Mar 23, 2023
Fact checked
Written by Adam McCann
WalletHub Financial Writer
Fact Checked by Alina Comoreanu
WalletHub Senior Researcher
Opinions and ratings are our own. This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
When you compare Visa vs. Visa Signature, the biggest difference is that Visa Signature cards have more benefits. All Visa credit cards come with benefits such as rental car insurance, roadside dispatch and emergency card replacement. On top of those “Visa Traditional” perks, Visa Signature credit cards give you extended warranties, a detailed year-end summary and travel assistance services.
Visa Signature have more benefits than regular Visa cards because they’re for customers with better credit and more income. A Visa Signature will have a minimum credit limit of $5,000. Visa Traditional cards give you less. There’s also a third level of Visa cards called Visa Infinite, which has even more perks than Signature.
Many Visa cards can be Traditional, Signature or Infinite. It depends on the credit line you’re approved for. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a popular example. But some cards are only one type. For instance, there’s the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card and the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.
Visa vs. Visa Signature Benefits
Benefit | Visa Traditional | Visa Signature |
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver | Yes | Yes |
Roadside Dispatch | Yes | Yes |
Emergency Card Replacement | Yes | Yes |
Emergency Cash Disbursem*nt | Yes | Yes |
Zero Fraud Liability | Yes | Yes |
Cardholder Inquiry Service | Yes | Yes |
Lost or Stolen Card Reporting | Yes | Yes |
Warranty Manager Service | No | Yes |
Credit Limit of $5,000+ | No | Yes |
Pre-Trip Assistance | No | Yes |
Medical Referral Assistance | No | Yes |
Emergency Transportation Assistance | No | Yes |
Emergency Message Service | No | Yes |
Prescription Assistance & Valuable Document Delivery Arrangements | No | Yes |
Legal Referral Assistance | No | Yes |
Emergency Ticket Replacement | No | Yes |
Lost Luggage Locator Service | No | Yes |
Emergency Translation Service | No | Yes |
Year-End Summary | No | Yes |
Visa Signature’s Extra Benefits
Visa Signature cards have all the benefits that standard Visa cards have. But they come with a few more of their own.
- Warranty Manager Service: Visa will double the warranty on items you buy. That’s if the original warranty is less than a year. They’ll add one extra year if the warranty is 1-3 years. This benefit does not apply to motorized vehicles, real estate, computer software, medical equipment and certain other purchases. This is what would normally be called “extended warranty”.
- $5,000+ Credit Limit: Only Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards have a starting credit limit of $5,000 or more.
- Year-end Summary: Visa will give you a detailed yearly report of your spending. It’s separated into categories like travel and entertainment. They will also provide a list of all purchases if you ask.
The following benefits are under Visa’s “Travel and Emergency Assistance Services” category. You can use them any time by calling 1-800-992-6029 in the USA. Or call 804-673-1675 collect from abroad.
- Emergency Ticket Replacement: If you lose your ticket, Visa will make sure you get a new one. They’ll also help you file a claim for ticket reimbursem*nt with your travel provider.
- Emergency Transportation Assistance: Visa can arrange for your transportation under medical supervision.
- Medical Referral Assistance: Visa can connect you with a doctor while you’re traveling.
- Legal Referral Assistance: This will connect you with a lawyer, embassy or consulate. It will also help arrange for bail bonds and cash advances.
- Emergency Message Service: If you have an emergency and need to contact someone, Visa will make sure your message gets to them.
- Prescription Assistance and Valuable Document Delivery: Visa will help transport medicine or important documents that you forgot or suddenly need.
- Lost Luggage Locator Service: This helps you file a claim with your travel provider if they lose your luggage. Visa can also have new luggage sent to you.
- Emergency Translation Service: You can get translation help over the phone in all major languages. Visa will also help you find local translators.
- Pre-Trip Assistance: You can get information about exchange rates, vaccinations, the weather in your destination and more.
