Amex Gold Rental Car Insurance

American Express Car Rental Insurance Outside The Us

Last Updated on December 1, 2022 by Jonathan

Renting a car outside the U.S. and Canada? Always check to see if your credit card benefits include rental car insurance in the country you are visiting. In September 2017, American Express car rental insurance coverage was extended to three popular destinations.

Amex coverage now includes more countries and more vehicle types. In an age when program enhancements are too often bad news, American Express added value for its cardholders.

What Type Of Rental Car Coverage Does American Express Provide

The benefits offered by American Express car rental insurance will cover damage/loss caused by collision or theft of the vehicle you are renting . While towing and loss of use fees are covered for all cardholders, only AmEx platinum car rental insurance and the optional premium protection will cover some costs for personal injury and property loss, as well.

…See our page on rental car insurance types

Amex Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance

Here are some of the AmEx cards that provide rental car insurance:

» Learn more:The best travel credit cards right now

Coverage levels differ depending on which card you hold. If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, for example, AmEx will reimburse up to $75,000 for damage or theft after a qualifying incident. Meanwhile, if you have the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, youll receive $50,000 in coverage after an incident. Terms apply.

Secondary insurance becomes primary if you dont hold any other car insurance, even within the U.S.

Note that AmEx car rental insurance is secondary, which means itll reimburse you only after all other insurance has paid out. This includes any personal insurance that you have.

» Learn more:Best credit cards for rental cars

Also Check: Which Auto Insurance Is Best

What Else To Know About American Express Rental Car Insurance

Let AutoSlash Track Your Car Rental for Price Drops

But be careful. Amex cardholders are still not covered for a long list of vehicles. These include expensive cars costing $50,000 or more and exotic cars regardless of value. Other exclusions are trucks, pickups, cargo vans, full-sized vans and full-sized SUVs like the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition and GMC Suburban.

Be sure your rental car coverage extends to the vehicle you are renting before you drive off the rental lot. You dont want to be unprotected if driving one of these vehicles.

Related:

How To File A Claim With Amex Rental Car Insurance

There are two different ways to file a claim for an incident. The first is to head to AmExs online site and start your claim.

If you prefer talking to someone, report your claim by calling 800-338-1670. If youre out of the country, call 303-273-6497 collect. Youll want to report the incident within 30 days of the loss or as soon as reasonably possible.

Then, you’ll need to submit proof of loss within 60 days. Expect to provide a variety of documentation, including:

• An itemized repair estimate and itemized bill.

• A copy of the rental agreement.

• A copy of the charge slip for the vehicle.

• A copy of your personal insurance or a notarized letter stating that you dont have any.

• Police report .

• A copy of your drivers license.

Once AmEx has all your information and has processed your claim, theyll pay out your benefits within 30 days. Terms apply.

Read Also: Insurance Not Paying Enough For Totaled Car

How Do I Enroll In Premium Car Rental Protection

To enroll, visit the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection page and click Enroll Now. Youll need to log into your American Express account, select the card you want to enroll, choose the plan youd like and review the programs terms and conditions.

You can enroll cards for which you are the primary cardholder online but will need to call to enroll authorized user cards at 1-866-518-0259.

You wont be charged anything until you use an enrolled card to rent a car, at which point the premium will automatically post to your account. Youll remain enrolled until you explicitly terminate your enrollment. So, if coverage wont be necessary for a specific car rental reservation, be sure to terminate your enrollment before the rental by calling 1-866-518-0259 or the number on the back of your card. Otherwise, youll continue to be charged for coverage each time you rent a vehicle using an enrolled card.

Utilize Your Dining And Food Delivery Credits

Another way to maximize your American Express Gold Card involves making sure you use the monthly dining credits and Uber Cash. Keep in mind that if you dont live near any of the dining establishments that qualify for the dining credit, you can use it to order various groceries and household items.

Also, take the time to add your Amex Gold Card as the preferred method of payment to your Uber account. That way, your card will already be loaded and ready the next time you order a rideshare or an Uber Eats food delivery.

Read Also: How To Lower Car Insurance Geico

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

Like the Ink Business Preferred, the Ink Business Unlimited provides primary coverage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle, as long as youre using the rental car for business purposes or youre traveling internationally. If youre traveling for pleasure within the U.S., coverage is secondary.

And just like the other Chase cards weve covered so far, you can expect similar terms, exclusions, and limitations as outlined above.

Go to our Ink Business Unlimited review for more info.

The 6 Best Credit Cards For Rental Car Insurance

Last updated Dec. 15, 2022| By Ben Luthi

FinanceBuzz is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author’s own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

A rental car can be an expensive part of a vacation, and paying for insurance on that vehicle only adds to the cost of the trip. With the right credit card, though, you can get the coverage you need to limit your liability without spending more than is necessary.

