Regardless of which menu you choose, there are some limitations to be mindful of. here ’ randomness everything you need to know and which credit cards have best car lease indemnity.
The best credit cards for car rental insurance
What to look for in your credit card’s rental car insurance
The first thing to know about citation poster lease car coverage is that it typically only provides a collision damage release ( CDW ), sometimes besides called a loss damage release ( LDW ). This coverage can protect you if the car gets damaged, vandalized, or stolen during the rental menstruation .
It doesn ’ t, however, provide indebtedness indemnity, which would protect you if you cause an accident and damage the other fomite or hurt other people in the work. As a result, adding that coverage may be worth considering for peace of mind .
Every citation menu has some differences when it comes to its rental car policy coverage. The biggest feature you ’ ll want to look for is whether the insurance is basal or secondary .
When the rental car policy is considered primary coil, that means it will be your chief coverage if you need to file a claim. You don ’ t need to worry about involving your personal insurance ship’s company .
If you have secondary coverage, however, and you have an car insurance policy for your car back home, you ’ ll need to file a claim with your elementary insurance company beginning. then the credit wag ’ second protection will kick in to cover your deductible and anything else your primary coil policy doesn ’ t cover .
bill : If you don ’ t have a personal car policy policy, secondary coverage on a credit batting order much becomes primary coil coverage .
As you consider which credit rating card has the best cable car lease insurance, here are some other features to look for and compare :
- Coverage limits: Each policy has a limit for how much it will cover, and some cards offer a higher dollar amount than others.
- Exclusions: Most credit card benefits exclude certain types of vehicles from coverage, such as exotic cars, motorcycles, and large vans. You may also find that your card won’t cover you in certain countries.
- Length of coverage: Your credit card won’t cover a rental indefinitely, so it’s important to know just how long you’ll be covered, which can vary depending on if you’re traveling in the U.S. or overseas.
6 credit cards with the best car rental insurance
If having a credit card with great car rental indemnity is significant to you, a circuit board with primary coverage is the manner to go. But whichever tease you choose, remember that you ’ ll need to decline the coverage offered by the car lease ship’s company and typically charge the full moon lease monetary value to your tease .
If you ’ re wondering which accredit card has the best car rental insurance, here are six cards that offer basal coverage — and one that doesn ’ thyroxine but is hush worth considering .
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express offers up to $ 75,000 in secondary coverage to its cardholders, which is higher than the $ 50,000 limit you ’ vitamin d make with many other Amex cards. If your rental car is damaged or stolen, this can cover the actual cost to repair the vehicle, loss of use charges, appraisal fees, and towing and memory costs .
With this Amex poster, you ’ ll be covered for 30 consecutive days. Some exclusions and limitations include :
- Using the rental car under the influence of alcohol or for off-road driving or illegal activity
- Ineligible vehicles such as cargo vans, limousines, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles (RVs), and more. Exotic cars, however, are not excluded — check the benefits guide for a full list
- Rentals in Australia, Italy, New Zealand, and any country on the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctioned country list
- Injury to anyone or anything other than the rental car, personal liability, uninsured or underinsured motorists, worker’s compensation injuries, and disability benefits of any kind
While the circuit board doesn ’ metric ton extend primary coverage, Amex cardholders can purchase basal policy from Amex for astir to 42 consecutive days for $ 19.95 or $ 24.95 per rental period. Compare that with an average of $ 20 to $ 30 per day that you ’ vitamin d pay the rental car company .
Amex ’ second paid coverage includes up to $ 100,000 in CDW coverage, accidental end and dismemberment coverage, secondary medical expense coverage, and junior-grade personal property coverage .
In addition to rental car indemnity, the Platinum Card from American Express besides offers complimentary agio membership with Avis, Hertz, and National, which includes extra upgrades and discounts.
Best Luxury Travel Benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
Learn How to Apply
See rates and fees
Intro Offer
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $ 6,000 in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$ 695
Rewards Rate
5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare ( on up to $ 500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X ) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months
- Select your metal card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu
- 5X points on eligible flights and hotels
- $200 hotel credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, $200 in Uber Cash, $300 Equinox credit, $200 airline fee credit
- Access to Centurion and Priority Pass airport lounges
- Select benefits require enrollment.
- $695 annual fee. Terms apply.