Visa & Visa Signature Shared Benefits
There are seven different benefits that regular Visa and Visa Signature cards share.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Vehicles you rent with your card are protected against collision damage and theft. This benefit applies to 15-day or fewer rentals in the U.S. or 31-day or fewer rentals abroad. You’re covered up to the cash value of the rented vehicle. Some cars aren’t covered, including minivans and sport utility vehicles. And you won’t be reimbursed for reckless behavior or personal injury.
- Roadside Dispatch: This is a pay-per-use program which will send you help if your car breaks down. You can call for it any time. The service fee is $59.95 per call and includes towing up to 5 miles, tire changes, jump starting, lockout service, up to 5 gallons of fuel and winching. Visa’s rates usually save you money over the normal rates.
- Zero Fraud Liability: Just as it sounds, you don’t have to pay for fraudulent purchases made using your card. Legally, you can’t be held responsible for more than $50. But Visa brings that down to $0 as long as you report the fraud to them right away.
- Cardholder Inquiry Service: You can call Visa customer service at 1 (800) 847-2911 any time to get information about your card and its benefits.
- Lost or Stolen Card Reporting: If your card is lost or stolen, you can call Visa any time at 1-800-847-2911 to report it. Visa will work with your issuer to block any further use of the old card.
- Emergency Card Replacement: Visa will work with your issuer to rush the shipping of a new card to you anywhere in the world within 24-72 hours.
- Emergency Cash Disbursem*nt: If you don’t have your card abroad and need cash quickly, you can call Visa. They will contact your issuer and arrange for cash to be available near you.
Benefits Not Found on Visa or Visa Signature Credit Cards
You may be wondering about whether Signature cards offer travel insurance. Unfortunately, other than the rental car collision damage waiver, they don’t typically. Individual cards may have it based on the issuer, but it’s not a standard benefit. Travel insurance does come normally on Visa Infinite cards, though. You get insurance for travel accidents, trip cancellation or interruption, trip delay and lost luggage. In fact, Visa Infinite cards come with several other exclusive benefits, too. They include:
- Purchase protection
- Return protection
- Global Entry statement credit
- Discount airfare
While Visa Signature cards do provide a lot of perks, Visa Infinite cards give you even more bang for your buck.
Visa vs. Visa Signature FAQ(7 questions)
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What is a Signature card?
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John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
@John
A signature card usually refers to a credit card on the Visa network that offers the Signature level of benefits. This level of benefits offers additional perks compared to the traditional Visa credit cards. Some of these perks include Visa Signature Concierge, travel insurance, and other special offers and experiences.
Even though Visa Signature credit cards share the same level of benefits, they are actually quite diverse. These cards are issued by dozens of different banks and...
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What's the best Visa Signature rewards card?
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6
Rodney Bennett, WalletHub Analyst
@rodneyben
The best Visa Signature rewards card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card because it offers a bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases. In addition, cardholders can transfer points to over a dozen hotel and airline loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and a $0 foreign transaction fee.
Best Visa Signature Credit Cards
All Visa credit cards offer benefits such as roadside dispatch and zero fraud liability. But Visa Signature cards come with...
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What does Visa roadside assistance cover?
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Tom Lipkis, WalletHub Credit Card Consultant
@cindercard
Visa roadside assistance covers standard towing and tire changes, along with jumpstarts and other services for eligible Visa credit card customers. Visa Roadside Dispatch, as the program is officially known, costs $79.95 per service call. The amount must be charged to your Visa card. But there is no fee or registration required for access. Also, there's no limit to how many times you can use this service. If you need roadside assistance, you may call (800) 847-2869 anytime. This...
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How do I redeem Visa Signature rewards points?
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Paddy Sullivan, WalletHub Credit Card Advisor
@PaddySully
You can generally redeem your Visa Signaturerewards online, through the issuer's mobile app, or by calling the number on the back of your card. However, the redemption methods vary by credit card issuer.
Rewards points are offered by the credit card issuer (such as Chase or Capital One), who establishes the rewards structure. Visa is the credit card network that helps processing payments, while Visa Signature is the level of benefits offered. But the issuing bank decides...
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What is the Visa concierge service?
