Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance of November 2025
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Written by
David McMillin
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, part of planning for the trip includes thinking about everything that could go wrong while you’re away from home. That’s not exactly a fun way to gear up for a getaway, but credit cards with rental car insurance can ease the stress, offering some valuable peace of mind while giving your budget a bit of extra breathing room.
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Quick Overview: Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$95 |
Incredible rewards redemption value and a welcome bonus worth up to $1,312 in Travel Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Your points are worth up to 75% more when you redeem them through Chase Travel, making this bonus worth up to $1,312.50.
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Premium Perks |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$795 |
Luxury travel card with airport lounge access & a bonus worth up to $2,500 in Travel Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Your points are worth up to 100% more when you redeem them through Chase Travel, making this bonus worth up to $2,500.
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| Premium Travel Rewards & Perks |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$395 |
Very generous bonus and statement credit opportunities plus premium perks.
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Travel & Dining Purchases |
Excellent/Good
670-850*
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$550 |
75,000 bonus points plus travel perks75,000 online bonus points — a $750 value — after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
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Casual or Frequent United Flyers |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 |
Free first checked bag when flying United
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Frequent United Flyers Who Check Bags |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$350 |
Two free checked bags when flying United
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United Loyalists Who Want Lounge Access |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$695 |
United Club membership
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Detailed Overview: Best Rental Car Insurance Credit Cards
Top Feature
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.74% – 27.99% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Top Feature
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.49% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening, equal to $1,000 in travel
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Card Details From Issuer
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening – equal to $1,000 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Top Feature
75,000 online bonus points — a $750 value — after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.74% – 27.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Card Details From Issuer
- 75,000 bonus points after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn up to 2.5 to 3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 to 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
- No limit to the points you can earn and points don’t expire as long as the account remains open
Top Feature
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.74% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Priority boarding on United® flights
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year – over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- Member FDIC
Welcome Bonus
Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.74% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 1,000 PQP
- 3x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each year, awarded within 8 weeks of February 1, starting in the calendar year following your account open date.
- Free first and second checked bags–a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply)
- Receive a $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
- Earn a 10,000-mile eligible award flight discount after spending $20,000 each calendar year
- Member FDIC
Welcome Bonus
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.74% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership – at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) – and Premier Access® travel services
- Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases to use toward an eligible award flight – up to two times each calendar year
- Member FDIC
How Credit Card Rental Car Insurance Works
Before you start comparing options for the best credit card for car rental costs, it’s important to understand some of the basics of credit card rental car insurance — how to qualify for it, what it covers and when you can confidently say “no” when the customer service rep at the rental counter asks if you want to pay extra for the company’s coverage.
No matter what travel credit card is in your wallet, being covered by an insurance policy attached to it relies on two key activities: You need to use the card to pay for the rental and decline the agency’s collision or loss damage waiver. The coverage typically pays for damage to the car or if a thief steals it.
Just like most insurance policies, there are loads of additional nuances to consider. Most importantly, the only drivers covered will be you — as the renter — and any other authorized driver that you list when you rent the vehicle. Additionally, there will be maximum timing thresholds — coverage is often limited to 31 days, although there are shorter timeframes with some cards — along with geographic limitations that exclude certain countries from the policy.
Then, if something happens during your rental, you’ll need to collect a range of information, including your rental agreement, photos of the damage, an accident report form and other documentation to submit a claim.
Primary vs. Secondary Insurance
There are plenty of credit cards with rental car insurance, but many of those cards provide secondary coverage, which means that any payout benefits of the card only kick in after your primary insurance. If you have your own car at home, that means you’ll need to file a claim through your personal auto policy. Since your insurance premium can increase significantly after filing a claim, secondary coverage isn’t quite as meaningful as primary protection. Sure, it can cover your deductible or any charges that exceed your own insurance, but having to file that claim means that your long-term costs can increase.
When a card comes with primary insurance, on the other hand, that coverage is your first-in-line policy for the actual vehicle. When I drove over a curb and flattened a tire on my rented Chevrolet Malibu in California years ago, for example, I didn’t need to worry about paying for a tow truck or a new tire due to the primary coverage on my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The rental car company charged my card after that damage, but after submitting a claim, I received a check that reimbursed me for every dollar of the debacle.
Pro tip: Even if the card comes with primary insurance, you may have to use it as secondary coverage. In New York, for example, cardholders with the Wells Fargo One Key+ Card still have to file a claim through their primary coverage (if they have it) first.
What Is Typically Covered With Rental Car Insurance
Credit card rental car insurance varies from issuer to issuer, but generally, you can expect the following costs to be covered:
- Any damage to the vehicle from an accident, vandalism or weather
- Theft of the car (although this typically does not include any of your belongings inside the vehicle)
- Towing expenses
- Loss of use of the car
Credit card travel insurance maximum amounts will apply, which typically range from $50,000 to $75,000.
What Is Typically Not Covered With Rental Car Insurance
Most credit card rental car insurance is limited to the actual rental car, which means that the policy will not pay for damages to another vehicle or property involved in the accident or any of your belongings inside the car. Additionally, if there are medical expenses — you or another person winds up in the hospital, for example — the rental car insurance will not cover those costs. So, if that flat tire in California had been a fender bender with another car, I would have been dealing with a much bigger headache.
To protect yourself from those kinds of scenarios, you can ask to purchase a separate supplemental liability policy, or you can call the provider of your auto insurance to ask if you’ll be covered while driving a rental.
Another caveat: Rental car coverage doesn’t apply to all cars. If I had rented a “high value” or “exotic” vehicle such as an Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin or Jaguar with my Chase Sapphire Preferred, it would not have been eligible for the coverage. Select models of more common high-end autos from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and other brands, however, are covered under Chase’s protection. This list varies by issuer, so you’ll want to call the benefits department if you’re unsure before driving a car off the lot.
No matter what type of car you’re thinking about driving, you’ll need to rent it from an agency such as Hertz, Enterprise or any of the other established businesses. Credit card rental car insurance does not apply to peer-to-peer rental services such as Turo.
Alternatives To Consider
While the list above includes what we believe are the best credit cards for car rental coverage, they aren’t your only options. Whether you’re hoping to avoid an annual fee or you’re aiming to expand your search to include cards with secondary coverage, consider these alternatives.
- American Express Premium Car Rental Protection: American Express offers some cards that travelers swear by, including the super-premium American Express Platinum Card® (an advertising partner), which made the cut of our best credit cards for travel insurance. However, Amex cards all come with default secondary coverage, but come with an option to upgrade to primary coverage by paying an additional fee. Paying for the American Express coverage offers some additional protections, including primary coverage for accidental death or dismemberment and secondary coverage for accidental injury.
- Business credit cards: Some small-business credit cards, such as the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, offer primary coverage without any annual fee. One key piece of the fine print: The rental car must be for business purposes to qualify for the coverage. You’ll need to be mindful of making sure that the trip has a work-related piece of the itinerary.
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers secondary coverage in the US, but if you’re traveling internationally, the coverage automatically becomes your primary coverage. While other no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® offer a similar perk for international rentals, the Wells Fargo option distinguishes itself with the absence of foreign transaction fees. That means you won’t need to worry about the typical 3% additional charge that comes with many cards. You’ll be covered in most countries, with the exception of Jamaica, Israel, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For the car rental loss and damage insurance on the American Express Platinum Card®, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
** Information for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card, The New United Club℠ Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, One Key+™ Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Cards With Car Rental Insurance
How do you know if your credit card will cover your rental car?
If your card comes with primary coverage, most standard vehicles — think non-luxury models — are covered. However, if you’re contemplating renting a pricier auto during your trip, it’s wise to call the number on the back of your card to verify that the vehicle will be covered.
How much does having a credit card with rental car insurance save you?
The cost of protection offered by the rental car company varies, but it’s common to see a collision damage waiver policy cost up to $30 per day. On a longer trip where you’ll have the car for a couple of weeks, having the right credit card can save hundreds of dollars.
What’s the difference between rental car insurance and travel insurance?
Travel insurance refers to a separate coverage plan that provides insurance for a range of other things that can go wrong, including the need to cancel your trip or the need for emergency medical assistance while traveling abroad. In some cases, travel insurance policies may also include rental car protection, but you’ll need to read the fine print to make sure you understand the coverage. If you have a credit card with rental car insurance, you may be able to pay for a cheaper travel insurance policy — or skip it altogether.
How should I book my rental car to qualify for credit card insurance?
To qualify for your credit card’s auto insurance, you need to pay for the rental car with the actual card. To elevate your benefits, review your benefits to see how you can qualify for additional rewards points. For example, the Capital One Venture X offers a higher rewards rate for reserving a rental car through the bank’s travel portal.
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.