The 10 Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance Coverage [September 2023]

Get ready to hit the road confidently using the best credit cards with rental car coverage. With these cards, you don’t have to pay extra at the rental counter for insurance. Pay with your card, decline the rental car company’s coverage, and you can roll off the lot with peace of mind.

Whether you’re seeking primary coverage or just want to save a few bucks on car rentals, these cards have you covered. Buckle up and read about the best credit cards for car rental insurance coverage.

What Is Credit Card Car Rental Insurance?

Here’s a quick look at how credit card car rental insurance works:

Step 1: Read the coverage your credit card provides carefully, and note any exclusions the plan might have. For example, luxury vehicles.

Step 2: Book your rental car and pay with your credit card that offers car rental insurance. You’ll only receive the car rental insurance if the payment for the rental car is charged to your card.

Step 3: When you arrive to pick up the card, complete the payment with the same card that you used to book the rental car.

Step 4: Decline the insurance coverage from the rental car company. Purchasing coverage from the rental car company will cost you more money and nullify your credit card car rental insurance. The car rental company might try to pressure you, but this is just a sales tactic.

Step 5: If you have an accident or another mishap with your rental car, contact your credit card company to file a claim. Remember that if your credit card car rental insurance is secondary, the coverage will only kick in after your primary auto coverage.

Differences Between Primary and Secondary Car Rental Insurance

There are 2 levels of car rental coverage that your credit card can offer — secondary and primary. A single credit card could apply both types of coverage. For example, a card could offer primary coverage when renting a vehicle outside your country of residence and secondary coverage within your country of residence.

Car rental companies and some credit card companies also call car rental insurance Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW).

This is because CDW/LDW coverage is not insurance but functions similarly. It waives your responsibility to pay for damages, theft, or other related charges you could incur during a rental car incident.

Before we discuss the best credit cards for primary car rental insurance, let’s first define the difference between secondary and primary coverage and how these coverages may apply.

Secondary Collision Damage Waiver Coverage

Secondary CDW coverage — also referred to as “excess” coverage — requires you to first file a claim with any insurance that might apply to the situation before the secondary coverage kicks in. This is important because your insurance company could potentially penalize you for an accident if you file a claim.

Depending on your coverage, you may have to pay a deductible when filing a claim with your insurance company.

Primary Collision Damage Waiver Coverage

Primary CDW coverage does not require filing a claim with your insurance company before coverage kicks in. It functions as the primary coverage for the car rental incident.

Requirements To Ensure Coverage

For the CDW coverage that is offered on credit cards to be valid, most credit card coverage requires the following:

• Reserve and pay for your rental car with the qualifying credit card
• Decline the rental car company’s CDW/LDW coverage
• List all drivers on the rental agreement

Make sure you know the requirements before renting a vehicle, and call the benefits administrator if you have questions.

You can request a letter detailing your CDW coverage when renting a vehicle.

Bottom Line:

Credit cards can offer CDW/LDW coverage that is secondary or primary. Some credit cards offer a combination of both. For example, applying primary coverage outside your residence country and secondary within your country of residence. Another scenario is that primary coverage may apply if you do not have your own car insurance or if your coverage does not cover you outside of your resident country. 

What To Look for in Credit Cards With Car Rental Insurance

Here are some top factors to consider when selecting a credit card with car rental insurance.

Does It Offer Primary or Secondary Coverage?

Remember that cards with primary car rental coverage offer a significantly better benefit than secondary coverage as those policies kick in before your personal auto insurance.

Are Certain Countries Excluded?

For the most part, your coverage will apply no matter where you are traveling. However, some notable exceptions exist for popular policies, such as Australia, Italy, and Ireland. You always want to read your coverage’s details closely to ensure you are covered.

Are Certain Vehicles Excluded?

Most often, any standard rental car a major company offers will be included in your coverage. That said, specialty rentals like exotic cars, motorcycles, RVs, passenger vans, and more are not likely to be covered.

How Long Is the Car Rental Covered?

Usually, most credit card car rental insurance policies cover 14 to 30 days of coverage. So if you rent a car longer than your card coverage provides, you’ll want to look into other options.

