Best Credit Cards with Primary Rental Car Insurance
Primary Auto Rental Insurance is an important perk offered by some credit cards. It pays for damages or losses first, before your personal insurance coverage kicks in. We have compiled a list of the best credit cards offering this unique benefit.
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Primary Auto Rental Insurance is the policy that pays first for a claim after a car accident, such as a collision or theft. This coverage allows you to avoid paying a deductible on your personal policy and reduces the risk of your premiums increasing.
Some credit cards provide Primary Auto Rental Insurance as a valuable card benefit; it is also known as the ‘auto rental collision damage waiver.’ There are restrictions and limitations associated with the coverage, including what is and isn’t covered, countries that are excluded, limits on the number of days and the maximum coverage, and more. You can read a more detailed review on how to make the most of the Primary Auto Rental Insurance offered by your credit card.
Before taking advantage of this benefit, as a rule of thumb, we always recommend checking the ‘Guide to Benefits’ provided by your bank. It contains all the information you need to know, as well as details on how to file a claim and where to find additional information about your coverage.
If you’re certain your favorite credit card comes with the benefit, don’t forget that you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Primary Rental Car Insurance from your card issuer:
- You must pay the full cost of the car rental with your covered credit card or through a rewards program associated with it
- You must decline the rental company’s collision loss/damage insurance
Typically, Primary coverage is offered only by premium credit cards, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to pay a hefty annual fee.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of top credit cards offering Primary Auto Insurance, ranging from some of the most expensive to no-annual-fee options.
List of Credit Cards with Primary Rental Car Insurance
🔸 One Key: best no-annual-fee card for booking on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo
- Annual fee: $0
- Maximum Coverage: $50,000
- Limitations: Auto Rental Coverage is available worldwide except in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered
One Key (Wells Fargo)
🔸 One Key+: best low-fee card for booking on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo
- Annual fee: $99
- Maximum Coverage: $50,000
- Limitations: Auto Rental Coverage is available worldwide except in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered
One Key+ (Wells Fargo)
🔸 Sapphire Preferred: best for earning up to 5x points on travel, a generous sign-up bonus, and valuable travel benefits
- Annual fee: $95
- Maximum Coverage: $60,000
- Limitations: For New York residents, within the U.S., Auto Rental Coverage is secondary to your personal automobile insurance. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered
Sapphire Preferred (Chase)
🔸 Sapphire Reserve: best-rated premium travel card with unlimited airport lounge access, up to 10x points on travel and dining, and a sign-up bonus
- Annual fee: $795
- Maximum Coverage: $75,000
- Limitations: For New York residents, within the U.S., Auto Rental Coverage is secondary to your personal automobile insurance. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered.
Sapphire Reserve (Chase)
🔸 United Club: premium United travel card with a big sign-up bonus and complimentary United Club membership
- Annual fee: $695
- Maximum Coverage: $60,000
- Limitations: For New York residents, within the U.S., Auto Rental Coverage is secondary to your personal automobile insurance. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered.
United Club Infinite (Chase)
🔸 United Club Business Card: best for United flyers wanting lounge access and premium perks
- Annual fee: $695
- Maximum Coverage: $60,000
- Limitations: If the vehicle rental is for authorized personal reasons, this benefit is secondary coverage. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered. Exotic car brands are not covered include (but not limited to) Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maybach, McLaren, Pagani, Rolls Royce
United Club Business Card (Chase)
- Annual fee: $150, fee waived for the first year
- Maximum Coverage: $60,000
- Limitations: For New York residents, within the U.S., Auto Rental Coverage is secondary to your personal automobile insurance. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered
United Explorer (Chase)
- Annual fee: $350
- Maximum Coverage: $60,000
- Limitations: For New York residents, within the U.S., Auto Rental Coverage is secondary to your personal automobile insurance. Rental periods up to thirty-one (31) consecutive days are covered
United Quest (Chase)
Disclosure: The information about credit card rental insurance in this article has been independently researched and compiled by big4credit.com. The details and card benefits described in this article have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any credit card issuer. Always verify with your card issuer for the most accurate and up-to-date information.