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
Generally speaking, rental car collision/loss damage insurance covers you if your rental car is damaged or stolen while you have possession of the vehicle. Unless your regular auto insurance already covers car rentals, then having this type of insurance is a must when you’re renting a car during your travels.
Be aware that car rental insurance can have quite a few conditions relating to the type of car you’re renting and its current value. You won’t have any problem getting insured for a vehicle that’s available at all major car rental agencies, however, if you’re renting an antique, exotic, or expensive car, you may not be covered. As long as the value of the vehicle you’re renting—also called the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)—is less than the total insurable amount offered by your credit card travel insurance, then you’ll be fine.
Some rental car collision/loss damage insurance policies will cover any personal items that are lost when your vehicle is stolen (e.g. the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*, but they are unlikely to include liability insurance (if someone sues you due to an accident you caused in the rental car), so factor that in when you’re assessing your insurance needs.
For this policy to apply, you must decline the car rental agency’s insurance. It should also be noted that you’re responsible until the car rental agency has completed its inspection report, so avoid just dropping off your keys when you’re returning your vehicle.
The Platinum Card® offers the best value in this category, with max coverage of $85,000 for car rentals under 48 days.
Read more: Best credit cards for rental car insurance
Hotel/motel burglary insurance
In the event that your hotel room, motel room, homestay lodging, or cruise cabin is broken into and your possessions are lost or damaged, then your hotel/motel burglary insurance may reimburse you up to a certain amount.
For this type of insurance to apply, you need to take some reasonable precautions. For example, if you left your door unlocked, it’s unlikely you’ll be reimbursed if any of your things end up stolen. Checking into a hotel room at a destination that’s currently in a state of emergency/war/rebellion will also guarantee that you won’t be covered. Also, keep in mind that any lost cash or traveller’s cheques are not covered.
Given today’s ubiquity of staying in a privately-owned residence while traveling, it’s important to note that not all hotel/motel burglary policies will cover those types of lodgings. If you frequently use sites like Airbnb while traveling, a credit card’s hotel/motel burglary coverage may not be particularly valuable to you. If, however, you do rack up a lot of nights in hotels or motels, you might pay special attention to the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card. It offers some of the best hotel/motel burglary insurance available in Canada, since you can claim up to $2,500 in lost items†.
Travel accident insurance
People often mistake travel accident insurance as travel health insurance, but the former is more of a life insurance policy as opposed to covering you for any medical expenses.
Generally speaking, for the policy to be valid, you need to travel on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and charge your tickets to your credit card. The maximum amount listed in our chart refers to what you would get if you were to suffer a loss of life while travelling.
Also, your travel accident insurance gives you a smaller payout for the loss of any of the following:
- One or both hands
- One or both feet
- Total sight in one or both eyes
- Speech
- Hearing
- Use of upper or lower limbs
- Use of upper or lower limbs on one side of your body
Obviously this is one insurance policy that you/your beneficiary never want to claim. If there’s one small consolation, your travel accident insurance is treated as a separate policy from your personal life insurance policy so your beneficiary could get paid out twice.
Not all of the credit cards we feature offer travel accident insurance—but those that do include the coverage typically have a max payout of $500,000.
How to make a credit card travel insurance claim
To be eligible for your credit card travel insurance, you usually need to charge the entire price of your common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) expenses to your credit card. Some cards only require you to charge 75% of the price, but it’s best just to charge the entire amount to ensure there are no complications later. If by chance you’re going on a road trip with your own vehicle, filling up a tank of gas as soon as you enter a new province or state would make your travel insurance policy valid from that point.
When it comes to making a claim, generally speaking, you want to contact your insurance provider right away to start a claim file. In the case of emergency medical insurance, it may not be possible to do things right away, so inform your insurance provider as soon as you reasonably can.
If your insurance company accepts your medical insurance claim, then you may not need to pay any expenses out of pocket. However, if you’re claiming flight delay or lost luggage insurance, you’ll have to hang onto any relevant receipts and submit them before your insurer will issue you a cheque. For these delay claims to be valid, you would also need proof that your flight was delayed or cancelled. The easiest way to get that proof is to take a screenshot from the airline or airport website showing the delay.
Regardless of which credit card you choose, make sure you keep the insurance certificate somewhere handy so you can look up what you’re entitled to and what the conditions are in the event you ever need to make a claim.
Mastercard travel insurance vs. Visa trip insurance
While both credit card providers offer near identical coverage (and vary wildly by bank), it's valuable to know the little bonus perks with each.
Look for perks outside the big 11 travel insurance categories.
For example, do they offer emergency assistance services, zero liability in certain conditions, and how long is their rental car insurance coverage period (and for how expensive a vehicle).
The best recommendation is to look for the little perks that come with Visa Infinite (restaurants and hotels) vs. World Elite (Boingo Wi-Fi, Mastercard Travel Pass).
In the end, you get what you pay for
I know, I know, we all hate paying an annual fee for a credit card. But sometimes it’s worth it. Although the majority of the recommended cards in this article do have a relatively high annual fee, the comprehensive travel insurance packages they offer easily offset those fees.
Just remember that having travel insurance is a must as soon as you travel out of your home province or the country. It doesn’t matter if you’re crossing the border just for a few hours to shop or you’re headed overseas for a vacation—it’s better to be safe than sorry. Which credit card you choose is ultimately up to you, but remember that there are enough options out there to make sure the protections you get line up with what you need.
*This post was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this review are purely my own.
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