The 5 Best Personal Cards for Car Rental Insurance

Card	Welcome Bonus Offer and Annual Fee	Benefits for Car Rental Insurance
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	Primary rental car insurance 5x points on car rentals booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $550	Primary rental car insurance 10x points on car rentals booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal Rental car privileges with Avis, National, and Audi on demand
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees)	Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $395	Primary rental car insurance 10x miles on car rentals booked through Capital One Travel Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status Rental car privileges with Avis, National, and Audi on demand (through Visa Infinite)
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)	Secondary rental car insurance with the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance Fantastic rental car privileges with Avis, Hertz, and National (upon enrollment) Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (upon enrollment)
American Express® Gold Card	Earn 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $250 (rates & fees)	Secondary rental car insurance with the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance

Card Summary

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (Top Pick, Best Sub-$100 Card for Primary Coverage & Earning Points)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is our top credit card for car rental insurance because it’s one of the few personal credit cards offering primary rental car insurance. It solidifies itself at the top thanks to its mild $95 annual fee and tremendous rewards categories.

This credit card offers an exceedingly attractive welcome offer, and up to 5x Ultimate Rewards points on purchases:

• 5x points on all travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (including rental cars)
• 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
• 2x points on all other travel
• 1x points on all other purchases

After every account anniversary year, cardholders receive a 10% anniversary rewards bonus on their total amount spent on the card.

Enjoy a discounted hotel stay when you book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal with an up to $50 annual credit towards hotel stays and stellar travel insurance.

This credit card also offers state-of-the-art purchase protection, extended warranty, zero liability fraud protection, no foreign transaction fees, and no additional annual fees for authorized users.

Hot Tip:

There is no charge for adding an authorized user to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and they receive the same primary CDW coverage when renting a vehicle with their card. Remember that authorized users driving a vehicle rented by the primary cardholder must be listed as a driver to be covered. Read more about maximizing car rental insurance benefits with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (Best Premium Card for Primary Coverage, Earning Points & Rental Privileges)

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is Chase’s flagship ultra-premium credit card. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, just like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. The difference is you’ll get up to 10x Ultimate Rewards points:

• 10x points on rental cars, hotels, and dining booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 5x points on air travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3x points on all other travel purchases
• 3x points on dining
• 1x points on all other purchases

Earning 10x points on car rentals is exceptional, worth a return on spending of 20%!

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with excellent primary rental car insurance and rental car privileges at National, Audi on demand, and Avis. It also comes with the same worldwide primary CDW coverage as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card but with a maximum of $75,000 coverage for the rental vehicle. And the most compelling reason to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve card for your rental car is that you can pay for the rental with Ultimate Rewards Points and receive 50% more value for your points!

The card also has some incredible benefits, like an easy-to-use up to $300 travel credit every cardmember year, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, the best travel insurance from a single credit card, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $100.

Lastly, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers access to the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, a 50% redemption bonus in select rotating categories when using Pay Yourself Back, no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, roadside assistance, and extended warranty coverage.

3. Capital One Venture X Card (Best for Primary Coverage, Earning Miles & Rental Privileges)

CapOne’s ultra-premium credit card product is the Capital One Venture X card. This credit card, similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, earns up to 10x Capital One miles:

• 10x miles on car rentals and hotels purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles on all other purchases

The Capital One Venture X card boasts primary rental car insurance, complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (one of the only cards that offer this top-tier elite status), and up to 10x miles on car rental bookings (assuming they’re made through Capital One Travel).

With this Visa Infinite card, you’ll also get several rental car perks, such as Avis Preferred Plus status, National Emerald Club Executive status, and Audi on demand benefits.

There’s also a $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings (which you could use for rental cars, too), an annual account anniversary bonus of 10,000 miles, access to Capital One Lounges, select Plaza Premium Lounges, and Priority Pass lounges, as well as a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100.

It’s also one of the few credit cards with exceptional cell phone protection, travel insurance, up to 4 authorized user cards for no additional annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, and an extended warranty.

4. Amex Platinum Card (Best Premium Card for Secondary Coverage & Rental Privileges)

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Platinum card is one of our favorite cards, thanks to its abundance of luxury travel perks. Although it offers secondary rental car coverage by default, you can easily purchase primary rental car coverage for around $12.25 to $24.95 per rental.

While getting primary rental car insurance technically isn’t free, if you look past that, you’ll probably be happy to pay for the primary rental car insurance if you utilize all of the card’s other perks.

The Amex Platinum card offers complimentary rental car privileges and benefits with Avis, Hertz, and National, which could help you get upgrades, discounts, and elevated service. Plus, you’ll receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status.