Regardless of which card you choose, there are some limitations to be aware of. Heres everything you need to know and which have best car rental insurance.

You May Like: How To Get Insurance To Pay For Tubal Reversal

Learn The Ins And Outs Of The American Express Membership Rewards Program

Finally, youll want to understand the best ways to maximize points earned with this card. Generally speaking, this means learning all you can about the American Express Membership Rewards program and how it works.

You should know that an array of redemption opportunities are available to you, including the chance to use your points for statement credits, gift cards or merchandise. However, you can also use your points to book travel through AmexTravel.com, or you can transfer them to Amex hotel and airline partners, if you prefer.

Youll ultimately get more value out of your points if you go with the latter option and transfer your points to partners like Air France / Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer or Virgin Atlantic.

Who Is Eligible For American Express Car Rental Insurance

American Express® cardmembers all qualify for car rental coverage, known as car rental loss and damage insurance. The level of insurance depends on the card. Generally, American Express cards with no annual fee have a maximum car rental loss and damage benefit of $50,000.

Premium personal and business cards with an annual fee such as the American Express® Platinum card, Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card bump up the car rental insurance benefit limit to $75,000.

You May Like: P& c Insurance Digital Transformation

When To Use American Express Car Rental Insurance

American Express car rental insurance is a secondary type of insurance. This means that your existing vehicle policy will generally be the first line of coverage in case theres a loss such as an accident, fender bender or rental vehicle theft.

If you dont own a vehicle or dont have car insurance, American Express car rental insurance will be the primary form of coverage and a money-saving alternative to purchasing a rental car companys insurance.

If youre wondering when you should use American Express car rental insurance, the answer is anytime you rent a vehicle. Even if you have personal vehicle insurance that covers car rentals, the additional level of free coverage provided by American Express wouldnt hurt.

How To Maximize The Perks And Benefits Offered By The Amex Gold

While the Amex Gold Card charges a $250 annual fee, the rewards and benefits can be well worth it. After all, American Express Membership Rewards points are valued at up to 2.1 cents each toward transfer partner travel, according to Bankrates latest points valuation, so the welcome bonus offer on this card could be worth up to $1,260 on its own.

There are additional ways to maximize the Amex Gold Card benefits you receive, including the following:

Also Check: State Farm Quote Auto Insurance

Do Car Rental Companies Accept American Express

We currently accept American Express, Discover Network, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards at our US Airport Locations. At the time of rental, a credit card must be presented with available credit, in the renter’s name. In addition to the anticipated cost of the rental, an additional security deposit may be required.

Whats The Difference Between A Primary And A Secondary Loss Damage Waiver

Once you understand how a credit cards loss damage waiver works, its important to know the difference between primary and secondary coverage. Most credit cards that offer rental car Loss Damage Waiver policies offer secondary coverage. In the event of theft or damage to your rental car, secondary coverage will only apply to any remaining losses not covered by the renters personal automobile insurance, if any.

For example, if your rental car is stolen, you would have to file a claim with your personal automobile insurance company, but your credit cards secondary Loss Damage Waiver would cover the deductible or any other part of the loss not covered by your primary insurance. But if you used a credit card with primary rental car Loss Damage Waiver coverage, then you could immediately file a claim with the cards policy, without even notifying your personal automobile insurance provider. Therefore, primary rental car Loss Damage Waiver coverage is better than secondary coverage.

If you dont have a personal automobile insurance policy, or you have one that doesnt offer rental car coverage, then all credit cards Loss Damage Waiver policies will effectively become primary for your purposes. This will also be true if you were to rent a car outside of the United States, and your personal automobile insurance policy doesnt offer coverage to cars rented in foreign countries.

Also Check: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower

How To File A Claim

Filing a claim for your American Express car rental insurance is easy to do. Visit americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits or call 1-800-338-1670. If you’re outside of the United States, you can call collect at 1-303-273-6497. This should be done as soon as possible, but you have within 30 days of the loss.

If you’re sent a claim form, be sure to complete it and answer all questions. If you don’t receive one within 15 days of filing your claim, you can write to them, explaining your covered event and the details of your claim.

You must submit proof of loss within 60 days of filing your claim. You may be asked to provide documentation, such as a copy of your:

• How do I submit a car rental claim with Amex?

  You can file your claim at americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits or by calling 1-800-338-1670. You need to file a claim as soon as possible and within 30 days of the loss. If you’re sent claim forms, be sure to fill them out. If you don’t receive claim forms within 15 days of filing your claim, you can submit written communication explaining your claim. You must submit proof of loss within 60 days of filing. You may be asked to provide documentation such as: copies of your rental agreement, repair bill estimates, the rental charge slip, car insurance coverage, driver’s license, or an applicable police report.