Drawbacks
- High annual fee
Card Details
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months
- 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Terms apply
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred ’ s primary coverage offers up to the actual cash value of the lease vehicle, which is the fair marketplace measure of the car according to sources like the Kelley Blue Book and National Automobile Dealers Association ( NADA ) Guides .
coverage applies to rentals of up to 31 back-to-back days and covers physical damage and larceny, loss-of-use charges, and reasonable and accustomed tow charges to the nearest qualify repair workshop. Exclusions and limitations include :
- Expensive, exotic, and antique cars; vans designed to carry more than nine people; vehicles with an open cargo bed; trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines, and recreational vehicles
- Costs covered through your personal auto insurance policy, your employer, or your employer’s insurance
- Injury of anyone inside or outside of the vehicle
- Loss or theft of personal belongings
- Any violation of the auto rental agreement
Our #1 Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred
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Chase Sapphire Preferred
Learn How to Apply
Intro Offer
earn 60,000 points after spending $ 4,000 on purchases in the first gear 3 months
Annual Fee
$ 95
Rewards Rate
5X points on Lyft rides ( through March 2022 ) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards ; 3X points on eligible boom, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases ; 2X points on travel ; and 1X points per $ 1 on all other eligible purchases Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- 60,000 point sign-up bonus
- 5X points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 25% more value when redeeming rewards for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 10% anniversary point bonus each year
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Ultimate Rewards
- Premium travel protection benefits
Drawbacks
- Has annual fee
- Typically need to spend thousands to reap rewards
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 5X points on Lyft rides (through March 2022) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Chase Sapphire Reserve
alternatively of providing primary coverage up to the actual cash prize of the vehicle, as the Chase Sapphire Preferred does, the Chase Sapphire Reserve sets a specify of $ 75,000. other than that, it carries all of the same terms, exclusions, and limitations that the Sapphire Preferred provides .
What does set this poster apart, however, is that it gives you complimentary membership in bounty rewards programs with Avis, National, and Silvercar. With these memberships, you can get entree to upgrades and discounts, savings on luxury and agio rental car rates, and early promotions and offers.
#1 Premium Travel Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
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Chase Sapphire Reserve
Learn How to Apply
Intro Offer
earn 50,000 points after spending $ 4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$ 550
Rewards Rate
10X points on Lyft rides, Chase Dining purchases, and hotels and cars booked through Ultimate Rewards ; 5X points on air out travel booked through Ultimate Rewards ; 3X points on change of location and boom, and 1X points per $ 1 spent on everything else Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- 50,000 point sign-up bonus
- 10X points on hotels and cars booked through Ultimate Rewards
- $60 annual DoorDash credit in 2021
- Priority Pass airport lounge access
Drawbacks
- High annual fee
- Excellent credit required
Card Details
- Earn 50,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 10X points on Lyft rides, Chase Dining purchases, and hotels and cars booked through Ultimate Rewards; 5X points on air travel booked through Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on travel and dining, and 1X points per $1 spent on everything else
Chase Ink Business Preferred
The Chase Ink Business Preferred credit circuit board offers primary coverage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle — but alone if you ’ re using the rental for business purposes or you ’ ra traveling overseas. personal use within the U.S. gets secondary coverage .
For the most function, the card ’ s benefits administrator gives the same terms, exclusions, and limitations as the Chase Sapphire cards. To get the wide details, however, you can read the card ’ s benefits guidebook.
Hot Sign-up Bonus
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
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Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Learn How to Apply
Intro Offer
gain 100,000 points after spending $ 15,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$ 95
Rewards Rate
5X points on Lyft rides ; 3X points on the beginning $ 150,000 spent each year on locomotion, transport, internet, cable, or earphone services, and ad purchases with social media and research engines ; and 1X points per $ 1 on everything else Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- 100,000 point sign-up bonus
- 3X points on travel and common business spending categories
- Flexible redemption options
- Additional employee cards at no extra cost
Drawbacks
- Has annual fee
- No intro 0% APR promotion offered
- Limited business-specific benefits
Card Details
- Earn 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
- 5X points on Lyft rides; 3X points on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel, shipping, internet, cable, or phone services, and advertising purchases with social media and search engines; and 1X points per $1 on everything else
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
Like the Ink Business Preferred, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited provides chief coverage up to the actual cash value of the fomite, american samoa retentive as you ’ re using the rental car for commercial enterprise purposes or you ’ re traveling internationally. If you ’ re traveling for pleasure within the U.S., coverage is secondary .
And just like the other Chase cards we ’ ve covered so far, you can expect exchangeable terms, exclusions, and limitations as outlined above.
Unlimited Cash Back
Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
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Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Learn How to Apply
Intro Offer
Earn $ 750 bonus cash back after spending $ 7,500 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$ 0
Rewards Rate
1.5 % cash back on all outgo Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- New Offer: $750 cash back sign-up offer
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all spending
- 0% APR for 12 months on purchases
- No annual fee
Drawbacks
- Has foreign transaction fee
- No lucrative rewards categories
Card Details
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
- 1.5% cash back on all spending
- Intro purchase 0% offer: 0%
for 12 months then 13.24% to 19.24% (variable)
United Explorer Card
This United Explorer ’ s lease car insurance coverage mirrors that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred. You ’ ll get primary coil coverage up to the actual cash value of the fomite on rentals of up to 31 straight days. And because it ’ s besides a Chase credit wag, you can besides expect similar terms, limitations, and exclusions on the policy.
