Should You Add Rental Car Insurance Or Use From Credit Card

A smiling couple driving their car down an open highway in the desert at dusk.

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Find out if your credit card provides insurance that allows you lot to waive the coverage offered by the rental car bureau.

A simple money-saving strategy can help yous go more blindside for your buck the side by side time you rent a car. By using the right credit card, y'all can safely reject the optional coverage offered by the rental car agency and save anywhere from $9 to $45 per day.

Keep reading to larn more about what credit card rental car insurance covers and how to brand certain you're eligible.

What does credit card rental motorcar insurance cover?

The most mutual type of optional insurance offered at the rental machine counter is the collision damage waiver (CDW), as well known every bit a loss impairment waiver. You can purchase CDW coverage from the rental car bureau for virtually whatever kind of rental vehicle. It'southward designed to lower your costs and hassle in the event the automobile is involved in an accident, damaged, or stolen.

CDW coverage only applies to the vehicle. Information technology doesn't extend to expenses related to anyone else'due south property harm or any injury. For those expenses, the rental motorcar bureau might offer to sell you other add-on coverage, including:

Liability (to embrace expenses related to hurting someone or damaging their holding)
Personal accident (to cover your expenses if you are injure)
Personal furnishings (to cover your belongings if they are damaged or lost)

Credit card rental car insurance rarely offers these other types of coverage. About often, these coverages are specifically excluded in your credit card's terms and conditions. However, if you have automobile insurance for your personal vehicle, you might already have these coverages when yous rent a car.

Secondary versus primary coverage

Your credit card issuer will offer CDW coverage as either primary or secondary coverage. If it is primary, you don't need to do annihilation special earlier making a claim. Also, y'all won't accept to pay a deductible.

If the coverage is secondary, it will only employ to expenses not covered afterwards you file a merits with your primary insurer. You'll have to file two claims -- one with your main insurer and one with the credit bill of fare visitor'south partner insurer. If you have to pay a deductible, your credit card's collision damage waiver might reimburse you.

How to find out if your credit card offers rental auto insurance

The best style to observe out near your credit card'southward rental motorcar insurance benefits is to log in to your account online and await for a "Benefits" link on the card. Y'all tin can likewise telephone call the number on the back of your card to ask.

Credit card benefits change now and so. Then before you rely on your credit bill of fare for coverage, exist certain to confirm that the benefit is still being offered.

Many of the best credit cards offer car rental insurance. These are just a few issuers that provide this coverage:

Chase Liberty Flex℠: The primary cardholder is eligible for coverage, as is whatever authorized user whose proper name is embossed on the card. In your state of residence, this CDW coverage is secondary, but you lot will be reimbursed for your primary car insurance deductible if you have one. The standoff harm waiver is available for rental periods up to 31 days and covers damages to the rental car, up to its actual cash value, caused past theft or standoff. Likewise covered are related expenses like towing and loss of use.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Coverage is similar to the Chase Liberty Flex. For more than information, check out our guide to Chase Freedom Rental Car Insurance.
Hunt Sapphire Preferred® Card: Coverage is like to the Chase cards above, but with this credit card, the standoff impairment waiver is master.
: Loss and damage insurance is offered to the card member, their spouse or domestic partner, and authorized drivers on the rental*. Coverage is secondary to your own machine insurance policy if yous have ane, and applies to rental periods of up to 30 days. The benefit limit is $50,000 per rental agreement. Terms utilize.

Three things to remember before you rent

How to get credit card rental car insurance. To be eligible for the free CDW coverage, you'll need to reserve and pay for the car rental with the credit card that offers the coverage.
Credit card coverage is express. The gratuitous collision damage waiver or loss harm waiver offered by your credit card probable won't comprehend antique cars, recreational vehicles, large passenger vans, limos, trucks, or whatever kind of motorcycle or moped.
Your car insurance may cover you. If you take an motorcar insurance policy, yous might be covered in a rental machine at the same level that you are covered in your personal vehicle. Some policies include gratis standoff damage waiver coverage. Cheque with your insurer to find out what yous have and what the limitations might be.

You lot might already wait for rental car specials and deals, or perhaps you lot strategize the points and miles you earn with your credit cards. Either mode, add together rental car coverage to your travel hacking arsenal. It's a valuable credit carte benefit that tin can save you coin while providing a layer of fiscal protection.

Lastly, check out our guide if you're wondering "Do I demand rental car insurance?"

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