Once you’re on the counter able to hire a automotive, it is doubtless you may be requested so as to add automotive rental safety to your invoice. At first, it could appear to be a good suggestion to say sure. What if one thing goes flawed?
Effectively, when you have a journey bank card in your pockets, it’s possible you’ll have already got the extent of rental automotive protection you want at no additional value.
Lots of our favourite rewards bank cards embody a collision injury waiver once you decline the insurance coverage provide from the rental firm and use the cardboard to pay. This waiver can cowl rental automotive accidents, theft or injury at numerous thresholds.
Let’s discover out what this profit consists of and which playing cards provide it. This manner, you may pay attention to your choices the subsequent time you hire a automotive.
How does bank card rental automotive insurance coverage work?
Among the many most necessary components right here is ensuring you pay in your whole automotive rental invoice with a bank card that has an auto collision injury waiver included in its advantages. You will additionally wish to decline any insurance coverage provide out of your rental automotive firm.
In fact, phrases and circumstances fluctuate, so at all times test your card’s particular insurance policies earlier than you hire. This manner, should you run into an issue, you may know what’s lined and what’s not.
Should you do not comply with these necessities, your bank card automotive rental insurance coverage will not take impact.
Associated: All you might want to learn about utilizing a debit card to hire a automotive
What’s and is not lined
The automotive rental insurance coverage out of your bank card is technically referred to as an “auto rental collision injury waiver.” This profit supplies reimbursement for injury attributable to collision or theft. The money quantity your card’s insurance coverage coverage will cowl can fluctuate, so test your card’s information to advantages for particular particulars.
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Whereas some playing cards additionally cowl loss-of-use and towing prices assessed by the rental firm, insurance policies from different bank cards solely cowl bodily injury or theft of the rental car. Figuring out what your card will cowl is necessary earlier than you utilize it.
Moreover, some rental varieties and places might not be eligible for protection. Preserve the next provisions in thoughts should you depend on bank card automotive rental insurance coverage advantages:
- Legal responsibility insurance coverage is not included: Your card’s advantages could cowl injury to your rental automotive, however they will not cowl injury you trigger to different autos and private property. This insurance coverage additionally will not cowl accidents to you and/or others concerned in an incident.
- Not all automotive varieties are lined: You will not want to fret about this should you follow the usual classes of automotive leases (compact, intermediate and full measurement). Nonetheless, the coverage could not cowl you should you hire a specialty car, resembling a big passenger van, pickup truck, vintage car, RV or motorbike. Leases, microleases and leases by way of person-to-person car-sharing corporations, resembling Turo, are sometimes additionally excluded.
- Some nations are excluded: This listing varies from card to card and issuer to issuer. Earlier than touring, name the customer support quantity in your card to make sure your vacation spot is roofed when renting a automotive outdoors the USA.
- There is a restrict on the variety of days: Bank card insurance coverage typically will not apply to long-term leases. Examine your coverage on this. Most cowl 30 days, however this varies.
If in case you have doubts about your automotive’s eligibility, it is best observe to name the customer support quantity in your card. You may get extra data and ensure that your coverage covers your rental car sort within the nation you may be visiting.
Associated: My expertise with Turo: Automotive rental comfort at an incredible value
Major vs. secondary automotive rental insurance coverage
One other necessary distinction is the distinction between major and secondary automotive rental insurance coverage, as your card may provide one sort or the opposite. Each forms of insurance coverage often have most protection quantities, so make certain these meet or exceed the entire worth of the automotive you are renting.
Should you get into an accident along with your rental automotive and have major insurance coverage, you solely have to file one declare. Usually, major insurance coverage will reimburse you for the rental automotive’s money worth or the associated fee to restore it, whichever is much less.

