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Visa Infinite: What Is It, and What Are the Benefits?
Visa Infinite: What Is It, and What Are the Benefits?
Visa's top-tier benefits package includes purchase protection, return protection and travel assistance, as well as all the perks of the Signature and Traditional levels.Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Updated · 6 min read Written by Director of Content + more + more Edited by Director of Content SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATEDThis page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
"Visa Infinite" is a package of superpremium benefits available on certain cards that carry the Visa label. It's the top tier within Visa's three levels of benefits, tailored to high-net-worth cardholders. First introduced overseas, Visa Infinite came to the U.S. around 2016 and remains relatively uncommon. Cards on the Visa Infinite platform include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the United Club℠ Card and the City National Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card. Chase Sapphire Reserve® United Club℠ Card City National Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card Apply now Apply now Read Review Here's a quick summary of Visa Infinite benefits and a guide to using them.Summary of Visa Infinite benefits
Visa offers three levels of benefits: Traditional, Signature and Infinite. Each level includes all the benefits from the levels below it. Auto rental collision damage waiver. Purchase protection (coverage for theft or damage). Return protection. Extended warranty protection. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage. Trip delay reimbursement. Travel accident insurance. Lost luggage reimbursement. For details about using benefits from the Signature (S) and Traditional (T) tiers, see our article on Visa Signature. Travel and emergency assistance (S). Year-end spending summary (S). Concierge service (S). Roadside assistance (T). Zero fraud liability (T). Lost/stolen card reporting, emergency replacement and emergency cash (T). Cardholder inquiry service (T). Before we go into detail on these benefits, it's important to understand a few basic points: Most of the features on a typical Visa credit card aren't dictated by Visa at all, but rather by the bank that issued the card (such as Chase, City National or your local bank). Rewards rates, bonuses, interest rates and fees are all determined by the issuer. Visa makes Infinite benefits available on cards that carry the Visa Infinite label, but it is up to the issuing bank to decide whether a particular card actually includes a particular benefit. Many issuers offer their own benefits on top of (or in place of) those offered by Visa. These may be even more generous than Visa Infinite benefits.Auto rental collision damage waiver
If you rent a car with your Visa Infinite card, you can get additional coverage against physical damage or theft of the rental, for up to the cash value of the vehicle (maximum $75,000). This auto rental collision damage waiver, or CDW, applies to expenses that aren’t covered by your own insurance policy. To use the benefit: Rent the car using your card. Coverage applies to rentals of up to 15 days in your home country or up to 31 days internationally. Rent the car using your card. Decline the CDW offered by the rental car agency. Decline the CDW offered by the rental car agency. Report damage or theft. If the car is damaged or stolen, you have 45 days to report it to Visa Card Benefit Services. Report damage or theft. File a claim. You have 90 days to file a claim with supporting documentation. (If you don't have all the necessary documents by then, you have 365 days to provide them.) Required documents are listed on the claim form and include a copy of the rental agreement; a copy of your credit card billing statement showing the rental; information about your personal auto insurance; information about the necessary repairs; and a police or incident report about the accident or theft. Start your claim at eclaimsline.com. File a claim. This coverage usually comes on top of your personal insurance. If your rental is damaged or stolen, you'll first file a claim with your personal auto insurer. Visa's protection extends to charges not covered by that, including your deductible. This is known as "secondary coverage." This coverage usually comes on top of your personal insurance. ? Nerdy Tip If you don't have a personal auto insurance policy, Visa's coverage becomes "primary," meaning you'll file the original claim through Visa. Also, some cards offer primary rental coverage in all cases. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a Visa Signature, but its rental car coverage is primary. With primary insurance, you don't have to involve your own issuer at all if a rented vehicle is damaged or stolen. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card The CDW covers only the rented vehicle. There's no liability protection for damage to other vehicles or for medical costs from an accident. It also doesn't cover your luggage or other belongings inside the rented vehicle. If you back into a pole, the Visa CDW is a nice perk; if you cause an accident that leaves other cars smashed up and people injured, you'll probably be going through your own insurance anyway. The CDW covers only the rented vehicle. It doesn't cover all vehicles. Passenger cars (economy through luxury class) are covered. SUVs are covered only when driven on the road. Not covered: vans that seat more than nine people, trucks, cargo vans and vehicles classified as "expensive." It doesn't cover all vehicles. It doesn't apply in certain countries. This coverage doesn't apply in Ireland, Israel or Jamaica. Also, some countries (including Australia, Costa Rica, Italy and New Zealand) require that people renting cars purchase a certain amount of insurance; Visa's coverage comes on top of that. It doesn't apply in certain countries. » MORE: Rental car insurance: How your credit card covers you » MORE:Purchase protection