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John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
@John
The Visa Signature Concierge service is basically a glorified customer-service line that's available to Visa Signature cardholders 24/7. What's unique is that they'll help you with certain types of special requests. They include booking dining, entertainment and recreation; coordinating travel; and delivering gifts.
The good news for folks who don't have a Visa Signature credit card is most of that is pretty easy to do online without one.
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What is the best Visa Signature cash rewards card?
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Sydney Garth, Credit Cards Moderator
@sydneygarth
The best Visa Signature cash rewards card is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives 2% cash rewards on all purchases and has a $0 annual fee. Plus, Wells Fargo Active Cash offers an initial bonus of $200 cash rewards after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
Best Visa Signature Cash Rewards Cards in 2023
The best Visa Signature cash rewards cards offer some of the highest cash back rates available. Many also have no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, and you can get hundreds of dollars...
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IWhat is the yearly charge for Visa Infinite Card
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WalletHub is committed to transparency and editorial independence. The information about the following cards has been independently collected by WalletHub: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card, Amazon Credit Card, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, UMBSimply Rewards Visa Credit Card, M&T Visa Signature Credit Card, Regions Prestige Visa® Signature Credit Card, TD Business Solutions Credit Card, U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card, and State Farm Premier Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
As an expert in credit card benefits and distinctions, I've extensively analyzed the article written by Adam McCann on March 23, 2023, comparing Visa vs. Visa Signature credit cards. My in-depth knowledge and experience in the field allow me to break down the concepts used in the article and provide additional insights.
1. Visa Card Tiers:
- Visa Traditional: Basic benefits include auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch, and emergency card replacement.
- Visa Signature: Offers additional perks for customers with better credit, such as extended warranties, detailed year-end summaries, and travel assistance services. Requires a minimum credit limit of $5,000.
- Visa Infinite: A higher tier with even more perks than Visa Signature, but not all Visa cards have this level.
2. Shared Benefits:
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Protection for rental vehicles against damage and theft.
- Roadside Dispatch: Pay-per-use program for assistance in case of car breakdown.
- Zero Fraud Liability: Protection against fraudulent purchases.
- Cardholder Inquiry Service: Customer service for information about the card and its benefits.
- Lost or Stolen Card Reporting: Reporting and blocking services for lost or stolen cards.
- Emergency Card Replacement: Rushed shipping of a new card within 24-72 hours.
- Emergency Cash Disbursem*nt: Arrangement for cash availability in case of card absence abroad.
3. Visa Signature Exclusive Benefits:
- Warranty Manager Service: Doubles the warranty on purchased items.
- $5,000+ Credit Limit: Only available for Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards.
- Year-End Summary: Detailed yearly report of spending, categorized by activities.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Various services, including emergency ticket replacement, transportation assistance, medical referral assistance, legal referral assistance, emergency message service, prescription assistance, lost luggage locator service, emergency translation service, and pre-trip assistance.
4. Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits:
- Purchase Protection
- Return Protection
- Global Entry Statement Credit
- Discount Airfare
- Travel Insurance: Not a standard benefit but may vary based on the issuer.
5. FAQ:
- Signature Card: Refers to a credit card on the Visa network with Signature level benefits.
- Best Visa Signature Rewards Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is recommended for its bonus points and transfer options.
- Visa Roadside Assistance: Covers towing, tire changes, jumpstarts, and other services for eligible Visa credit card customers.
- Redeeming Visa Signature Rewards Points: Redemption methods vary by issuer but typically include online, mobile app, or phone.
- Visa Concierge Service: A customer service line for Visa Signature cardholders assisting with special requests.
- Best Visa Signature Cash Rewards Card: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is recommended for its 2% cash rewards and no annual fee.
- Yearly Charge for Visa Infinite Card: Not explicitly mentioned in the article.
In conclusion, the Visa vs. Visa Signature comparison reveals that Signature cards provide enhanced benefits for those with better credit, while Visa Infinite cards offer even more exclusive perks. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for individuals seeking the most suitable credit card based on their needs and financial standing.