But looking past the car rental benefits, you’ll find that the Amex Platinum card’s rewards and benefits make sense if you’re into luxury travel:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
• 1x points on all other purchases (including rental cars)

Furthermore, the Amex Platinum card offers access to Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection (to make you feel like a VIP when booking hotel stays around the world) and the American Express Global Lounge Collection to access some of the most exclusive lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying on a same-day Delta flight), and Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment.

Additionally, upon enrollment, there’s complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite.

Cardholders can also take advantage of a series of annual statement credits (some require enrollment):

You also get no foreign transaction fees (rates and fees), purchase protection, cell phone insurance, extended warranty, and exceptional travel insurance.

5. American Express Gold Card (Best Mid-tier Card for Secondary Coverage)

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The last personal card product we’ll include in this article is the Amex Gold card. It happens to be one of the most exceptional cards for everyday spending. It offers secondary rental car coverage, but you’d want to get this card for many other reasons!

Even with secondary rental car insurance, you can purchase Premium Car Rental Protection from $12.25 to $24.95 per rental, so you still have the option to enjoy primary coverage with the Amex Gold card.

The welcome bonus offer on this card is consistently excellent — and you’ll earn up to 4x Membership Rewards points:

• 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year)
• 3x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or Amex Travel
• 1x points on all other purchases (including rental cars)

By earning 4x points, you can get a whopping return on spending of 8.8%! The Amex Gold card also comes with up to $240 in statement credits every year:

• Up to $120 (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S.
• Up to $120 (up to $10 per month) in dining credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Milk Bar, Wine.com, and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required)

In addition, you can access room upgrades and property credits when booking eligible stays at The Hotel Collection, which will undoubtedly enhance your travel experience.

The Amex Gold card has travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, fee-free authorized user cards (rates and fees), purchase protection, and an extended warranty (rates and fees).

The 5 Best Business Cards for Car Rental Insurance

Business cards handle car rental insurance coverage a bit differently than personal cards. You’ll receive primary car rental coverage if you rent primarily for business purposes and use your associated card to pay for the rental.

You are also covered for personal use when renting a vehicle outside of your resident country. You will not have primary coverage if you rent for personal use within your country of residence.

Card Summary

Card	Welcome Bonus Offer and Annual Fee	Benefits for Primary Car Rental Insurance
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card	NEW OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	Primary rental car insurance when renting for business or outside the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S. 3x points on select business categories, including travel (up to $150,000 per cardmember year)
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card	NEW OFFER: Earn $900 cash-back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	Primary rental car insurance when renting for business or outside the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card	NEW OFFER: Earn $900 cash-back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	Primary rental car insurance when renting for business or outside the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.
United℠ Business Card	Earn 50,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Annual fee of $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99	Primary rental car insurance when renting for business or outside the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	OUR BEST OFFER: Earn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)	Secondary rental car insurance with the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance Fantastic rental car privileges with Avis, Hertz, and National

1. Ink Business Preferred Card (Best for Primary Coverage for Business & Earning Points)

We affectionately refer to the Ink Business Preferred card as the king of small business credit cards, and it has a huge welcome bonus offer. The card comes with primary rental car insurance when renting for business and outside of the U.S. and secondary coverage for renting a vehicle for personal use in the U.S.

Cardholders can earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points on $150,000 in combined purchases on these select business categories every cardmember year:

• Ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Internet, cable, and phone services
• Shipping expenses
• Travel (including rental cars)

You’ll also earn 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025.

So when you book car rentals that code as travel, expect to get a return on spending of 6%!

This credit card offers cell phone protection, purchase protection, an extended warranty, no foreign transaction fees, and fee-free employee cards.

2. Ink Business Cash Card (Best for Primary Coverage for Business & No Annual Fee)

The Ink Business Cash card is one of the few credit cards that offer primary rental car insurance when renting for business purposes or outside of the U.S., all without an annual fee! The card also has secondary coverage when renting a vehicle for personal use in the U.S.

But there’s so much more to this card, starting with the enormous welcome bonus offer. There’s also a 0% introductory APR benefit, travel insurance, and up to 5% cash-back on purchases:

• 5% cash-back on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 5% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services every cardmember year
• 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants every cardmember year
• 1% cash-back on other purchases (including rental cars)

If you have an Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can convert your rewards at a 1% to 1x ratio. We value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents per point, making a 5% cash-back structure double in value to a 10% return on spending!