Also called "purchase security," this benefit reimburses you when something you buy with your Visa Infinite card is stolen or damaged within 90 days of the purchase. You can be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per occurrence (see below) and $50,000 per cardholder. If the item is stolen, you must file a police report within 48 hours. Items that are simply lost are not eligible for reimbursement. If the item is stolen, you must file a police report within 48 hours. You have 60 days from the date of the theft or damage to report it to Visa. Call the benefits administrator at 888-221-3289. You have 60 days from the date of the theft or damage to report it to Visa. You have 90 days from the date of the theft or damage to file a claim for reimbursement. You can do it all online, including uploading your supporting documents. Go to cardbenefitservices.com. You have 90 days from the date of the theft or damage to file a claim for reimbursement. Many items are excluded. This includes (among other things) preowned or used items; plants and animals; motor vehicles; antiques and collectibles; items damaged by a delivery service; traveler's checks, tickets and other negotiable items; and real estate or items installed in real estate, like hardwired appliances. See the full list of exclusions here. Many items are excluded. Gifts you buy for others are covered. Also, purchases outside the U.S. are eligible for reimbursement. Gifts you buy for others are covered. Coverage is per "occurrence," not per item. Say your house is broken into (or hit by a tornado) and you lose a bunch of stuff you bought with your card. The $10,000 limit applies to all losses caused by the break-in or the tornado. So if you had three items worth $4,000 apiece and all were destroyed, your coverage would max out at $10,000. Coverage is per "occurrence," not per item.Return protection
When you buy something with your Visa Infinite card and want to return it within 90 days, Visa will take it even if the store refuses to. You can be reimbursed for up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per year. You have to try to return it to the merchant first. If you get a full refund, then you don't need the benefit. If the merchant won't take it back, then file claim with Visa. If you get only a partial refund from the merchant, Visa may cover the difference. You have to try to return it to the merchant first. You have 90 days from the date of purchase to notify Visa. Call 888-221-3289 to say you want to return something. You have 90 days from the date of purchase to notify Visa. You have 30 days to file a claim. This clock starts ticking once you notify Visa that you want to use the return protection benefit. Go to cardbenefitservices.com to start a claim and upload supporting documents (including the receipt and your credit card statement showing the purchase; you may be asked to provide more information, such as a copy of the store's return policy). You have 30 days to file a claim. The store won't take the item back — but you don't get to keep it. You'll have to ship the item to Visa. For your claim to be approved, the item must be in like-new condition and in working order. The store won't take the item back — but you don't get to keep it. There are a lot of exclusions. A lot of the same items excluded from purchase protection are also ineligible for return protection. In addition, return protection excludes a few things that people are tempted to buy, use once and take back. So forget about, say, buying a tuxedo or formal gown for one big night out and then getting Visa to eat the cost. See the full list of exclusions here. There are a lot of exclusions.Extended warranty protection
Visa's extended warranty protection can add more time to the manufacturer's warranty on certain items purchased with your Visa Infinite card. In general, this benefit adds a year to warranty periods of three years or less. For warranties of more than three years, there is no extended warranty benefit. The maximum coverage is $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder. Vehicles, real estate, computer software and certain other items are excluded from this coverage. You’ll have to register your purchase with Visa or save the receipt and the original manufacturer’s warranty if you want to take advantage of this protection. File a claim by calling your benefits administrator at 800-397-9010 in the U.S., or 303-967-1093 outside the U.S. Visa will only extend the manufacturer’s warranty, not improve it. If the manufacturer offers less-than-impressive terms — for instance, if it just covers defects rather than normal wear and tear — don’t expect Visa’s coverage to offer anything more. You’ll also have to show proof that you tried to get the item repaired through the manufacturer first, and getting the manufacturer to cover repairs can be a tedious process. Visa will only extend the manufacturer’s warranty, not improve it. In some cases, getting a replacement item may be less of a hassle than waiting for a repair. Another alternative is buying an extended warranty or protection plan from the store where you bought the item, which might offer more coverage than the manufacturer's warranty. But, hey — the Visa Signature coverage is free for cardholders, so if all your manufacturer’s repairs are fully covered and shipping is reimbursed right away, it’s worth a try. In some cases, getting a replacement item may be less of a hassle than waiting for a repair.Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
If you're forced to cancel or cut short a trip because of illness, injury or other covered reason, you can get reimbursed for up to $2,000 in nonrefundable transportation costs — not just airfare, but also train, bus or cruise tickets. You must have bought your tickets with your Visa Infinite card. Only transportation costs will be reimbursed. Prepaid hotel stays, event tickets, reservation fees and other costs aren't covered. Only transportation costs will be reimbursed. Coverage depends on why your trip was canceled or interrupted. If you're injured in a car accident the day before your trip, or if you suffer food poisoning on your vacation, or if a hurricane makes it impossible to reach your destination, you're likely to be covered. But many things are excluded. These include acute illness triggered by pre-existing conditions; injuries suffered in certain activities (including sports); the effects of cosmetic surgery; and illness or injury resulting from intoxication. Coverage depends on why your trip was canceled or interrupted.Trip delay reimbursement
This benefit provides up to $500 in coverage for expenses you incur when your flight is delayed at least six hours or requires an overnight stay, regardless of the reason — weather, air traffic congestion, mechanical and so on. It's much more flexible than airline policies, which often give you nothing for weather delays and very little for everything else. What's covered: "Reasonable additional expenses" that you wouldn't have had to pay if not for the delay. That includes things like: What's covered: Lodging for an overnight delay. Meals while you wait. Transportation/parking costs to leave the airport and come back. Filing a claim: Save all your receipts and make note of all your flight information — airline, flight number, scheduled and actual departure times. Start a claim at eclaimsline.com or call 800-546-9806 Filing a claim: Additional expenses are covered, but losses are not. Say you were traveling to see a Broadway show, and you'd paid $300 for those theater tickets. Your flight is delayed, and you miss the show. That cost is not covered by the trip-delay benefit. Additional expenses are covered, but losses are not. The delay must be unforeseeable. If your trip is delayed because of something you knew (or could have known) beforehand, you might not be covered. For example, if an airline's mechanics have been on strike, and the strike has been resulting in delays day after day, then a delay in your flight would have been foreseeable and may not be covered. The delay must be unforeseeable.Travel accident insurance
When you buy airline, train, bus, ferry or other transportation tickets with your Visa Infinite card, you get $500,000 of accidental death and dismemberment insurance. You're covered while traveling, as well as while you're getting on or off the plane (or train, bus, etc.) and when you're waiting to board. This coverage comes on top of any other insurance you have.Lost luggage reimbursement
If an airline (or other carrier) loses your luggage, you can be reimbursed up to $3,000 per trip. (For New York residents, the limit is $2,000 per bag). However, this coverage comes into play only after you get reimbursed by the airline and your homeowners or renters insurance policy. and The coverage applies to things like clothing but excludes many valuable items. Keep items like these with you rather than in your bags, as they are not covered: Eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, dentures and prosthetics. Cash, coins, traveler's checks, securities, tickets and valuable documents. Cameras, sporting equipment and furniture. See the full list of exclusions here. Guidance for filing a claim: Report missing luggage to the carrier immediately. If your luggage is missing, you must file a report with the airline before you leave the airport; get a copy of the report. Report missing luggage to the carrier immediately. Ensure your luggage is truly "lost." In most cases, lost luggage isn't really lost at all — just delayed or misdirected — and arrives at its intended destination on another flight within a day or so. Airlines typically consider a bag lost when it doesn't turn up within five to 14 days, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Ensure your luggage is truly "lost." Notify Visa within 20 days of the loss. Start the process at eclaimsline.com or call 800-546-9806. Although Visa will not be the first place you go for reimbursement, you still have to put in this notification to be eligible to file a claim with Visa later on. Notify Visa within 20 days of the loss. File a claim with the airline. Under federal law, airlines are liable for up to $3,500 per passenger for lost baggage, although individual airlines can offer more coverage if they want. File a claim with the airline. File a claim through your personal insurance. Assuming that the money you get from the airline isn't enough to cover your loss, your next step is any insurance policy you have — such as homeowners insurance or renters insurance — that covers lost possessions. Visa's coverage kicks in only after your other insurance does. File a claim through your personal insurance. File a claim with Visa within 90 days of the loss. This benefit covers anything left over after the airline and your personal insurance (if you have it) pay. File a claim with Visa within 90 days of the loss. Filing a claim can be costly. The requirement that you start with your own insurance sharply limits the value of this benefit. Making insurance claims, especially small ones, can cost you thousands more in the long run because of higher premiums. In some cases, cutting your losses may be the least expensive alternative. Filing a claim can be costly. About the author Paul Soucy Paul has been the lead editor for NerdWallet's credit cards team since 2015 and for the travel rewards team since 2023. Previously, he worked at USA Today and the Des Moines Register, then built a freelance writing and editing business focused on personal finance topics. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA. See full bio. Helpful resources Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Credit Cards Best Balance Transfer Credit CardsFind the right credit card for you.
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