Does Chase cover rental car insurance?

Yes, there are many Chase credit cards that offer rental car insurance. Our 2 top options are the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

How does Chase rental car insurance work?

If you have an eligible Chase card that offers rental car insurance and you use it to pay for your rental vehicle, it will help cover you in the event of any damages or theft to the vehicle. In order to receive this coverage, you must reserve and charge the rental car with your eligible Chase card and refuse the car rental company’s CDW coverage.

What is the difference between primary and secondary rental coverage?

A card that offers primary coverage kicks in prior to you needing to file a claim with any other insurance providers you have, including your personal auto insurance. Secondary coverage requires you to submit a claim with your other insurance providers first, and will only kick in to help cover items that have not already been covered by those other insurance providers. So, in almost all instances, you would be better off using a credit card that provides primary coverage for your rental car.

Do I have to pay for the car rental with my credit card to receive the rental insurance?

Yes, you must pay for your rental car with your eligible credit card and decline the insurance policy from the rental company.

Which Chase credit cards have rental car insurance?

The following Chase credit cards offer primary rental car insurance: Chase Sapphire Reserve card Chase Sapphire Preferred card Ink Business Cash card Ink Business Preferred card Ink Business Premier card Ink Business Unlimited card United Business card United Club Business card United Club Infinite card United Explorer card United Quest card World of Hyatt Business card The following Chase credit cards offer secondary rental car insurance: Chase Slate Edge card Freedom Flex card Freedom Unlimited card United Gateway card Aeroplan card IHG Premier card IHG Premier Business card

List of Chase Credit Cards With Rental Car Insurance [2023]

Rental car insurance is a confusing topic — some might even say it is more confusing than regular car insurance. From figuring out whether or not your credit card even offers coverage to finding out what type of coverage is provided to a long list of exclusions of things that aren’t covered, it is enough to make anyone’s head spin.

But we’ve got you covered! If you’re someone who occasionally rents a car and you want a Chase credit card that offers rental car insurance, then you’ve come to the right place.

This guide provides a breakdown of how rental car insurance with Chase works, which cards offer coverage, and the type of coverage that those cards provide.

Table of contents

How Chase Rental Car Insurance Works
Full List of Chase Personal Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance
Full List of Chase Business Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance
Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

How Chase Rental Car Insurance Works
Full List of Chase Personal Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance
Full List of Chase Business Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance
Final Thoughts

How Chase Rental Car Insurance Works

When you rent a car and pay for the rental with an eligible Chase credit card, your rental car will be covered thanks to your credit card collision damage waiver (CDW). The CDW will help reimburse you for damages or a replacement if your rental car is involved in an accident or theft.

Why is this useful? If you hold a credit card that offers a CDW, you can confidently decline the rental car company’s policy, which almost always comes at an additional fee to you.

Primary Coverage vs. Secondary Coverage

There are 2 different types of rental car coverage, primary and secondary, and the difference between the 2 is quite important should your car be involved in an incident.

Primary coverage is applied first before any other insurance coverage you might have. On the other hand, secondary coverage is applied after your personal car insurance and potentially after any other type of travel-related insurance you have.

As you can see, the difference in coverage here is quite significant as when you use secondary coverage, you will be required to submit a claim with your personal car insurance provider first, potentially causing your premium to increase. Your secondary coverage will kick in to help cover any damage not covered by your personal policy.

Given that, we recommend that you pay for your rental car with a credit card that provides primary coverage to serve as the first line of defense and added peace of mind should anything go wrong.

It’s worth noting, though, that the following list of cards distinguishes between the cards that offer primary vs. secondary insurance in the U.S. If you’re renting a car abroad, the coverage offered by all of these cards will be considered primary.

Hot Tip: Don’t own a car and, by extension, have no car insurance policy? Secondary coverage can serve as primary coverage for you since you don’t have a personal policy that kicks in first.

Collision Damage Insurance vs. Liability Insurance

Two Men Talking After Minor Car Accident — If you accidentally damage your rental car, you want to make sure you have the right coverage. Image Credit: tommaso79 via Shutterstock

So if you have a credit card that offers primary coverage and a collision damage waiver, you’re good to go, right? Well, not entirely.

Your collision damage waiver is only going to cover any damage caused to your own vehicle. It will not cover any damage caused to other vehicles, property, or injuries to you and anyone else involved in the accident.

If you have a personal car insurance policy, it will likely cover these items, but make sure to review the details of your policy first. If you don’t have personal car insurance and want to ensure these exclusions are covered, then you could always purchase a supplemental liability insurance policy.

Chase Rental Car Insurance Exclusions

Exclusions to a rental car insurance policy can leave you holding the bill if you aren’t aware of them ahead of time. So while this is not an exhaustive list, here are some common exclusions that apply to Chase rental car insurance plans:

Expensive, exotic, and antique automobiles; vans designed to carry more than 9 people; vehicles that have an open cargo bed; trucks; motorcycles, mopeds, and motorbikes; limousines; and recreational vehicles
Expenses reimbursed under your personal auto insurance policy, your employer, or your employer’s insurance
Any obligation you assume under any other agreement
Injury of anyone or anything inside or outside of the vehicle
Leases and mini leases
Any violation of the auto rental agreement
Loss or theft of personal belongings
Number of days (many rental cars are only covered for reservations of 31 days or less)
Country exclusions (make sure where you’re traveling is covered under the policy)

Some of these exclusions might seem straightforward or obvious, and others less so, but it is crucial to make sure you know what the exclusions of your policy are so you don’t end up being responsible for more than you were planning for.

