When was the last time you read your credit card’s benefits guide? The thick booklet that came with the card and that you immediately threw away? It probably contains at least three perks worth real money that you have never used.

Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty

Many cards automatically extend the manufacturer’s warranty on items you buy. If you buy a laptop with a one-year warranty, your card might extend that to two years. If the item breaks in year two, the card covers the repair or replacement cost.

I used this once on a phone that died thirteen months after purchase — one month past the manufacturer warranty. The credit card covered a $200 repair. I filled out one form online and uploaded the receipt. The credit showed up on my statement two weeks later.

Purchase protection also covers accidental damage or theft within the first 90-120 days after purchase, depending on the card. I dropped a new camera lens once. The card reimbursed the full purchase price.

Rental Car Insurance

Most travel credit cards include secondary rental car collision coverage. This means if you damage a rental car, the card covers what your personal auto insurance does not — including the deductible.

You must decline the rental company’s insurance at the counter for the card coverage to apply. Pay for the rental entirely with that card. The coverage is automatic as long as you follow those two rules.

This has saved me hundreds of dollars over the years. Rental companies charge $15-30 per day for their insurance. The card coverage is often better and costs nothing extra.

Price Protection

Fewer cards offer this now than they used to, but some still do. If you buy something and the price drops within a certain window (usually 60-90 days), the card refunds the difference. Check your card’s specific terms — the rules vary widely.

There are services and apps that track your purchases and automatically file price protection claims. Worth looking into if your card offers this perk.

Cell Phone Protection

Some cards cover cell phone damage or theft up to a certain amount — usually $600-800 per claim — if you pay your monthly phone bill with that card. There is typically a small deductible, maybe $25-50. If you have ever cracked a phone screen, you know this alone is worth switching your auto-pay to the right card.