[ 2023 ] Does your credit card cover rental car accidents?

[easyrider]

I hit a deer and cut it too close to a concrete support in a garage on one 30-day rental. Total repair cost was $860 (which I thought was extraordinarily reasonable), so I just paid it without filing a claim (that would undoubtedly increase my insurance premium beyond all reason) and getting my credit card company involved.

Soon after, I received an offer through my AMEX card for full, primary coverage for each rental for $19.99 up to a 30-day rental. $860 pays for a lot of $19.99 rentals, so I signed up. Now I just charge my car rental to my AMEX card and consider the $19.99 money well spent. I have yet to file a claim (fortunately), so I cannot comment on that part the agreement.

This is what we do too. Originally, we did this for Mexican car rentals to avoid paying rental franchise insurance because our regular auto insurance doesn't cover anything in Mexico. Now we use it for all of our rentals.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

TURO car rental - any ideas on if credit cards would cover damage?

No credit card that I've looked into covers peer to peer agreements. They cover commercial to peer only.

Some cards might cover updog.

Bill

 

[Luanne]

TURO car rental - any ideas on if credit cards would cover damage?

I would doubt it. I've heard that in many cases Turo rentals require you to take out additional insurance.

 

[CO skier]

I buy the add-on Amex premium rental car insurance, at $19.99 per rental.

See post #3 from TWO YEARS AGO! Crazy good deal.

An AMEX member does need to enroll and use their AMEX credit card for the rental to get the benefit.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Because no AMEX automatically provides primary CDW coverage and any AMEX card from the lowest Blue right up through Platinum can have primary coverage added by enrolling the card in Premium Car Rental Protection.

Below is the language regarding primary CDW coverage for my Hilton Honors Surpass AmEx card. CDW coverage looks pretty automatic to me.

 

[ljmiii]

Below is the language regarding primary CDW coverage for my Hilton Honors Surpass AmEx card. CDW coverage looks pretty automatic to me.

View attachment 118468

It says, "This product provides SECONDARY coverage..."

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It says, "This product provides SECONDARY coverage..."

 

[jp10558]

For these sorts of things - would secondary coverage ever actually be used? I guess if you had really small coverage on your car insurance like a limit of $25k or something?

 

[artringwald]

For these sorts of things - would secondary coverage ever actually be used? I guess if you had really small coverage on your car insurance like a limit of $25k or something?

I had to use it to cover my deductible. I'm glad I used my amex card.

 

[ljmiii]

For these sorts of things - would secondary coverage ever actually be used? I guess if you had really small coverage on your car insurance like a limit of $25k or something?

In my experience secondary coverage is worse than useless. All that resulted was an almost year long pissing contest between Alamo, AMEX, and my 'real' auto/home/umbrella insurer which required constant intervention and paperwork submittals on my part. Alamo wanted more money than my insurance company was willing to pay, AMEX was unwilling to cover the difference, but AMEX was perfectly willing to allow Alamo to put the balance on my card. Which would be contested, removed, and reapplied the next month.

No amount of escalation within AMEX would get them to budge and Alamo eventually sent the contested amount to a collection agency which hounded me until I paid them. Never again.

 

[free2travel]

AMEX member does need to enroll and use their AMEX credit card for the rental to get the benefit.

has anyone used this with costco? The language says something about "the rental company must have renting autos as its primary source of business", which I doubt applies to costoc or even to costco travel.

 

[jwalk03]

has anyone used this with costco? The language says something about "the rental company must have renting autos as its primary source of business", which I doubt applies to costoc or even to costco travel.

Costco does not rent cars. They act as a travel agent when you book through them. Your rental contract will be with whatever rental car company you select not with Costco directly.

 

[GrayFal]

I buy the add-on Amex premium rental car insurance, at $19.99 per rental.

Do you know if that coverage is available for the Delta Skymile Reserve Amex? Not sure where to check to find out.

 

[artringwald]

From the Delta Skymile Reserve Amex web site:

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance​

Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance​

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Subject to additional terms, conditions and exclusions. For full Terms and Conditions, see americanexpress.com/CRLDIterms. If You have any questions about a specific vehicle, please call Us at 1-800-338-1670, if international, collect at 1-303-273-6497.

 

[Ken555]

Do you know if that coverage is available for the Delta Skymile Reserve Amex? Not sure where to check to find out.

Insurance - Premium Car Rental Protection | American Express US

Receive up to $75,000 or $100,000, depending on selected plan, of theft or damage primary coverage when you enroll in Premium Car Rental Protection with an Eligible Card. Learn More Today.

www.americanexpress.com

 

[GrayFal]

From the Delta Skymile Reserve Amex web site:

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance​

Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance​

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Subject to additional terms, conditions and exclusions. For full Terms and Conditions, see americanexpress.com/CRLDIterms. If You have any questions about a specific vehicle, please call Us at 1-800-338-1670, if international, collect at 1-303-273-6497.

Thanks, just saw this!

@ljmiii posted this
“ Because no AMEX automatically provides primary CDW coverage and any AMEX card from the lowest Blue right up through Platinum can have primary coverage added by enrolling the card in Premium Car Rental Protection.”

I will contact them to see if I can enroll in this program.
Edit, I AM enrolled!

 

[GrayFal]

Insurance - Premium Car Rental Protection | American Express US

Receive up to $75,000 or $100,000, depending on selected plan, of theft or damage primary coverage when you enroll in Premium Car Rental Protection with an Eligible Card. Learn More Today.

www.americanexpress.com

Now I really am feeling like a dope! When I clicked on your link I am ALREADY enrolled in the Plus Program.
Do you have to activate it with each rental or is it automatically done when you use Amex to make the reservation/or at car pick up?

*** Pay only when you rent
When you pay for an eligible rental with your enrolled American Express Card, your Card will be automatically charged one flat fee per rental****

Also, should I be concerned about this statement I am a NY Stare resident.

*** Liability, Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist, and Disability coverage are not included.****

COVERAGE LIMIT DETAILS

Accidental Death or Dismemberment
Basic Plan: $75,000 per Card Member; $7,500 per Passenger; $200,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Plus Plan: $100,000 per Card Member; $10,000 per Passenger; $300,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Accidental Injury Expense
Basic Plan: $7,500 per Covered Person; $200,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Plus Plan: $15,000 per Covered Person; $300,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Personal Property
Basic Plan: $2,500 per Covered Person; $5,000 per Accident.
Plus Plan: $5,000 per Covered Person; $10,000 per Accident

 

[ljmiii]

Now I really am feeling like a dope! When I clicked on your link I am ALREADY enrolled in the Plus Program.
Do you have to activate it with each rental or is it automatically done when you use Amex to make the reservation/or at car pick up?

Nope...once you are enrolled on that card AMEX will automatically buy and apply the primary coverage. Usually I get a notification for the charge for the insurance shortly after I see that for the charge for the rental.

 

[WorldT]

For all reading this, please note that some car rental companies in Mexico only sell rentals with attached collision damage waiver (with a deductible in place). Which means if you want to use your card for coverage, you did not completely reject the CDW offered by the car rental company.
Example: Mex rent-a-car.

 

[davidvel]

Now I really am feeling like a dope! When I clicked on your link I am ALREADY enrolled in the Plus Program.
Do you have to activate it with each rental or is it automatically done when you use Amex to make the reservation/or at car pick up?

*** Pay only when you rent
When you pay for an eligible rental with your enrolled American Express Card, your Card will be automatically charged one flat fee per rental****

Also, should I be concerned about this statement I am a NY Stare resident.

*** Liability, Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist, and Disability coverage are not included.****

COVERAGE LIMIT DETAILS

Accidental Death or Dismemberment
Basic Plan: $75,000 per Card Member; $7,500 per Passenger; $200,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Plus Plan: $100,000 per Card Member; $10,000 per Passenger; $300,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Accidental Injury Expense
Basic Plan: $7,500 per Covered Person; $200,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Plus Plan: $15,000 per Covered Person; $300,000 per Accident for all claim payments made under Accident Injury and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverages.
Personal Property
Basic Plan: $2,500 per Covered Person; $5,000 per Accident.
Plus Plan: $5,000 per Covered Person; $10,000 per Accident

None of these coverages, primary or not, insure against liability. They are for the rental car you are driving. The AD&D/injury/personal property coverages are for you and your occupants, not third parties. Liability will always be with your insurance or the rental car owner/company's.

 

[Ken555]

For all reading this, please note that some car rental companies in Mexico only sell rentals with attached collision damage waiver (with a deductible in place). Which means if you want to use your card for coverage, you did not completely reject the CDW offered by the car rental company.
Example: Mex rent-a-car.

There are always exceptions. And note most of the credit card benefits don't apply to Italy and a few other countries.

 

[WorldT]

There are always exceptions. And note most of the credit card benefits don't apply to Italy and a few other countries.

The coverage from my credit card applies in Mexico as primary. However, as with all the other cards I have seen, you have to decline CDW. If you rent a car with a contract that has CDW attached, the coverage from the card is voided. In Mexico I avoid mex rent a car for that reason. The CDW is not an add on. All their rentals have it automatically but with a 10 percent deductible. The deductible is 10 percent of the value of the car not the cost of the damage.
For this reason I use Hertz.

 

[VacationForever]

Do you know if that coverage is available for the Delta Skymile Reserve Amex? Not sure where to check to find out.

Most $650 yearly membership fees credit cards do have rental car coverage as primary. I am not going to pay that amount for membership fees anymore. In the past we had Chase Sapphire Reserve and had claimed for travel cancellation and gotten back more than $10K for one trip. These days, just paying $19.99 for Amex Premium rental car coverage and individual travel insurance when we travel internationally work better for us.