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Credit card car rental insurance is one of the unsung heroes of rewards card perks. Many rewards cards offer travel insurance as a free benefit, including coverage for lost or damaged luggage, unexpected trip delays, and a car rental policy to protect cardholders when they rent a vehicle.
Rental car insurance (sometimes called Collision Damage Waiver or CDW) is an underrated and underutilized benefit that often creates confusion, so we're here to set the record straight and help you maximize your benefits when you travel.
Plenty of cards offer secondary rental coverage, which supplements your personal auto insurance policy. But there is also a selection of travel rewards cards that provide primary rental coverage, providing a host of benefits over and above secondary coverage. These are the best credit cards for primary rental car insurance.
Page Contents
- Primary Versus Secondary Rental Car Insurance
- Credit Card Rental Car Insurance Doesn't Include Liability
- Primary Insurance From Personal Cards
- Business Cards With Primary Insurance
- Amex Rental Car Insurance
- How to Ensure You're Covered
- Final Thoughts
Primary Versus Secondary Rental Car Insurance
Secondary rental insurance only covers costs your personal insurance won't pick up. You still need to file a claim with your insurance provider and pay the deductible, and the coverage is small enough in some cases it may not cover the entire cost of fixing or replacing the car. Since secondary coverage is often limited to 15–20 consecutive days, the policy may not cover you in some international destinations, and some of these policies only cover administration fees or “loss of use” costs.
![Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance [2024] (1)](https://i0.wp.com/dtwuzpz2q0bmy.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Alex-Jumper-Unsplash-couple-driving-rental-car-featured-300x240.png?x93308 "Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance [2024] (1)")
On the other hand, primary rental coverage kicks in before your personal auto insurance, so there's no need to notify your insurance company and take a hit on your yearly premiums. Primary rental car coverage is also typically more comprehensive than secondary coverage; it's much more likely to cover the entire cost of the car in the case of theft or total loss from flood or fire. The primary policy offered with many cards also covers cardholders for extended rental periods — up to 30 or 40 days.
Related:How to Get Rental Car Elite Status for Free
Credit Card Rental Car Insurance Doesn't Include Liability
Car rental insurance provided by your credit card does not include liability insurance. It will not cover damage to other people's property, vehicles, or personal liability in the case of injury.
If you're at fault and hit another vehicle, building, or person, neither the primary or secondary coverage offered by your credit card will cover damage or costs incurred the other party.
Some countries, like Australia, build partial-liability insurance into the rental cost. This insurance may cover medical expenses and rehabilitation if someone is hurt but won't cover damages to personal property. Regardless, if you plan to use primary credit card rental coverage, you will still need to provide your own liability coverage in case of damage to another person's property. This can come from your auto insurance, additional coverage supplied by the rental car company, or purchased as part of a travel insurance package.
Related:Be Careful Which Credit Card You Use When Renting a Tesla
Primary Insurance From Personal Cards
We aren't listing every single credit card in the U.S. with primary rental coverage; instead, we have focused on rewards credit cards that provide top value. Some cards on this list don't cover specific countries or car types, and the policies differ by card.
It's essential to check the benefits guide for your card and gain a thorough understanding of the terms and conditions to ensure you're covered in the case of a mishap.
| Credit Card | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) - Catch all the details in our post covering Chase's Auto Rental CDW |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) - Catch all the details in our post covering Chase's Auto Rental CDW |
| United℠ Explorer Card | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| United Quest℠ Card | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| United Club℠ Infinite Card | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (excluding Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland) |
| The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | Primary coverage when you charge your entire rental amount to your card and decline the rental agency’s collision insurance (excluding Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland) |
Related:How to Get Coverage via Chase Sapphire Preferred Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Business Cards With Primary Insurance
The coverage supplied by the cards listed differs by card type. Still, business card rental insurance has one overarching difference from personal cards: With most cards, you are only entitled to coverage when renting a car for business purposes.
| Credit Card | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) - Catch all the details in our post covering Chase's Auto Rental CDW |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| United℠ Business Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| United Club℠ Business Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card | Primary coverage in the United States while renting primarily for business purposes, renting outside your country of residence for personal reasons or if you do not have automobile insurance. This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries (no stated exclusions) |
Related:How To Get a Business Credit Card in 3 Steps
Amex Rental Car Insurance
American Express is notably absent from our list of credit cards with primary rental car insurance. Amex provides free secondary coverage on most of its credit card portfolio, but you can purchase primary coverage for a flat fee.
Costs range from $12.25 to $24.95 per rental period (not per day), and policies entitle you to coverage for up to 42 consecutive days (dependent on the issuing state of the card), and the policy covers you for up to $100K on almost any car, including luxury vehicles, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
![Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance [2024] (2)](https://i0.wp.com/dtwuzpz2q0bmy.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Amex-rental-car-insurance-page.png?x93308 "Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance [2024] (2)")
American Express premium car rental protection is an opt-in program cardmembers sign up for on the Amex car rental insurance coverage page. You'll have some options when signing up for the Amex coverage. You don't pay anything upfront; the payment automatically applies when renting a car. You'll receive a bill for this one-time fee each time you rent a car until you request to remove the benefit from your account.
Related:Credit Card Benefits Every Traveler Should Know About
How to Ensure You're Covered
Although the exact process will differ between cards, ensuring you get the coverage offered by your credit card is usually straightforward.
- Register as the primary renter of the car.
- Decline the rental car company’s collision damage waiver (CDW).
- Pay for the car in full with the credit card offering the best auto rental CDW policy.
If you plan to rent with a company you haven't used before (or rent for the first time in a new country), ask your credit card provider for a letter stating you're covered in your destination country.
There are plenty of unpleasant stories about travelers being denied rentals when declining the rental agency's CDW insurance, generally due to misunderstandings of how the coverage works. A proof-of-coverage letter should help you avoid this issue.
Related: How To Get Proof of CDW/LDW Insurance From Your Credit Card Provider
Final Thoughts
Primary credit card rental car insurance is not typically the first item considered when appraising a travel rewards card, but it should be on your list. The perks and insurance can provide more value on some cards than the rewards points you earn, and it only takes one claim after damaging a vehicle to highlight the value of primary rental coverage. Earning fewer points might be worth the trade-off for more robust coverage when choosing which credit card to use to pay for a rental car.
Check the terms and conditions in each card's benefits guide before you apply for your next card; check whether the card provides primary or secondary CDW auto rental insurance. It could save you thousands of dollars and make travel a more enjoyable experience. If you don't have one of the cards on our list of the best options for rental car insurance, it might be time to apply for one.
Related:Use AutoSlash to Save on Car Rentals
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