Other perks include zero liability fraud protection and fee-free employee cards.

3. Ink Business Unlimited Card (Best for Primary Coverage for Business & Cash-back)

The Ink Business Unlimited card is the other major Chase card that offers primary rental car coverage without an annual fee. As with the other Ink cards, this primary coverage applies when renting for business purposes or outside of the U.S., with secondary coverage when renting a vehicle for personal use in the U.S.

Similar to the Ink Business Cash card, there’s a mind-bogglingly good welcome bonus offer with this card; the difference is the earning structure:

• 5% cash-back on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases (including rental cars)

Like the rewards from the Ink Business Cash card, you can convert your cash-back to Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, or Ink Business Unlimited card.

Of course, there’s a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, as well as purchase protection, extended warranty, travel insurance, and fee-free employee cards.

4. United Business Card (Best for Primary Coverage for Business for United Flyers)

The United Business card is a unique choice that you should consider if you frequently fly United for business purposes.

Currently, there’s a fabulous welcome offer available. This card offers primary rental car insurance when renting for business or outside of the U.S. (secondary, otherwise), making it one of our top choices for business credit card holders.

You can earn up to 2x United miles on a wide variety of purchases:

• 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations, on dining (including eligible delivery services), at office supply stores, and on local transit (including rideshare services, taxis, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit)
• 1x miles on all other purchases (including rental cars)

If you also have a personal United credit card and the United Business card, you’ll get a better-together bonus of 5,000 miles after every card anniversary.

This credit card offers a variety of United benefits:

• 2 United Club 1-time passes per year
• Free first checked bag for you and a companion (terms apply)
• Priority boarding (terms apply)
• The ability to earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) after spending $12,000 on your United Business card (up to 1,000 PQPs per calendar year)
• 25% back on United inflight purchases
• $100 United travel credit after making 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more every cardmember anniversary year

Jam-packed with United benefits, the United Business card offers perks at the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance, purchase protection, and an extended warranty.

5. Amex Business Platinum Card (Best for Secondary Coverage & Rental Privileges)

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Amex’s ultra-premium business card is the Amex Business Platinum card. The Amex Business Platinum card offers secondary rental car insurance with the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance.

Don’t let the paid primary coverage discourage you from considering this card because it has some of the best travel benefits available. Let’s talk about the rewards first:

• 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
• 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million of these purchases every calendar year)
• 1x points on all other purchases (including rental cars)

In a similar fashion to the Amex Platinum card, the Amex Business Platinum card confers access 1,400+ lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, Fine Hotels + Resorts. Additionally, there are some key benefits that require enrollment, including hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton, car rental privileges with Avis, National, and Hertz, and more than $1,000 in annual statement credits every year:

Lastly, you’ll have no foreign transaction fees (rates and fees), superb travel insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and cell phone protection.

Chase Primary Car Rental Insurance

With primary rental car insurance, Chase credit cardholders can get covered. Let’s explore the details of the coverage, benefits, and exclusions of primary car rental insurance with Chase.

What’s Covered — Chase Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

• Primary coverage for damage or theft of the rental vehicle up to the actual cash value of the vehicle ($75,000 limit on Chase Sapphire Reserve card)
• Towing charges related to the loss that are reasonable and customary
• Loss of use charges levied by the rental agency due to the vehicle not being in service
• Coverage is valid for rental periods not exceeding (or intending to exceed) 31 days
• Coverage is effective in the U.S. and most foreign countries; call the administrator before renting outside the U.S.

Who’s Covered

The primary cardholder and any driver listed on the rental agreement are covered.

You can be confident you’ll have proper car rental insurance coverage with any of the Ink business cards, as all 3 offer a primary car rental coverage benefit when renting for business or outside of the U.S. and secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

What’s Excluded

• Certain expensive, antique, and exotic vehicles
• Cargo vans, motorcycles, recreational vehicles
• Certain countries may be excluded where prohibited by law
• Leases, mini leases, and car-share services
• Loss or theft of belongings
• Liability coverage

Capital One Primary Car Rental Insurance

Like Chase, Capital One stands out among credit card issuers by offering primary car rental insurance. This benefit can offer protection and cost savings. Understand the details of Capital One’s primary car rental insurance, including its coverage and limits.