Secondary insurance coverage is completely different as a result of it solely reimburses you for the quantity not lined by different forms of insurance coverage, resembling journey insurance coverage or private automotive insurance coverage. Nonetheless, should you do not personal a automotive or carry a automotive insurance coverage coverage, most secondary insurance coverage from bank cards will grow to be major.
The secondary insurance coverage supplied by your bank card advantages would cowl any bills remaining to be paid, resembling deductibles on these different insurance policies. You will should file claims with a number of corporations (together with your bank card) to get every thing lined.
Associated: Secondary rental automotive insurance coverage: Greatest playing cards and what’s lined
The very best bank cards for rental automotive insurance coverage
Now that you know the way rental automotive insurance coverage works with a bank card, let’s study the very best playing cards that provide this profit.
The next playing cards provide major automotive rental insurance coverage on most leases:
| Card | Annual price | Rental automotive insurance coverage particulars |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) | $795 | Major automotive rental insurance coverage supplies reimbursement for as much as $75,000 for theft and collision injury for leases in most nations, masking leases of as much as 31 consecutive days |
| Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) | $95 | Major automotive rental insurance coverage supplies reimbursement for as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for leases in most nations, masking leases of as much as 31 consecutive days |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and costs) | $795 | Offers reimbursement as much as $75,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos within the U.S. and overseas, when renting for enterprise functions |
| Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card | $395 | Protection which will reimburse you for damages brought on by theft or collision once you hire for as much as 15 consecutive days in your nation of residence or as much as 31 consecutive days in different nations |
| Ink Enterprise Most popular® Credit score Card | $95 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less, when renting for enterprise functions |
| Ink Enterprise Premier® Credit score Card | $195 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less, when renting for enterprise functions |
| Ink Enterprise Money® Credit score Card (see charges and costs) | $0 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less, when renting for enterprise functions |
| Ink Enterprise Limitless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs) | $0 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less, when renting for enterprise functions |
| United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs) | $0 introductory annual price for the primary 12 months, then $150 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less |
| United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) | $350 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less |
| United Membership℠ Card (see charges and costs) | $695 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less |
| United℠ Enterprise Card (see charges and costs) | $0 introductory annual price for the primary 12 months, then $150 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less, when rented for enterprise functions |
| United Membership℠ Enterprise Card | $695 | Offers reimbursement as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less, when rented for enterprise functions |
The data for the Ink Enterprise Most popular, Ink Enterprise Premier and United Membership Enterprise has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
High playing cards with major automotive rental insurance coverage
These playing cards provide major automotive rental insurance coverage, so long as you utilize your card to pay for your entire rental. Be aware that this is not an exhaustive listing. You could discover different playing cards providing major insurance coverage.
Chase Sapphire playing cards
The Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Most popular and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise every present major automotive rental insurance coverage for leases in most nations, masking leases of as much as 31 consecutive days.
This coverage covers theft, injury, legitimate loss-of-use prices, administrative charges and affordable towing prices attributable to lined theft or injury.

Coverage particulars fluctuate barely between the 2 playing cards, although. A key distinction is the entire quantity that may be reimbursed for damages brought on by theft or collision:
- Sapphire Most popular: As much as $60,000
- Sapphire Reserve: As much as $75,000
- Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise: As much as $75,000 (when renting for enterprise functions)
To study extra about every card, learn our full critiques for the Sapphire Most popular, Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
The Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card affords an auto rental collision injury waiver which will reimburse you for damages brought on by theft or collision as much as the precise money worth of your rental car, as much as $75,000.

You might be solely eligible for insurance coverage once you hire for as much as 15 consecutive days in your nation of residence or as much as 31 consecutive days in different nations.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Enterprise X.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
Ink Enterprise playing cards from Chase
4 of the Ink Enterprise playing cards from Chase provide major insurance coverage for many autos.
This bank card rental automotive insurance coverage supplies reimbursement when renting for enterprise functions, offering reimbursement for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less.

Every card supplies reimbursement of as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury.
To study extra, learn our information to the Chase Ink Enterprise playing cards.
Be taught extra: Ink Enterprise Most popular
Be taught extra: Ink Enterprise Premier
Apply right here: Ink Enterprise Money
Apply right here: Ink Enterprise Limitless
United Airways playing cards
The United bank cards provide major automotive rental insurance coverage, assuming you decline the rental firm’s collision insurance coverage and cost your entire rental value to your card.

This insurance coverage supplies reimbursement of as much as $60,000 for theft and collision injury for many rental autos with an MSRP of $125,000 or much less.
To study extra, learn our information to the United playing cards.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
Apply right here: United Quest Card
Apply right here: United Membership Card
Apply right here: United Enterprise Card
Backside line
Many shoppers concentrate on the variety of factors or miles they’ll earn and redeem when selecting a journey rewards card, however journey protections resembling rental automotive insurance coverage may present vital worth.
Nonetheless, reviewing your card’s coverage particulars is important to grasp what’s (and is not) lined. Do not assume you are lined for each potential mishap once you pay for a automotive rental with a bank card that provides insurance coverage, as many exceptions and exclusions apply.
Guarantee you realize the main points and the way they relate to your rental location, car sort, size of rental interval and different necessary points so you will not be shocked by a invoice in case your rental automotive has an issue.
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For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a few of the advantages could also be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and should fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.