Visa Signature: What Is It And What Are The Benefits? (2024)

Visa is one of the largest and best-known credit card networks in the world. It works with many banks, credit unions and companies that issue credit cards. Each card issued through the Visa network is given a distinction, such as Visa Traditional, Visa Signature or Visa Infinite.

Visa Signature cards are a higher tier than Visa Traditional cards, and they provide cardholders with added benefits and perks.

Requirements vary by card and issuer, but Visa Signature cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Cardgenerally require good to excellent credit.

If you qualify for a Visa Signature card, you can take advantage of perks above and beyond what you can get with a Visa Traditional card.

Travel and Emergency Assistance

Visa Signature cards include travel and emergency assistance. With this benefit, you can contact a multilingual call center 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While traveling, the travel and emergency assistance line can help you with issues like:

• Medical referrals
• Emergency transportation
• Emergency messaging
• Prescription fulfillment
• Legal referrals

Services arranged through the travel and emergency assistance call center are an additional cost.

Visa Signature Rental Car Privileges

As a Visa Signature cardholder, you can enjoy rental car privileges with partner companies like Avis and Budget. Currently, cardmembers can qualify for up to 25% off qualifying rentals.

Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

When you use your Visa Signature card to book a stay at a hotel that is part of the Luxury Hotel Collection, you can automatically qualify for the following perks (varies by hotel and availability):

• Room upgrades
• $25 food and beverage credit
• Daily continental breakfast
• Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi
• Free late checkout when available

Roadside Dispatch

If your car breaks down, you can contact Visa Signature roadside dispatch to get connected to local providers of the following services:

• Standard towing (up to five miles is included)
• Tire changes with a customer-provided spare
• Battery jump starts
• Lockout service
• Fuel delivery

The services aren’t included with your credit card; you’re responsible for paying the provider for any services rendered.

Emergency Cash Disbursem*nt

If your card is lost or stolen and you need cash to tide you over until a replacement card arrives, Visa will arrange for you to pick up cash at a local bank or credit union near your current location. To take advantage of this service, call 1-800-847-2911.

Emergency Card Replacement

If you need a new card, contact your card company. Visa Signature cardholders can get an emergency replacement within 24 to 72 hours.

The Visa Signature concierge is a service you can use to get assistance with travel arrangements, booking restaurant reservations or securing the perfect gift. Any purchases or services used through the concierge are an additional cost.

Special Offers

Visa Signature cardholders can sometimes qualify for additional perks through Visa special offers. Current offers include:

• Shipt: When you use your card to sign up for grocery deliveries through Shipt, you can get three months of membership for free. After that, you can get 50% off of memberships for nine months.
• Skillshare: Enroll in classes through Skillshare with your Visa Signature card and get 20% off an annual membership.
• Golf: As a Visa Signature cardholder, you automatically qualify for silver status with Troon. You’ll get 10% off golf fees, merchandise and lessons at participating golf courses.
• Wine: At Sonoma County Wineries, you can enjoy discounts on wine tastings and purchases.

Visa is the network behind Visa Signature cards. The issuer is the bank or credit union that issues the card; the credit card issuer establishes the card’s eligibility requirements, rates and perks.

Although all Visa Signature card issuers are required to offer a core suite of services—the perks listed above—some issuers offer additional rewards and benefits. Potential benefits you may qualify for as a Visa Signature cardholder include:

• Extended warranty protection: Extended warranty protection lengthens the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible purchases.
• Auto rental collision damage waiver: Some cards include auto rental collision damage waiver, which pays for damages to a rental car that result from any accidents.
• Lost luggage reimbursem*nt: If your luggage is lost while you’re traveling, lost luggage reimbursem*nt will reimburse you for a portion of the content’s value, up to a set maximum.
• Global Entry statement credit: Global Entry is a program that gives you expedited clearance through airport security. With this perk, you can receive a credit for the Global Entry application fee.
• Trip delay reimbursem*nt: If your trip is delayed due to a covered reason, such as a storm, this benefit will reimburse you for a portion of your trip’s cost.
• Trip cancellation/trip interruption: Trip interruption and cancellation insurance covers the cost of travel that is canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason, such as a death in the family or serious illness.
• Cellphone protection: If you pay your cellphone bill with your Visa Signature card, you can qualify for insurance that covers you if your phone is stolen or damaged.
• Baggage delay reimbursem*nt: If your bags are delayed, this benefit will reimburse you, up to a set daily maximum, for purchases of toiletries, clothing or other necessities.
• Return protection: If you try to return a purchase and the retailer denies the return for a covered reason, your Visa Signature card will reimburse you for the item instead.

If you’re ready to apply for a Visa Signature card, these are three of the best Visa cards available based on their rewards and benefits:

Prime Visa

If you regularly make purchases through Amazon, the Prime Visa could be a good option. It has no annual fee, and you can earn 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel℠ purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% back on other purchases.

United℠ Explorer Card

For frequent travelers who are brand loyal to United, the United℠ Explorer Card merits a look. The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee, earns unlimited miles with no caps and offers priority boarding and a free checked bag when you pay with your card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards cards. Although it does have a $95 annual fee, card members can earn the following rewards: 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases

The card also offers premium benefits beyond what Visa Signature cards typically include. For example, the card includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and trip delay reimbursem*nt.