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The-Best-Credit-Card-For-Rental-Cars

The Best Credit Card For Rental Cars

Maddie Butler

by Maddi Butler

If you have a credit card, you probably get perks like discounts or cash back. One major perk you might not know about is rental car insurance. Many credit card issuers will cover your rental car insurance if you use that card to rent a car.

If you already have car insurance through an insured vehicle, this will likely cover rental insurance too. In this case your auto insurance will most likely serve as your primary coverage if you’re involved in an accident in a rental car. However, not everyone owns a car or carries auto insurance. If that’s the case, your rental company will seek compensation through your credit card provider.

Visa cards have a reputation for providing great rental car policies, with coverage on both theft and damage. MasterCards typically won’t cover as much and have a lower cap. However, the coverage will also depend on whether you have a Visa card or MasterCard through your bank.

Other credit cards feature primary rental insurance coverage, which allows you to use your card even before your own car insurance, which can be a big perk. This can prevent any claims that may occur from going on your auto insurance and driving your premium up.

Here are some cards that offer primary rental car insurance:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred (also offer no country restrictions)
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve (includes no country restrictions)
  • United MileagePlus Explorer
  • United MileagePlus Club
  • Ritz-Carlton Visa Infinite Card
  • J.P. Morgan Reserve Card

There are a number of cards that offer great benefits with secondary insurance coverage:

All Citi cards: Include secondary coverage with no country restrictions

All American Express cards: Include $50,000—$75,000 in secondary rental insurance coverage for a rental period up to 30 days. Platinum and Delta Reserve cards include a $75,000 limit, personal injury protection, and medical expense coverage up to $5,000. Does not include coverage in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.

All Visa cards: Include $50,000 in rental insurance coverage, though coverage period ranges from 15-31 days. Coverage excludes Jamaica, Israel, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

Gold, Platinum, World, and World Elite MasterCard cards: Include $50,000 in secondary rental insurance coverage for a rental period up to 15 days. Does not include coverage in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.