What’s Covered — Capital One Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

The Capital One Venture X card offers primary rental insurance when renting for up to 15 consecutive days in your country of residence or 31 days outside your country of residence with a maximum of $75,000 in coverage.

You’ll need to pay for your entire rental car reservation with your Capital One Venture X card to get coverage.

Who’s Covered

Generally, the primary cardholder and any additional drivers listed on the car rental agreement are eligible for coverage.

What’s Excluded

• Expensive, exotic, or antique cars, cargo vans, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines, and others
• Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland are excluded from rental car coverage

American Express Premium Car Rental Protection

You’ve likely heard that American Express cards do not have primary car rental insurance. While it’s true that you won’t find primary car insurance on American Express cards, secondary car rental insurance is included. Fortunately, there is an easy and affordable option for securing primary coverage on most American Express cards.

Sign up for Premium Car Rental Protection coverage in advance, then use the enrolled American Express card to reserve and pay for your rental. The premium (primary) coverage will automatically be applied.

You’ll be charged only when you rent a vehicle, and the cost will be between $12.25 and $24.95, depending on your coverage selection, for the entire rental period, up to 42 days. For a 30-day rental, that’s as low as 41 cents per day.

What’s Covered — American Express Premium Car Rental Protection

• Primary car rental coverage for damage or theft to the rental vehicle, loss of use, and applicable related charges
• Coverage limit of up to $100,000 for damage/theft, but less can be selected
• Up to $100,000 for accidental death/dismemberment ($250,000 for California residents)
• Up to $15,000 in excess property damage and $5,000 in excess medical expenses per person
• Up to 42 consecutive days of coverage (30 days for Washington state cardholders)

Who’s Covered

The primary cardholder and any authorized driver listed on the rental agreement are covered under the plan. In addition, passengers are covered for the associated medical benefits.

Please note that coverage descriptions have been abbreviated. You can access a sample Premium Car Rental Protection plan with full terms and conditions online.

What’s Excluded

• Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand are excluded from rental car coverage

Hot Tip:

The cost of purchasing American Express Premium Car Rental Protection for your entire rental period could be less than the cost of 1 day of CDW/LDW coverage purchased directly from the rental car company.

American Express Secondary Car Rental Insurance

Complimentary CDW is included on most American Express credit cards. But for the complimentary CDW coverage to be effective, the following must be done:

• Reserve and pay for the entire car rental with the qualifying American Express card
• Decline the car rental company’s CDW/LDW coverage

Review your benefits guide to determine if your American Express credit card has complimentary CDW coverage.

What’s Covered

• Damage or theft of a rental vehicle up to a maximum of $50,000
• Loss of use, appraisal fees, towing
• Rentals of 30 days or less

Who’s Covered

Drivers covered for CDW under the complimentary coverage on your credit card include:

• Primary cardholders and additional drivers listed on the rental agreement
• Any additional drivers listed on the rental agreement

For CDW coverage to apply, the car rental must be reserved and paid for with the American Express card.

Exclusions

• Cars rented in Australia, Italy, New Zealand, or any OFAC-listed country (due to economic or trade sanctions)

How To File a Credit Card Car Rental Claim

Report the Claim

Your first step in the process will be to report the claim to the credit card claims administrator as soon as possible after the incident. This can be started by calling the number on the back of your credit card.

You’ll be asked some initial questions regarding the claim and then sent a claim form to complete.

Be sure to obtain a claim number and the name of the person who initiated your claim in case you do not receive the claim form promptly and need to follow up.

Gather Documentation

Before you embark on your journey, read up on what will be required should you have a rental car claim. Gathering the documentation you need at the time of the accident is much easier than trying to do so after you return home, so it’s good to know what you need before an accident.

You may be asked to submit any or all of the following:

• A copy of your credit card statement validating that the rental car was paid for entirely with the associated card
• A copy of the full car rental agreement
• A statement from the rental company stating the damages you’re responsible for
• A police report
• Photos of the damage
• Repair estimates
• Any additional documentation the benefits administrator requests

Know the Deadlines

You’ll need to adhere to several dates during the claim process. Failure to meet any of them could jeopardize your benefits.

• The deadline to report the initial claim
• When the completed claim form needs to be submitted or received
• The dates all required documents need to be submitted and/or received

Follow Up

Claims personnel are busy handling several claims each day. Plan to follow up to ensure all the required documents are received, and the claim progresses.

