Best credit card with rental car insurance

Best credit cards with rental car insurance

Great for: Sign-up bonus and flexible points

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

18.24% - 25.24% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.

2x - 5x points

Annual Fee Info IconCircle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

60,000 bonus points

• With a big sign-up bonus, the sky’s the limit for this top-rated travel rewards card. Plus, the premium points program for travel and dining make it a no brainer for travel enthusiasts everywhere. Read Full Review

• • Big sign-up bonus
  • Travel rewards
  • Dining rewards
  • Flexible travel points
  • Consumer and travel protections
  • Has an annual fee

• • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.

Great for: U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets cash back

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Regular APR

16.99%-27.99% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.

1% - 6% cash back

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$350

• The U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations rewards are clear standouts, in addition to a big welcome offer and a nice 0% intro APR offer. Read Full Review

• • Big welcome offer
  • U.S. supermarkets rewards
  • U.S. gas stations rewards
  • Streaming subscription rewards
  • Annual fee
  • Foreign transaction fee

• • Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 16.99%-27.99%.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 Plan It fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Thinking about getting The Disney Bundle which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription with your Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.
  • $95 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular APR

17.24% - 25.99% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

1% - 5% cash back

Annual Fee Info IconCircle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!

$200 bonus

• Deserves to be top of wallet for many cardholders due to some of the highest cash back rates for essentials, a big sign-up bonus, and no annual fee. Read Full Review

• • Competitive cash back bonus
  • Lucrative cash back program
  • Travel rewards
  • Great intro APR
  • No annual fee
  • Foreign transaction fee

• • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99%.
  • No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.

Great for: Versatile and high-value travel benefits

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Excellent (740-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.99% - 26.99% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases

2x - 10x miles

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

• This is a strong premium level travel card with a big sign-up bonus, robust rewards program, and rich travel credits. Read Full Review

• • Big travel rewards bonus
  • High rewards rate
  • Travel credits
  • Airport lounge access
  • Easy-to-use miles
  • Annual fee
  • Small selection of travel partners

• • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of 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 booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,400+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and our Partner Lounge Network
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • 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

Great for: Big gas rewards

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Excellent (740-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

18.24% (Variable)

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 4% back on gas and EV charging ($7,000 annual spending cap), 3% back on restaurants and travel, 2% back on Costco purchases, 1% back on other purchases

1% - 4% back

Annual Fee

$0 for Costco members

• Hard to beat for Costco shoppers with the lucrative rewards program and no annual fee for members. The gas and EV charging cash back earning potential is among the highest you'll find. Read Full Review

• • Gas and EV charging cash back
  • Costco cash back
  • Travel and dining cash back
  • Purchase protections
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No sign-up bonus
  • No intro APR offer
  • Clunky cash back redemptions

• • Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
  • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
  • Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

Great for: Luxury travel perks

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.24% - 26.24% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

1x - 10x points

Annual Fee Info IconCircle with letter I in it. N/A

$550

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

60,000 bonus points

• The sign-up bonus, premium rewards for travel & dining, and wide array of valuable travel credits make this a compelling offer that will offset the cost of the annual fee for many. The array of limited time offers make it even more compelling. Read Full Review

• • Sign-up bonus
  • Travel credits
  • Airport lounge access
  • Travel and dining rewards
  • Flexible travel point
  • Annual fee

• • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

Great for: Dining and travel credits

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR

18.99%-25.99% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other eligible purchases.

1X - 4X points

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000

• The welcome offer, lucrative rewards at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and on travel more than justify the annual fee for most who spend in these categories. Read Full Review

• • Impressive welcome offer
  • Restaurants rewards
  • U.S. supermarket rewards
  • Travel and dining credits
  • High-value rewards points
  • Annual fee

• • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • Updated $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

17.99% - 24.99% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, at restaurants, and on hotel stays booked with the hotel. Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

1x - 2x miles

Annual Fee Info IconCircle with letter I in it. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

$95

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earn 10,000 more miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

70,000 miles

• With a big sign up bonus and rewards for United and dining purchases, the miles will accumulate quickly if you're a frequent traveler.

• • Big sign-up bonus
  • United, restaurant, and hotel rewards
  • Free first checked bags
  • Travel statement credits
  • Annual fee
  • No access to Polaris lounges

• • Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 miles after you spend $6,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months your account is open.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
  • Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee Credit
  • 25% back on United® inflight purchases
  • Check your first bag for free (a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip) when you use your card to purchase your ticket
  • Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services

The information related to United℠ Explorer Card has been collected by The Ascent and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

How does credit card rental car insurance work?

Credit card rental car insurance can cover the cost if your rental car is damaged or stolen. For this insurance to apply, you need to pay for the full cost of the rental car with your credit card and decline the insurance offered by the rental car company.

Exact terms for car rental insurance depend on the credit card. You can find this information in the guide to benefits.

What does rental car insurance cover?

Rental car insurance covers damage or theft. While insurance coverage varies depending on the credit card and the card issuer, most credit cards with rental car insurance have similar policies. Here are more details on what the typical credit card rental insurance policy covers.

