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Rental car insurance is a confusing topic — some might even say it is more confusing than regular car insurance. From figuring out whether or not your credit card even offers coverage to finding out what type of coverage is provided to a long list of exclusions of things that aren’t covered, it is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
But we’ve got you covered! If you’re someone who occasionally rents a car and you want a Chase credit card that offers rental car insurance, then you’ve come to the right place.
This guide provides a breakdown of how rental car insurance with Chase works, which cards offer coverage, and the type of coverage that those cards provide.
How Chase Rental Car Insurance Works
When you rent a car and pay for the rental with an eligible Chase credit card, your rental car will be covered thanks to your credit card collision damage waiver (CDW). The CDW will help reimburse you for damages or a replacement if your rental car is involved in an accident or theft.
Why is this useful? If you hold a credit card that offers a CDW, you can confidently decline the rental car company’s policy, which almost always comes at an additional fee to you.
Primary Coverage vs. Secondary Coverage
There are 2 different types of rental car coverage, primary and secondary, and the difference between the 2 is quite important should your car be involved in an incident.
Primary coverage is applied first before any other insurance coverage you might have. On the other hand, secondary coverage is applied after your personal car insurance and potentially after any other type of travel-related insurance you have.
As you can see, the difference in coverage here is quite significant as when you use secondary coverage, you will be required to submit a claim with your personal car insurance provider first, potentially causing your premium to increase. Your secondary coverage will kick in to help cover any damage not covered by your personal policy.
Given that, we recommend that you pay for your rental car with a credit card that provides primary coverage to serve as the first line of defense and added peace of mind should anything go wrong.
It’s worth noting, though, that the following list of cards distinguishes between the cards that offer primary vs. secondary insurancein the U.S. If you’re renting a car abroad, the coverage offered by all of these cards will be considered primary.
Hot Tip: Don’t own a car and, by extension, have no car insurance policy? Secondary coverage can serve as primary coverage for you since you don’t have a personal policy that kicks in first.
Collision Damage Insurance vs. Liability Insurance
Your collision damage waiver is only going to cover any damage caused to your own vehicle. It will not cover any damage caused to other vehicles, property, or injuries to you and anyone else involved in the accident.
If you have a personal car insurance policy, it will likely cover these items, but make sure to review the details of your policy first. If you don’t have personal car insurance and want to ensure these exclusions are covered, then you could always purchase a supplemental liability insurance policy.
Chase Rental Car Insurance Exclusions
Exclusions to a rental car insurance policy can leave you holding the bill if you aren’t aware of them ahead of time. So while this is not an exhaustive list, here are some common exclusions that apply to Chase rental car insurance plans:
Expensive, exotic, and antique automobiles; vans designed to carry more than 9 people; vehicles that have an open cargo bed; trucks; motorcycles, mopeds, and motorbikes; limousines; and recreational vehicles
Expenses reimbursed under your personal auto insurance policy, your employer, or your employer’s insurance
Any obligation you assume under any other agreement
Injury of anyone or anything inside or outside of the vehicle
Leases and mini leases
Any violation of the auto rental agreement
Loss or theft of personal belongings
Number of days (many rental cars are only covered for reservations of 31 days or less)
Country exclusions (make sure where you’re traveling is covered under the policy)
Some of these exclusions might seem straightforward or obvious, and others less so, but it is crucial to make sure you know what the exclusions of your policy are so you don’t end up being responsible for more than you were planning for.
Full List of Chase Personal Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance
Curious which Chase credit cards offer rental car insurance, and whether or not that coverage is primary or secondary? We’ve got you covered with our complete list below.
2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel purchases
1x mile on all other purchases
Full List of Chase Business Credit Cards That Provide Rental Car Insurance
Business cards will typically have primary rental car coverage when renting primarily for business purposes or for personal use when renting a vehicle outside of the U.S. If you rent for personal use within the U.S., you will have secondary coverage.
Rental Insurance Coverage: Primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S.; secondary coverage for personal rentals in the U.S.
Coverage Limit: Cash value of the rental vehicle
Annual Fee:$199
Card Earnings:
Up to 9x points on Hyatt stays
2x points at fitness clubs and on gym memberships
2x points on the 3 eligible categories you spend the most on in each calendar quarter through December 31, 2023 (then it drops to your top 2 categories)
1x points on all other purchases
Final Thoughts
When you’re considering adding a new credit card to your wallet, it is easy to focus on the glamorous items like how many points you will earn, how you’ll spend those points, and what sort of neat perks the card offers. But you’d be wise to also consider what kind of protections and insurance the card offers because doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if things go wrong during your travels.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Slate Edge℠ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit: MilanMarkovic78 via Shutterstock
If you have an eligible Chase card that offers rental car insurance and you use it to pay for your rental vehicle, it will help cover you in the event of any damages or theft to the vehicle.
In order to receive this coverage, you must reserve and charge the rental car with your eligible Chase card and refuse the car rental company’s CDW coverage.
A card that offers primary coverage kicks in prior to you needing to file a claim with any other insurance providers you have, including your personal auto insurance.
Secondary coverage requires you to submit a claim with your other insurance providers first, and will only kick in to help cover items that have not already been covered by those other insurance providers.
So, in almost all instances, you would be better off using a credit card that provides primary coverage for your rental car.
Yes, you must pay for your rental car with your eligible credit card and decline the insurance policy from the rental company.
The following Chase credit cards offer primary rental car insurance:
Chase Sapphire Reserve card
Chase Sapphire Preferred card
Ink Business Cash card
Ink Business Preferred card
Ink Business Premier card
Ink Business Unlimited card
United Business card
United Club Business card
United Club Infinite card
United Explorer card
United Quest card
World of Hyatt Business card
The following Chase credit cards offer secondary rental car insurance:
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
4 comments
Mike T.
March 22, 2023
I hold a British Airways Chase Visa card, any auto rental coverage there? Didn’t see it on your list. Thanks
4 comments
Mike T.
March 22, 2023
I hold a British Airways Chase Visa card, any auto rental coverage there? Didn’t see it on your list. Thanks
Jarrod West
March 22, 2023
Hi Mike,
The British Airways card does not offer auto rental coverage.
Jones E.
April 18, 2023
What about the Chase Disney Rewards Visa Card? Does it offer any rental care coverage.
Jarrod West
April 19, 2023
Hi Jones,
That card does not offer that benefit sadly.
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