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Credit cards with rental car coverage

Credit card rental car coverage reimburses theft of or collision damage to a rental vehicle when the rental is paid with the card and the rental company's collision damage waiver is declined ⁠1⁠2. Of the 45 cards we cover, 27 list it, from American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo ⁠3⁠4⁠5⁠6⁠7⁠8⁠9.

Compiled from official sources 27 cards from 7 issuers Last reviewed How we research
Contents6 sections

Who pays first: primary, secondary or split

Chase's guide for the Sapphire Preferred makes the coverage primary inside and outside the United States, except that for New York residents coverage inside the U.S. is primary unless they have personal automobile insurance, in which case it is excess; the Sapphire Reserve guide has the same clause ⁠1⁠10. Bank of America lists primary coverage up to $75,000 on the Premium Rewards Elite, and Capital One's Visa Infinite guide makes coverage primary on the Venture X for vehicles with an original MSRP up to $75,000 ⁠11⁠5.

The largest group splits by location. Chase's guides for the Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Rise, Slate and Slate Edge say U.S. coverage pays what your other policies do not, including their deductibles, acts as primary if you have no personal auto insurance, and is primary abroad ⁠12⁠6⁠13⁠14. Wells Fargo's guides for the Active Cash, Autograph, Autograph Journey and Reflect are secondary in the U.S. and primary outside it ⁠9⁠15⁠16⁠17. U.S. Bank's Shield guide reimburses the deductible of your own insurance and is primary outside your country of residence ⁠8. Capital One's guide for the Quicksilver, QuicksilverOne, Savor, SavorOne, Venture and VentureOne works the same way but covers Discover Network accounts only ⁠18; Capital One does not state which network a new account is issued on and tells cardholders to check the logo on the card or the statement ⁠19. Citi says MasterRental on the Strata Elite is primary outside the Eligible Renter's country of residence and secondary otherwise, and its May 2024 announcement calls Strata Premier coverage secondary within the country of residence ⁠20⁠21.

American Express says its Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance is secondary to any other coverage, though it pays the deductibles of that coverage ⁠2. Bank of America says Premium Rewards coverage is supplemental to and in excess of other insurance ⁠4.

Conditions, limits and rental length

Chase requires the entire rental to be paid with the card and/or its rewards and says accepting the agency's CDW/LDW cancels the benefit ⁠1; American Express requires the card to reserve and pay for the entire rental ⁠2. Stated limits are $50,000 per rental agreement on the Blue Cash Everyday, Blue Cash Preferred and Gold and $75,000 on the Platinum ⁠2⁠22; $60,000 on the Freedom, Slate and Sapphire Preferred cards and $75,000 on the Sapphire Reserve ⁠12⁠1⁠10; and $50,000 on the Wells Fargo cards ⁠9. Capital One and U.S. Bank pay up to the actual cash value of most rental cars, and Citi publishes no limits for the Strata cards ⁠18⁠8⁠20⁠23.

American Express covers rentals up to 30 consecutive days and Chase up to 31 ⁠2⁠1. Wells Fargo allows 15 days in the United States and 31 outside it; the Shield and Venture X guides allow 15 days in your country of residence and 31 outside it ⁠9⁠8⁠5.

What is excluded

Only the rental car is covered. Chase's Sapphire Preferred guide excludes injury to anyone, damage to other property, personal liability, personal belongings, diminished value and car sharing rentals, as well as exotic and antique cars and vehicles with an MSRP above $125,000 ⁠1. American Express excludes rentals in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and OFAC-sanctioned countries, and the Wells Fargo and Venture X guides exclude Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland ⁠2⁠9⁠5.

How to make a claim

Report the incident to the benefit administrator; Chase's guide says reporting to anyone else does not count ⁠1. Chase asks for a report within 100 days and documents within 365 days, and Capital One's Discover Network guide asks for a report within 45 days and a claim form postmarked within 90 days, with exceptions for residents of certain states ⁠1⁠18. American Express asks for notice within 30 days and Wells Fargo within 60 days ⁠2⁠9. Expect to send the accident report, the initial and final rental agreements, an itemized repair bill and a statement showing the rental was charged to the card ⁠1⁠18.

Cards with rental car coverage

27 of the 45 cards we cover list rental car coverage, 13 of them with no annual fee. Select a heading to sort the table. Each card’s page has the full terms.