Damage and theft

If the rental vehicle is physically damaged or stolen in a covered incident, then credit card rental insurance pays the repair or replacement cost. The maximum amount paid out will be either the actual cash value of the vehicle or the policy's coverage maximum, whichever is less.

Towing charges

Rental insurance reimburses reasonable and customary towing charges to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility after a covered loss.

Loss-of-use charges

Rental insurance covers valid loss-of-use charges incurred by the rental car agency after a covered loss.

Cardholder and authorized drivers

Credit card rental insurance applies when the cardholder or an authorized driver allowed by the rental agreement is driving the car. Depending on the policy, it may also cover the cardholder's spouse or domestic partner.

What's not covered?

Each credit card rental insurance policy has a list of exclusions. These vary depending on the card, and there can be quite a few of them. Below, we've provided some of the most common things that aren't covered by credit card rental car insurance.

Liability insurance

Credit cards don't offer any liability coverage. If you're liable for an accident and anyone is injured, credit card insurance won't cover that. In this situation, you'd need to file a claim with your auto insurance. If you don't have auto insurance, then you may be required to pay for damages yourself.

Long-term rentals

Credit card rental insurance only covers short-term rentals. Most policies only cover vehicle rentals that don't exceed and aren't intended to exceed either 30 days or 31 days, with the exact time frame depending on the card.

This means if you rent a car for two months, your credit card's rental insurance likely wouldn't cover it at all, because your rental period exceeds the maximum time frame.

Certain types of vehicles

Special types of vehicles normally aren't covered by credit cards with car rental insurance. Examples of vehicle types that are excluded from most policies include:

• Expensive and exotic vehicles
• Antique automobiles
• Motorcycles
• Large-capacity vehicles, such as cargo vans or recreational vehicles
• Off-road vehicles

Violations of the rental car agreement

If you violate the rental policy, this can void your car rental insurance. One of the most common violations is letting someone who isn't an authorized driver on the rental agreement use the car.

Leases and vehicle sharing agreements

Credit card insurance strictly covers reservations with rental car companies. It doesn't apply to lease agreements or rentals made through any type of vehicle sharing or peer-to-peer rental service.

Primary and secondary rental car insurance explained

Credit cards with rental car insurance offer either primary or secondary coverage. Here's how each type of rental car coverage works:

• Primary coverage: You can file a claim directly to your credit card rental insurance. You don't need to file with any other insurance policy you have, such as auto insurance or travel insurance.
• Secondary coverage: If you have any other insurance policy that would cover the incident, you need to file a claim with that insurance provider first. Secondary coverage only kicks in for eligible expenses that aren't already covered by your other insurance.

Primary coverage is helpful because it allows you to file a single claim, whereas secondary coverage often requires filing multiple claims to different insurance providers. It can also help you avoid paying a deductible or seeing your insurance rates increase. If you want primary rental car coverage, Chase credit cards are a good place to start, as several of them offer it.

LEARN MORE: Chase Freedom Cards Rental Car Insurance and Chase Sapphire Cards Rental Car Insurance

Secondary coverage is much more common among credit cards with rental car insurance. Although it's not as good as primary insurance coverage, it's enough for some consumers. Of the major card issuers, American Express is one that offers rental car insurance* on many of its cards.

LEARN MORE: American Express Cards Rental Car Insurance

How to pick the best credit card for rental car insurance

If rental car coverage is one of the most important credit card features for you, it's worth reviewing the details of each card's insurance policy. Here are the items to look for to find a card that fits your needs.

• Type of coverage: See whether the card offers primary or secondary rental car insurance. Not everybody needs a card with primary coverage, but it is a notable advantage.
• Restricted areas: Credit card rental car insurance works outside the United States, but there may be certain countries that are excluded. If you frequently rent a car while traveling abroad, make sure to check for any geographic restrictions on a card's rental insurance.
• Coverage limits: Some credit cards offer higher rental coverage limits than others. This might be an important factor if you often rent expensive cars.

Now, there's a good chance you'll find many cards with a rental insurance policy that works for you. In that case, here are some other factors that could help you with choosing a credit card:

Travel benefits: Most of the credit cards with car rental insurance are travel credit cards. These often have additional benefits that can come in handy on your trips, such as spending credit towards travel purchases or airport lounge access.

READ MORE: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Keep in mind you don't need to get a travel card just because you want rental car insurance. Although there aren't as many cash back credit cards that offer rental coverage, some of them do.

Annual fee: There are credit cards with rental car insurance at every price point, from no annual fee cards to cards costing over $500 per year. Cards with higher annual fees usually have more perks, so it's all a matter of how much you're willing to pay and the features you want.

Rewards: The best credit cards typically offer rewards on your purchases. Depending on the rewards program, a card could earn cash back, miles that are redeemable for free airfare, rewards you can use for hotel stays, or flexible points that offer multiple redemption options.

Does my credit card cover rental car insurance discover?

Does Chase Freedom Unlimited have car rental insurance?

Does Marriott credit card have rental car insurance?

Does Capital One Venture have car rental insurance?