For those who hire vehicles even a couple of instances a 12 months, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and charges) provide glorious advantages.
Each playing cards earn bonus factors on rental vehicles booked via Chase Journey℠, and cardholders can make the most of an annual $300 journey credit score and glorious insurance coverage protection.
This is what makes a Sapphire Reserve card the perfect premium card for rental vehicles, how one can maximize its advantages and what wonderful print to bear in mind.
Why Sapphire Reserve playing cards are nice for renting vehicles
This previous June noticed the launch of the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise on the identical time the Sapphire Reserve was refreshed.
Three key advantages that make the Sapphire Reserve a wonderful alternative for rental vehicles embody:
- Incomes 8 factors per greenback spent if you guide a automotive through Chase Journey
- Accessing main rental automotive insurance coverage if you decline an company’s collision injury waiver
- Reductions and perks with Avis, Hertz or Nationwide when reserving immediately
Associated: Lower your expenses in your subsequent journey: Use these tricks to by no means pay full worth for a rental automotive
Guide via Chase Journey for max bonus factors
Each Sapphire Reserve playing cards earn 8 factors per greenback spent on all Chase Journey purchases, together with rental vehicles. This is applicable to accounts opened on or after June 23 and for present cardholders beginning Oct. 26.
In my expertise, Chase Journey automotive rental costs are aggressive, typically decrease than different companies. Primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations, you may get a couple of 16.4% return.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
For instance, when trying to find a rental automotive in Chicago, Chase provides an intermediate automotive via Hertz for $95 a day. You’d earn 3,016 Chase Final Rewards factors from this reserving, value about $62 based mostly on TPG’s September 2025 valuations.
As compared, if I guide immediately with Hertz, the pay as you go charge can be about $97 a day; nevertheless, the speed to pay later on the counter can be $135 a day. Chase Journey is barely cheaper, and, most significantly, it provides free cancellation by Oct. 11, whereas the direct reserving is nonrefundable after 24 hours.
Earlier than reserving with Chase Journey or immediately with the rental company, take note of cancellation insurance policies or elite standing perks obtainable to you. It could possibly enable you decide which channel to guide via.
I desire reserving via Chase Journey as a result of the 8 factors per greenback incomes charge is great. To not point out, the Sapphire Reserve solely earns 1 level per greenback spent on all different journey exterior of direct airline or resort purchases, until you are an present cardholder who had an account earlier than June 23. In that case, you may earn 3 factors per greenback spent on all different journey till Oct. 25.
Maximize the $300 journey credit score
Each the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise additionally provide an annual $300 journey credit score. Not like journey credit from different issuers, Chase’s extensive definition of journey makes the credit score relevant to any journey buy, even these exterior of Chase Journey.
Simply be aware that you just will not earn bonus factors on any quantity lined by the $300 journey credit score. Final 12 months, I booked a rental automotive immediately with Enterprise in Hawaii, and some days later, I acquired my journey credit score.
Associated: How lengthy does it take to obtain assertion credit from Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi?
Keep protected with rental automotive insurance coverage
Having beforehand bought rental company insurance coverage, this profit saves me between $35 and $60 per day.
Each Sapphire Reserve playing cards will reimburse as much as $75,000 for damages brought on by theft or collision to a rental automotive, and protection is worldwide. Notice that this covers the rental car and will not cowl private accidents or damages to different automobiles or objects. Each Sapphire Reserve main automotive insurance coverage insurance policies have the identical record of excluded vehicles and motorized automobiles, and protection doesn’t prolong to off-roading or if you’re below the affect of an intoxicant.
Each playing cards differ in how the insurance coverage safety profit is utilized. With the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise, main automotive rental insurance coverage solely applies to a automotive rental for business or enterprise functions. If it is for private use, the protection is secondary to some other insurance coverage the first driver could possess.
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, your automotive rental is roofed no matter whether or not it’s for private or enterprise use. For New York residents, when renting throughout the U.S., the protection is main until you may have private automotive insurance coverage, by which case it is extra protection.
One other benefit of main insurance coverage protection from a Sapphire Reserve card is that there is not an exclusion record of nations. Issuers like American Categorical have nation exclusions for protection, comparable to Australia, Italy and New Zealand.
Reap the benefits of Visa Infinite privileges
Each the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise include the Visa Infinite designation, giving cardholders extra perks with rental automotive companies. These advantages embody:
Contemplating the Visa Infinite perks for rental vehicles, reserving immediately may be engaging. I’ve activated my advantages as a Sapphire Reserve cardholder and have elite standing with Avis and Nationwide. Each Sapphire Reserve playing cards provide a plethora of perks, so remember to weigh the professionals and cons.
Though you may get a reduction with one of many companies, examine the value to Chase Journey. For those who’re saving important cash and might obtain an improve, a return grace interval or different ancillary advantages, then go for it.
I desire incomes Chase Final Rewards factors, so if the value distinction is negligible, I would like incomes 8 factors per greenback spent, quite than 1 level per greenback spent.
Associated: Hitting the highway in your trip? All the pieces it’s worthwhile to learn about rental automotive elite standing
Backside line
Each the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise provide excessive incomes charges on rental automotive bookings, the flexibility to make use of a journey credit score to offset its price and industry-leading main insurance coverage protection.
For those who guide rental vehicles usually, contemplate one in every of these playing cards that will help you earn loads of bonus factors alongside the best way.
To study extra, learn our full evaluations of the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise
