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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.
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 car, 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
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months, up to $100 back. Offer ends 11/6/24.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
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 Travel (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.
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.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
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 Travel
5x points on air travel booked through Chase Travel
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 rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros
10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
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 creditfor 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.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges,Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
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 AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
1x points on all other purchases (including rental cars)
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
60,000 points + up to $100 back
$1,420
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points atU.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros
4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit to use towards eligible charges, which may include food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Credit use varies by property.
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 + up to $100 back. (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 (up to $50,000 per year)
4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year)
3x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or AmexTravel.com
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 over $400 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, Wine.com, and Five Guys
Up to $84 (up to $7 per month) in Dunkin’ credits
Up to $100 ($50 semi-annually) in Resy credits
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, no-additional fee authorized user cards for up to 5 additional cards (after that, each card is $35), purchase protection, and an extended warranty (rates & 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.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
Earn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
120,000 Points
$2,400
$95
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
Pros
3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Cell phone protection
Purchase protection
Cons
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
Earn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
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 no-additional fee employee cards.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Up to $750
Up to $750
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.
Pros
Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
10% Business Relationship Bonus if you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
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 no-additional fee employee cards.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$750
$750
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros
1.5% cash-back on all purchases
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
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 no-additional fee employee cards.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A business card from Chase for United loyalists with benefits such as free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases.
A business card from Chase for United loyalists with benefits such as free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
$900
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850)
The United Business card is a compelling option for traveling business owners that are also frequent United flyers. Not only will the card help you earn more United miles, but it also offers great perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding, a discount on inflight purchases, and much more.
Pros
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
2x miles per $1 on United purchases
2x miles per $1 on dining
Cons
Doesn’t earn transferable rewards
Other United cards are more rewarding for United purchases
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club(SM) one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
$100 United® travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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:
The ability to earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) after spending $500 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.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
150,000 points
$3,300
$695
19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
Pros
5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
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 AmexTravel.com
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 & 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 Protectioncoverage 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.
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 benefits may be 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.
Featured Image Credit: Garsya via Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions
Which credit card has the best car rental insurance?
The best credit card for car rental insurance will offer primary car rental coverage. You will also want the coverage to include damage to the rental car, loss of use coverage while the car is being repaired, towing, and theft. If we had to select 1 card that tops the list for car rental insurance, it would be the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for its elevated earnings on travel, generous welcome bonus offer, and flexible redemption options. Other great options include the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, Capital One Venture X card, Amex Platinum card, and Amex Gold card. Alternatively, if you are renting for business, you’ll love the Ink Business Preferred card, Ink Business Unlimited card, Ink Business Cash card, United Business card, and Amex Business Platinum card. With that said, all of the cards we’ve mentioned in the article carry primary car rental coverage or make this coverage readily available. Selecting the card that aligns with your spending and offers other benefits you can readily use will ensure you’re getting the maximum value from the card.
Does my credit card have car rental insurance?
The quickest way to find out if your credit card has car rental insurance is to call the number on the back of your credit card. You can also access the Guide to Benefits that came with your card. The terms and conditions, limits of coverage, and exclusions will be spelled out clearly in that document. Some guides are available online, but you can request a new copy by logging into your online credit card account or by calling the number on the back of your card.
What is the difference between primary and secondary car rental insurance?
Put simply, secondary car rental insurance requires that you submit a claim to any other car insurance you might have access to before the credit card coverage kicks in. Primary car rental insurance becomes effective immediately and does not first require you to file a claim elsewhere.
If I use points for a car rental, am I still covered?
Yes. If you use points that are associated with your credit card, you will still be covered, provided you have complied with other requirements. You must have reserved and paid for the entire rental with points, a charge on your associated card, or a combination of both. You must also decline the rental car agency’s CDW/LDW coverage. Additionally, any driver you want to be covered must be added to the rental agreement.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
