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The best credit cards often have a lot of perks that make them worthwhile to use. One of the benefits of owning certain American Express cards is the protection and peace of mind that comes from having car rental insurance.
Keep reading to learn more about American Express car rental insurance and what's included.
Also known as car rental loss and damage insurance, American Express car rental insurance comes with most Amex cards, including select business and travel credit cards. However, it's important to note that coverage will vary depending on your card. For example, a premium credit card with a higher annual fee may have more coverage than a non-premium rewards card.
If you don't yet have an American Express card but are looking for a new option, consider this coverage when comparing credit cards. Many cards are out there, but not all will have a perk like the Amex car rental insurance.
Here are three of our favorite American Express cards with rental insurance.
As of Aug. 06, 2024
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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On American Express' Secure Website .
On American Express' Secure Website .
Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it.
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.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points
Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it.
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. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
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On American Express' Secure Website .
On American Express' Secure Website .
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. • Extended warranty, purchase protection warranty, baggage insurance plan, and car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Most Amex cards, with or without annual fees, have a max benefit of $50,000 in coverage*. A few premium Amex cards have a higher benefit limit of $75,000.
Here is a list of the cards that currently offer up to $75,000 in coverage benefits** (terms apply for all the cards on this list):
Always check your individual credit card's terms to see the type of coverage you're getting. In general, you can expect the following to be paid for:
Amex car rental insurance covers the cardmember, their spouse or domestic partner, and authorized drivers listed on the rental agreement. It provides secondary insurance that comes after any other primary insurance you carry. If you max out the benefits that your car insurance covers, your Amex car rental insurance could take over for additional costs.
American Express offers premium car insurance for an additional flat-fee rate per rental. It provides primary coverage up to $100,000 but doesn't cover vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Israel, Italy, or Jamaica.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website .
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Intro: Circle with letter I in it.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website .
On Discover's Secure Website .
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
On Discover's Secure Website .
On Bank of America's Secure Website .
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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Intro: Circle with letter I in it.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
On Bank of America's Secure Website .
There are limitations to your American Express car rental insurance. This includes the following:
It's a smart idea to carefully review the terms of your American Express car rental insurance, as there may be more exclusions. Additionally, Amex can update these terms at any time. Reviewing these terms will help ensure you're covered during your rental period.
To activate coverage for your Amex car rental insurance, you must reserve and pay for the entire cost of a rental car with your eligible Amex card. You must also decline a full collision damage waiver and similar rental car coverage. Once you do the above and sign the rental agreement, you'll take the car into your possession and can utilize your Amex car rental insurance benefits.
Filing a claim for your American Express car rental insurance is easy. Visit americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits or call 1-800-338-1670. If you're outside the United States, call collect at 1-303-273-6497. This should be done as soon as possible, but you have within 30 days of the loss.
If you're sent a claim form, complete it and answer all questions. If you don't receive one within 15 days of filing your claim, you can write to them, explaining your covered event and the details of your claim.
You must submit proof of loss within 60 days of filing your claim. You may be asked to provide documentation, such as a copy of your:
Once the claim is deemed payable, you will receive your benefits, usually within 30 days.
Choosing a credit cardDon't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Here are some other questions we've answered:
If you have an eligible card with Amex car rental insurance, you must charge the full cost of the rental to your eligible card. You'll also need to decline the full collision damage waiver and any other similar coverage offered by the rental company. After doing these things and signing your rental agreement, you're able to use your American Express rental car insurance benefits. This insurance is secondary to your personal auto insurance policy.
No. There are many vehicles that aren't covered by this insurance. Vehicles used for commercial purposes, moving trucks, car share vehicles, vans, certain trucks, off-road vehicles, recreational vehicles, and campers are just some of the vehicles not covered.
You can file your claim at americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits or by calling 1-800-338-1670. You need to file a claim as soon as possible and within 30 days of the loss. If you're sent claim forms, be sure to fill them out. If you don't receive claim forms within 15 days of filing your claim, you can submit written communication explaining your claim. You must submit proof of loss within 60 days of filing. You may be asked to provide documentation such as: copies of your rental agreement, repair bill estimates, the rental charge slip, car insurance coverage, driver's license, or an applicable police report.
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*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.
**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
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Charles Schwab, Goldman Sachs Group, JPMorgan Chase, Target, Uber Technologies, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Marriott International and recommends the following options: short June 2024 $65 puts on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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