A go to to the automotive rental counter includes making some choices. Will you decline the corporate’s insurance coverage provide? Do you want extra protection to your journey?
Should you maintain sure journey rewards playing cards, you’ll have rental automotive insurance coverage constructed into your advantages. However not all protection is similar. It is essential to know in case your card provides major or secondary insurance coverage.
As its identify suggests, secondary protection kicks in second after different sorts of insurance coverage, and it sometimes reimburses you for the quantity that is not lined by your preliminary declare.
Should you’re serious about making use of for a card with secondary automotive insurance coverage (or questioning whether or not you already maintain a card with this perk), here is what it is best to know.
What’s secondary rental automotive insurance coverage?
Secondary rental automotive insurance coverage is obtainable by many common rewards bank cards (together with most American Categorical playing cards).
These insurance policies kick in after different sorts of insurance coverage, akin to journey insurance coverage or private automotive insurance coverage. This implies secondary rental automotive insurance coverage can cowl leftover bills, akin to deductibles. You’ll have to file a number of claims in case you go this route.
It is essential to notice that secondary protection sometimes solely covers injury to the rental automotive itself, and infrequently covers private harm or legal responsibility.
Associated: Widespread rental automotive errors — and easy methods to keep away from them
How does secondary insurance coverage differ from major insurance coverage?
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Secondary protection sometimes reimburses you for the quantity not lined by your major insurance coverage. Nevertheless, there are conditions the place secondary insurance coverage can change into major, together with:
With the American Categorical Premium Automobile Rental Safety program, you’ll be able to add a coverage that gives major automotive rental insurance coverage to an eligible Amex card for a small price. Enrollment is required upfront for a few of these advantages, and phrases apply.
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One of the best bank cards with secondary automotive insurance coverage
You possibly can anticipate to obtain a secondary automotive rental insurance coverage profit with the playing cards beneath.
The desk mentions three common American Categorical playing cards, however most American Categorical playing cards provide secondary automotive rental insurance coverage. These three playing cards are usually not the one ones that provide this perk.
*Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
If you do not have a bank card that gives major automotive rental insurance coverage, your subsequent greatest wager is a card that gives secondary insurance coverage. Many bank cards provide secondary automotive rental insurance coverage, so we have solely highlighted just a few of our favourite choices.
American Categorical playing cards
Most American Categorical playing cards provide secondary automotive rental insurance coverage* that takes impact after injury to or theft of a rental car in a lined territory.
This listing contains common playing cards just like the Amex Platinum, the Amex Gold and the Marriott Bonvoy Good. Should you do not want major insurance coverage, you should utilize considered one of these playing cards and decline the rental firm’s insurance coverage.
To study extra about every card, try our critiques of the Amex Platinum, the Amex Gold and the Bonvoy Good.
*Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Associated: Your full information to journey protections on American Categorical playing cards
Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Categorical
Apply right here: American Categorical Gold Card
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Good American Categorical Card
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
The Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card provide automotive rental collision injury waivers.
Insurance coverage is secondary if you lease inside your nation of residence and first if you lease exterior of it. Nevertheless, advantages can be found solely on accounts accredited for the Visa Signature card, and phrases apply.
To study extra about every card, try our full critiques of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards and the Capital One VentureOne.
Study extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Study extra: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Limitless
Should you’re in search of a no-annual-fee bank card that gives secondary automotive rental insurance coverage, the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Limitless benefit consideration.
These playing cards present insurance coverage for theft and collision injury for many vehicles within the U.S. and overseas.
Though neither card has an annual price, each playing cards cost a 3% overseas transaction price. So, utilizing these playing cards to pay for a automotive rental exterior the U.S. would add injury safety however improve your rental price.
To study extra, try our full critiques of the Freedom Flex and Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Flex
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
Backside line
Secondary rental automotive protection is effective for these with private auto insurance coverage, because it helps cowl prices that major protection would not, akin to a deductible.
It is good to think about your plan within the occasion of theft or injury to a rental automotive. Simply bear in mind that you will have to position multiple declare in case you determine to lean on a mixture of major and secondary insurance coverage.
Associated: Learn how to skip lengthy rental automotive pick-up traces free of charge
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Bonvoy Good, click on right here.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, among the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and should fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