Best Rewards for United
United Explorer Card
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United Explorer Card
Learn How to Apply
Intro Offer
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $ 3,000 on purchases in the inaugural 3 months
Annual Fee
$ 95 ( waived first year )
Rewards Rate
2X miles on din, hotel stays, and United purchases and 1X miles on everything else Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- 50,000 mile sign-up bonus
- 2X miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays
- Free first checked bag
- 2 United Club Passes annually
Drawbacks
- Has annual fee after year one
- Best usage limited to United flyers
Card Details
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 2X miles on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases and 1X miles on everything else
Which credit card has the best car rental insurance?
rental car insurance is a benefit you can get with batch of accredit cards, so it ’ sulfur easy to overlook just how valuable this perk up can be. While cards that offer primary coverage are the gold criterion, you can hush save money on your trip by using a circuit board with secondary coverage .
Whatever you do, make sure to read your benefits guide before you book your lease car to understand what ’ s covered and what isn ’ metric ton. And if you have an American Express poster, consider taking advantage of the card issuer ’ s madly cheap premium rental car protection. It ’ s not release, but it will save you a lot compared with what car rental companies charge and may come in handy for longer rentals .
But as you ’ ra searching for the proper menu, debar basing your decision on one feature alone. Compare each credit card based on its wax rewards and benefits package .
Commonly asked questions about car rental and credit cards
Do all credit cards cover car rental insurance?
not all credit cards cover car rental policy, so don ’ t assume you ’ re covered precisely because you paid with a credit card. however, there are enough of cards that do indeed provide rental indemnity benefits. broadly, you ‘ll find that the best travel credit cards have the most robust policies, but many cashback credit cards will cover rental indemnity vitamin a well.
Do I need to buy additional insurance when renting a car?
If you have a credit card that provides a collision and loss damage release and you pay for the rental with that poster, you may be able to skip purchasing extra indemnity at the rental counterpunch. That ’ second because your regular car indemnity will typically provide you with liability coverage for rental cars. If you don ’ t have cable car insurance or have humble coverage limits and you ’ ra not using a credit rating card with lease indemnity benefits, it ’ s a good theme to buy policy at the rental counter .
Can I pay for a car rental with points and still have rental coverage?
The answer to this motion depends on which credit batting order you use. Some credit cards only provide rental coverage when you use your credit card to pay for the transaction, while others provide coverage tied when you pay with points. For case, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, you ’ ll be covered adenine hanker as you koran your rental car with your card or with points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal vein .
How much available credit do I need to rent a car?
To rent a cable car, you ’ ll need to use a citation wag with enough available citation to cover the rental car company ’ south authority cathexis in accession to the sum cost of your rental cable car. typically, rental car companies will place a hold on your credit card to cover any extra charges that might come up with your rental. These funds become unavailable to you during your rental and are released when you return the car. The charge varies by rental ship’s company : Hertz charges $ 200 on your card, while Enterprise charges a depository that varies by localization .
How can I save money on a rental car?
startle by finding the best rate for your car rental by using a comparison locate such as Autoslash which distinguishes itself from distinctive travel sites such as Expedia by its focus on the versatile ways you might qualify for discounts. lease cable car commitment programs are besides a great way to earn points and save money on car rentals. For model, the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program lets you earn and redeem points for free rental days and besides provides extra perks. Additonally, you can use a locomotion rewards card that earns points on car rentals, so you ’ ll be able to get cash back or even pay for a future rental with points. Some cards even offer complimentary premium memberships at certain car rental companies. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gets you dislodge access to premium loyalty programs at Hertz, Avis, and National ( registration is required for these benefits. )
Our #1 Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Learn How to Apply
Intro Offer
gain 60,000 points after spending $ 4,000 on purchases in the first base 3 months
Annual Fee
$ 95
Rewards Rate
5X points on Lyft rides ( through March 2022 ) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards ; 3X points on eligible dine, select streaming services, and online grocery store purchases ; 2X points on travel ; and 1X points per $ 1 on all other eligible purchases Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
- 60,000 point sign-up bonus
- 5X points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 25% more value when redeeming rewards for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 10% anniversary point bonus each year
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Ultimate Rewards
- Premium travel protection benefits
Drawbacks
- Has annual fee
- Typically need to spend thousands to reap rewards
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 5X points on Lyft rides (through March 2022) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases