Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance
Primary vs secondary is the key
Most cards offer secondary rental coverage: it reimburses what your own auto insurance does not, so you still file with your insurer first. A smaller set of premium cards offers primary coverage, which pays first without involving your personal policy, avoiding a claim on your insurance and a higher premium. Primary is the one to want. See rental car insurance explained.
Which cards offer primary
Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire cards and Capital One Venture X are known for primary rental coverage (within limits), and some Amex cards offer a paid primary option you opt into per rental. Coverage excludes certain vehicles (exotics, large trucks) and some countries, so read the terms before you rely on it.
Use it correctly
To trigger coverage, pay for the entire rental with the card and decline the rental company collision waiver. Coverage is for collision and theft of the rental, not liability, so you still need liability from your own policy or the rental company. Keep documentation if you have an incident. See best travel cards.
Frequently asked questions
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