Full List of Chase Personal Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance

Person driving an Audi — Which Chase credit card will you choose for rental car insurance? Image Credit: Andraz Lazic via Unsplash

Curious which Chase credit cards offer rental car insurance, and whether or not that coverage is primary or secondary? We’ve got you covered with our complete list below.

Hot Tip: Chase credit cards aren’t your only option for rental car insurance — you can also check out our post on the best credit cards for car rental insurance coverage.

Summary of Coverage

Primary	Secondary
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® United Club℠ Infinite Card United Quest℠ Card United℠ Explorer Card	Aeroplan® Credit Card Chase Freedom Flex℠ Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Slate Edge℠ IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card United Gateway℠ Card

Aeroplan® Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Secondary in the U.S., primary otherwise

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $95

Card Earnings:

3x points on Air Canada purchases, at grocery stores, and dining at restaurants
1x points on all other purchases
500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Rental Insurance Coverage: Secondary in the U.S., primary otherwise

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0

Card Earnings:

5% cash-back on rotating quarterly bonus categories (up to $1,500 in purchases)
5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
5% cash-back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
1% cash-back on all other purchases

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Rental Insurance Coverage: Secondary in the U.S., primary otherwise

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0

Card Earnings:

5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
5% cash-back on Lyft (through March 2025)
1.5% cash-back on all other purchases

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $95

Card Earnings:

5x points on all travel booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel purchases
1x point on all other purchases

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary

Coverage Limit: $75,000

Annual Fee: $550

Card Earnings:

10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards
10x points on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
5x points on air travel booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases
1x points on all other purchases

Hot Tip: Learn how to maximize your Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s car rental insurance benefits in our detailed guide.

Chase Slate Edge℠

Rental Insurance Coverage: Secondary in the U.S., primary otherwise

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0

IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Secondary in the U.S., primary otherwise

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $99

Card Earnings:

Up to 26x points on IHG stays
5x points on travel, gas stations, and at restaurants
3x points on all other purchases

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee:

Annual Fee: $525

Card Earnings:

4x miles on United purchases
2x miles on travel and dining purchases
1x miles on all other purchases

United Gateway℠ Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Secondary in the U.S., primary otherwise

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0

Card Earnings:

2x miles on United purchases, gas stations, and local transit purchases
1x miles on all other purchases

United Quest℠ Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $250

Card Earnings:

3x miles on United purchases
2x miles on travel, dining, and select streaming services
1x miles on all other purchases

United℠ Explorer Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95

Card Earnings:

2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel purchases
1x mile on all other purchases

Full List of Chase Business Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance

Man driving car in suit with female passenger on phone — Image Credit: ASDF via Adobe Stock

Business cards will typically have primary rental car coverage when renting primarily for business purposes or for personal use when renting a vehicle outside of the U.S. If you rent for personal use within the U.S., you will have secondary coverage.

IHG® Rewards Premier Business Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $99

Card Earnings:

Up to 26x total points on IHG hotel stays
5x points on travel, gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
3x points on all other purchases

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0

Card Earnings:

5% cash-back on purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services (up to $25,000 each year)
2% cash-back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 each year)
1% cash-back on all other purchases

New Business Card! Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $95

Card Earnings:

5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
3x points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
1x points on all other purchases

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee:$195

Card Earnings:

5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
2.5% cash-back on purchases of $5,000 or more
2% cash-back on all other business purchases

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business; secondary coverage for personal rentals

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0

Card Earnings:

1.5% cash-back on all purchases

United Club℠ Business Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $450

Card Earnings:

2x miles on United purchases
1.5x miles on all other purchases

United℠ Business Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99

Card Earnings:

2x miles on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and transit purchases
1x point on all other purchases

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.

Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle

Annual Fee:$199

Card Earnings:

Up to 9x points on Hyatt stays
2x points at fitness clubs and on gym memberships
2x points on the 3 eligible categories you spend the most on in each calendar quarter through December 31, 2023 (then it drops to your top 2 categories)
1x points on all other purchases

Final Thoughts

When you’re considering adding a new credit card to your wallet, it is easy to focus on the glamorous items like how many points you will earn, how you’ll spend those points, and what sort of neat perks the card offers. But you’d be wise to also consider what kind of protections and insurance the card offers because doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if things go wrong during your travels.

So if you use rental cars with any frequency, it pays to hold credit cards that cover car rental insurance.

2 comments

Mike T. March 22, 2023

I hold a British Airways Chase Visa card, any auto rental coverage there? Didn’t see it on your list. Thanks

- Jarrod West March 22, 2023
  
  Hi Mike,
  
  The British Airways card does not offer auto rental coverage.

How Chase Rental Car Insurance Works

Primary Coverage vs. Secondary Coverage

Collision Damage Insurance vs. Liability Insurance

Chase Rental Car Insurance Exclusions

Full List of Chase Personal Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance

Summary of Coverage

Full List of Chase Business Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance

Final Thoughts

Frequently asked questions

Does Chase cover rental car insurance?

How does Chase rental car insurance work?

What is the difference between primary and secondary rental coverage?

Do I have to pay for the car rental with my credit card to receive the rental insurance?

Which Chase credit cards have rental car insurance?

About Jarrod West

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