Bottom Line:

You are responsible for initiating the claim with the credit card claims administrator and adhering to the deadlines for submitting the required documents. It’s also good to follow up to ensure your claim progresses and that all required documents are received.

Everything Else You Need To Know

Requirements To Ensure Coverage

Adhere to these requirements to ensure the car rental coverage on your card is activated:

• Reserve and pay for the entire car rental reservation with the associated credit card.
• Decline the rental car agency’s CDW/LDW coverage.
• List all drivers you want to be covered on the car rental agreement.

Hot Tip:

If you use points associated with the credit card to pay for your car rental or a combination of points and charge the remainder on your card, you will still have coverage if all the other conditions are met.

Exclusions

• The coverage on your credit card may exclude certain countries.
• Liability insurance that covers damage to the property of others and medical injuries to passengers and pedestrians is not included in the coverage that comes with your credit card. The good news is that because this coverage is mandatory, it is usually included in your rental car’s daily rate.
• Certain types of cars are normally excluded from coverage. These include high-value luxury cars, commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles. Check your specific card exclusions before renting.

Additional Information

If you do not have personal auto insurance, many credit cards default to applying primary car rental coverage, even if the card normally offers just secondary coverage. Check the coverage on your specific card for the terms and conditions.

Coverage periods vary. You may find that some CDW coverage covers rentals of 31 days or less, others just 15 days. Check for the rental period limit on your card before renting a vehicle.

Before renting a vehicle outside your country of residence, ask the card issuer’s claims administrator for a letter of coverage to carry with you. This letter can validate existing coverage when declining the car rental company’s coverage.

Final Thoughts

Insurance can be inherently complicated, and car insurance is especially so.

If you have your own car insurance, the best CDW coverage for domestic car rentals is primary credit card CDW coverage. This is because it’s best to avoid filing a claim with your own insurance company, which could mean potentially having to pay a high deductible and having your rates increased.

You may, however, be responsible for a deductible on the car rental company’s coverage. If you have questions about the coverage on your card, you can always call the administrator before you rent a vehicle.

In all cases, you should purchase liability insurance from the rental car company if you don’t already have it. Or be sure it is included in your rental agreement, as it is not included in the CDW coverage that comes with your credit card.

Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge of car rental insurance and having a card in your wallet that affords primary rental car insurance can save you money while keeping you protected during your next car rental.

Methodology: How We Selected the Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance

At Upgraded Points, we evaluate the best credit cards for car rental insurance based on the value the card can offer travelers. Our evaluation analyzes each card based on essential factors, including rental car insurance coverage, benefits, earnings structure, welcome offer, redemption value/rewards program, fees, and more.

Here is some insight into our thought process when selecting the best credit cards for car rental insurance:

Rental Car Insurance Coverage

By far, the most important consideration regarding the best credit cards for car rental insurance is how good the card’s rental car coverage is. We considered whether the card’s rental car coverage is primary or secondary and any exclusions.

Associated Benefits

The best cards should offer great benefits when renting a car. This can include discounts, elite status with major rental car chains, and more.

Earnings Structure

At the end of the day, these are still travel rewards cards. The amount of points your card can earn you towards future travel is very important. That said, your new card shouldn’t just reward you for car rentals; it should also offer bonus categories for everyday purchases.

Welcome Bonus Offers

The welcome offer on a card can give your points balance a nice boost early, which will help kickstart future award redemptions. Given that welcome offers are one-time and can be lucrative, they are a factor in evaluating cards.

We provide you with each card’s current welcome bonus offer information. Still, we encourage you to confirm the welcome offers and review earnings before applying for any card.

Fees

Most travel cards have fees, so take these into account as well. Many will charge an annual fee for holding the card, so make sure you’re getting enough value from the card each year to justify it.

Redemption Value

A card will score high if it earns flexible rewards that allow for several options at redemption time. The best business rewards cards provide the option to redeem points directly for travel, cash-back, or statement credits, or allow the transfer of rewards to airline and hotel partners for the opportunity to receive the greatest potential value.

Hot Tip:

While the most desired benefits and features of a card will vary by person, our holistic approach gives readers the full picture of what they can expect from every card we review. To learn more about how we review cards, read through our methodology page.

Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024.  Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier.  Additional terms apply.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.