What Every Canadian Driver Should Have In Their Car

A Dash Cam. Thats right, we believe every Canadian driver should have a dash cam in their car. Lets face it, car insurance is expensive without any accidents or tickets. If you are a good driver that drives cautiously and obeys the rules of the road, why wouldnt you want to have a dash cam to protect Read More »

Help and SupportContact

Don’t Miss: Tin Leg Travel Insurance Reviews

American Express Gold Card Travel Insurance Recapped

While the American Express® Gold Card isn’t a premium travel card, it still offers core travel insurance protections that can make it the go-to card for booking travel and rental cars. Terms apply.

Use your American Express® Gold Card to book travel to get up to $1,250 in coverage for lost or stolen baggage and up to $300 in reimbursements during a covered delay of 12 hours or more. Rent a car with your American Express® Gold Card to get secondary coverage of up to $50,000 for damage or theft. And you can fall back on AmEx Global Assist anytime you run into issues when planning your trip or if you have an emergency during the trip. Terms apply.

Can I Use My American Express Card To Rent A Car

Yes, you can use your American Express credit card points to rent a car, as long as you make the reservation beforehand. You can choose your rental’s location and date via Amex’s Pay with Points portal. After selecting your preferred rental car, choose Use only points or Use points + card at checkout.

Don’t Miss: Liability Insurance For My Business

Which Credit Cards Offer Primary Rental Car Insurance

Some credit cards offer primary rental car coverage, which does not require you to submit a claim to your other insurance before coverage can kick in. Many Chase credit cards offer this benefit. Examples of cards that offer primary rental car insurance include: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the United Explorer Card.

What Primary Car Rental Insurance Does And Does Not Cover

There are some important things to remember to get the most out of your credit card’s car rental insurance benefits.

• You must pay for the entire transaction with the credit card you’d be filing the insurance under. Some cards even require that renters are booking the entire trip on the card, so read the fine print carefully.
• This primary insurance generally doesn’t include liability, damage to other cars, damage to personal property, personal bodily injury, or injury to others. See Insider’s guide to shopping for auto insurance to get this liability coverage.
• Check for not-so-obvious limitations on coverage. For example, if you’re traveling between countries, you will need to know if the coverage extends to those areas. Or if your rental lasts more than 31 days, some cards won’t cover you.
• Perhaps the most unexpected limitation is the type of car. Before assuming you’re covered, check to see if your car has any constraints on make and model.
• If you’re using a business credit card that offers primary car rental insurance, you need to be renting a car for business purposes in order to receive the coverage.

Regardless of coverage, you should always snap a few pictures of the vehicle when you pick it up and drop it off in case there is a dispute over damage.

You May Like: Can You Go To Urgent Care Without Insurance

What To Look For In Your Credit Cards Rental Car Insurance

The first thing to know about is that it typically only provides a collision damage waiver , sometimes also called a loss damage waiver . This coverage can protect you if the car gets damaged, vandalized, or stolen during the rental period.

It doesnt, however, provide liability insurance, which would protect you if you cause an accident and damage the other vehicle or injure other people in the process. As a result, adding that coverage may be worth considering for peace of mind.

Every credit card has some differences when it comes to its rental car insurance coverage. The biggest feature youll want to look for is whether the insurance is primary or secondary.

When the rental car insurance is considered primary, that means it will be your primary coverage if you need to file a claim. You dont need to worry about involving your personal insurance company.

If you have secondary coverage, however, and you have an auto insurance policy for your car back home, youll need to file a claim with your primary insurer first. Then the credit cards protection will kick in to cover your deductible and anything else your primary policy doesnt cover.

Note: If you dont have a personal auto insurance policy, secondary coverage on a credit card often becomes primary coverage.

As you consider which credit card has the best car rental insurance, here are some other features to look for and compare:

American Express Conditions Of Use:

Here are the conditions to benefit from the advantages of Amex car rental insurance:

• Your American Express bank account must be valid

• Use of the American Express credit card to pay for all costs related to the rental of the vehicle

• The car rental company must be a professional agency which has all the obligatory licenses in the country where the vehicle is registered

• The vehicles considered by the Amex car rental guarantees only designated four-wheeled motor vehicles who are registered

• The insured is covered for a single contract that is to say that the validity of the contract is limited to 90 days, you must therefore renew it for a longer period

• The contract is valid worldwide

• The cover is effective beyond 100 km from the home of the insured.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Purchase Gold

You May Like: Are Mortgage Insurance Premiums Deductible