Credit cards with rental car coverage, by annual fee
Terms
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressAmerican Express $0 secondary Up to $50,000 per rental agreement, secondary; rentals up to 30 consecutive days; decline the rental CDW.⁠2⁠3⁠24
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One $0 primary outside your country of residence; inside it, secondary to personal auto or other insurance (reimburses the deductible and unreimbursed charges), or covers the loss if you have no such insurance Discover Network accounts: up to 31 days; primary abroad, secondary in home country.⁠18
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One $0 primary outside your country of residence; inside it, secondary to personal auto or other insurance (reimburses the deductible and unreimbursed charges), or covers the loss if you have no such insurance Discover Network accounts: up to 31 days; primary abroad, secondary in home country.⁠18
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One $0 primary outside your country of residence; inside it, secondary to personal auto or other insurance (reimburses the deductible and unreimbursed charges), or covers the loss if you have no such insurance Discover Network accounts: up to 31 days; primary abroad, secondary in home country.⁠18
Chase Freedom Flex Credit CardChase $0 secondary Up to $60,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; rentals up to 31 days.⁠25⁠12
Chase Freedom Rise Credit CardChase $0 secondary Up to $60,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; rentals up to 31 days.⁠6
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit CardChase $0 secondary Up to $60,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; rentals up to 31 days.⁠26⁠6
Slate Credit CardChase $0 secondary Up to $60,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; rentals up to 31 days.⁠27⁠13
Slate Edge Credit CardChase $0 secondary Up to $60,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; rentals up to 31 days.⁠28⁠14
U.S. Bank Shield Visa CardU.S. Bank $0 primary when renting outside your country of residence; otherwise reimburses the deductible/unreimbursed portion of your personal auto or other insurance Collision damage waiver; primary only outside your country of residence; 15 days at home, 31 abroad.⁠8⁠29
Wells Fargo Active Cash CardWells Fargo $0 secondary in the United States; primary outside the United States Up to $50,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; up to 15 days U.S., 31 days abroad.⁠9
Wells Fargo Autograph CardWells Fargo $0 secondary in the United States; primary outside the United States Up to $50,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; up to 15 days U.S., 31 days abroad.⁠15
Wells Fargo Reflect CardWells Fargo $0 secondary in the United States; primary outside the United States Up to $50,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; up to 15 days U.S., 31 days abroad.⁠17
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One $39 primary outside your country of residence; inside it, secondary to personal auto or other insurance (reimburses the deductible and unreimbursed charges), or covers the loss if you have no such insurance Discover Network accounts: up to 31 days; primary abroad, secondary in home country.⁠18
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One $39 primary outside your country of residence; inside it, secondary to personal auto or other insurance (reimburses the deductible and unreimbursed charges), or covers the loss if you have no such insurance Discover Network accounts: up to 31 days; primary abroad, secondary in home country.⁠18
Bank of America Premium Rewards credit cardBank of America $95 supplemental to and in excess of other insurance Collision and theft damage; supplemental to and in excess of other insurance; decline the agency CDW/LDW.⁠4
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressAmerican Express $95 secondary Up to $50,000 per rental agreement, secondary; rentals up to 30 consecutive days; decline the rental CDW.⁠2⁠3⁠30
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One $95 primary outside your country of residence; inside it, secondary to personal auto or other insurance (reimburses the deductible and unreimbursed charges), or covers the loss if you have no such insurance Discover Network accounts: up to 31 days; primary abroad, secondary in home country.⁠18⁠31
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit CardChase $95 primary Primary, up to $60,000; vehicles with MSRP up to $125,000; rentals up to 31 days.⁠32⁠1
Citi Strata Premier CardCiti $95 secondary within the Eligible Renter's country of residence MasterRental; secondary within your country of residence (Citi, May 2024). Amounts in the Guide.⁠33⁠21
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey CardWells Fargo $95 secondary in the United States; primary outside the United States Up to $50,000; secondary in the U.S., primary abroad; up to 15 days U.S., 31 days abroad.⁠16
American Express Gold CardAmerican Express $325 secondary Up to $50,000 per rental agreement, secondary; rentals up to 30 consecutive days; decline the rental CDW.⁠2⁠3⁠34⁠35
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One $395 primary Primary; vehicles up to $75,000 MSRP; 15 days at home, 31 days abroad.⁠36⁠5
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit cardBank of America $550 primary Primary coverage up to $75,000 for collision or theft damage, up to the cash value of most rental cars.⁠11
Citi Strata Elite CardCiti $595 primary outside the Eligible Renter's country of residence; secondary otherwise MasterRental: primary outside your country of residence, secondary otherwise.⁠7⁠20
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit CardChase $795 primary Primary, up to $75,000 worldwide; rentals up to 31 days; NY residents may be excess.⁠37⁠10
Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican Express $895 secondary Up to $75,000 per rental agreement, secondary; rentals up to 30 consecutive days; decline the rental CDW.⁠22⁠3⁠38

Related: Trip cancellation and interruption · Trip delay · Baggage delay · Lost or damaged luggage · Travel accident insurance · Emergency evacuation and medical. Need several benefits at once? Use the card finder.

Sources

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