Visiting a car rental counter involves making some decisions. Would you reject the company’s insurance quote? Do you need extra coverage?
If you have certain travel reward cards, your benefits may have car rental insurance built in. But not all coverages are the same. It is important to know if your card offers primary or secondary insurance.
As the name implies, secondary coverage is second only to other types of insurance and will usually pay you the amount not covered by your initial claim.
If you are interested in applying for a card with secondary car insurance (or wondering if you already have a card with this allowance), this is what you should know.
What is secondary car rental insurance?
Secondary car rental insurance is provided by many popular reward credit cards, including most American Express cards.
These policies begin after other types of insurance, such as travel insurance or personal car insurance. This means that secondary car insurance can cover the remaining costs, such as deductibles. If you go this route, you must file multiple claims.
It is important to note that secondary coverage usually covers only the damage to the rental car itself and rarely covers personal injury or liability.
Related: Common Car Rental Errors – and How to Avoid Them
How is secondary insurance different from primary insurance?
If your card has primary car rental insurance (or automatic collision loss waiver), you will usually make a single claim and receive coverage for the full value of the rent or repair costs.
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Secondary coverage will usually repay you the amount not covered by the primary insurance. However, in some cases, secondary insurance can become the primary insurance, including:
With the American Express Premium Car Rent Protecting plan, you can add a policy that provides primary car rental insurance for qualified Amex cards at a small fee. Some of these proceeds require early registration and the terms and conditions apply.
Related: Your car rental company has a “Do not rent” list. Here’s how to avoid it
Best Credit Cards for Auxiliary Auto Insurance
You can expect to receive a Class II car rental insurance benefit through the following cards.
The table mentions three popular American Express cards, but most American Express cards offer assisted car rental insurance. These three cards are not the only ones that offer this allowance.
*Qualifications and income levels vary from card to card. Not all vehicle types or rents are covered and geographical restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more information, visit AmericaneXpress.com/benefitsguide. The policy is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is provided through American Express Travel-related service companies.
If you don’t have a credit card with primary car rental insurance, your next best option is a card with secondary insurance. Many credit cards offer secondary car rental insurance, so we only highlighted some of our favorite options.
American Express Card
Most U.S. Express Cards offer Grade 2 Car Rental Insurance* which is effective in damage or stolen rental vehicles on covered territory.
This list includes popular cards such as Amex Platinum, The Amex Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. If you don’t need primary insurance, you can use one of the cards and reject the rental company’s insurance.
To learn more about each card, check out our reviews on Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, and Bonvoy Brilliant.
*Qualifications and income levels vary from card to card. Not all vehicle types or rents are covered and geographical restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more information, visit AmericaneXpress.com/benefitsguide. The policy is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is provided through American Express Travel-related service companies.
Related: Your Complete Guide to Travel Protection for U.S. Express Cards
Apply here: Platinum card for American Express
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Apply here: Marriott Hotel Bonvoy Brilliar American Express Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offer car rental collision loss waivers.
Insurance is secondary when you are residing in the country when you are renting out outside of it. However, benefits are only obtained in accounts approved for visa signature cards and the terms apply.
To learn more about each card, check out our full review of Capital One Venture Rewards and Capital One Ventureone.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Learn more: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Chasing freedom and flexibility and chasing freedom and infinite
If you are looking for a grade-free credit card that offers secondary car rental insurance, then Chase Freedom Flex Chasing for freedom and infinite attention.
These cards provide insurance for theft and collision damage to most cars in the United States and abroad.
Although neither card has an annual fee, both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. Therefore, using these cards to pay for car rentals outside the United States will increase damage protection, but increase your rental costs.
To learn more, check out our full review of Free Resilience and Infinity of Freedom.
Apply here: Chasing for freedom and flexibility
Apply here: Chasing for infinite freedom
Bottom line
Secondary car rental coverage is valuable to those with personal car insurance because it helps to cover the costs of the primary coverage, such as deductions.
If a rental car is stolen or damaged, it is best to consider your plan. Remember that if you decide to rely on a combination of primary and secondary insurance, you have to make multiple claims.
Related: How to skip long-term rental car pickup route for free
For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
For Amex Gold rates and fees, click here.
For the rates and fees of Bonvoy Brilliant, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, Visa® or MasterCard® can offer some benefits and may vary from product to product. For more information, see the respective welfare guidelines to the applicable terms and exclusions.
