Apr 3, 2024, 10:08 am
Last edit by: mia
This thread discusses American Express PREMIUM Car Rental Protection. This is an extra cost service that is offered only to cardholders residing in the USA. This is not the same as the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) that is a standard benefit of many American Express cards.
Premium Car Rental Protection website: https://feeservices.americanexpress....erage/home.do A chart comparing Premium to the standard CDW benefit is at the bottom of that page.
Premium Car Rental Protection offers Primary coverage. Primary means only that the insurer pays first when there is a covered claim. It does not imply that the coverage is superior. The standard CDW provided with USA issued American Express cards provides Secondary coverage if the cardholder has other collectible automobile insurance. If you do not have an automobile insurance policy, or if your policy does not cover rental cars in the area where you are traveling, the standard CDW Waiver becomes Primary.
Premium Car Rental Protection website: https://feeservices.americanexpress....erage/home.do A chart comparing Premium to the standard CDW benefit is at the bottom of that page.
Premium Car Rental Protection offers Primary coverage. Primary means only that the insurer pays first when there is a covered claim. It does not imply that the coverage is superior. The standard CDW provided with USA issued American Express cards provides Secondary coverage if the cardholder has other collectible automobile insurance. If you do not have an automobile insurance policy, or if your policy does not cover rental cars in the area where you are traveling, the standard CDW Waiver becomes Primary.
AMEX (USA) Premium Car Rental Protection
Jun 23, 2010, 1:17 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
Have a look at http://www.insurance4carhire.com - they mostly do excess policies but they do have an annual CDW/SLI policy for use in the USA.
I think the reason Amex EU does not have the policy option is that almost all EU rentals have the CDW etc built into the rate.
I think the reason Amex EU does not have the policy option is that almost all EU rentals have the CDW etc built into the rate.
Jul 6, 2010, 1:02 am
#63
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,773
I live in Denmark and book our U.S. car rentals via Avis.dk, and almost without fail, the rate for the rental including all insurance, taxes, fees, etc. is about the same or less than if I try to do a booking on Avis.com with no insurance.
I'm not sure if Hertz or others do the same.
Susan
Jul 6, 2010, 2:40 am
#64
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Jul 15, 2010, 12:07 am
#65
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 34
Mia,
Thanks. I did not. And it does look interesting. Do you (or anybody else) happen to know whether this claim on their site is trustworthy?
"Q.: If I purchase this Policy, am I fully covered for car rental insurance in the USA and Canada?
A: Yes, this Policy covers you for all your car rental insurance requirements in the USA and Canada. You do not need to purchase any additional car rental insurance."
I was told when I rented the car that I HAD to take out liability insurance in California, and that the only way to do so was through the car rental agency (Thrifty). I still have to extend my current rental agreement, so if this CDW/SLI policy works, I might still get that.
Thanks for your advice!
-Stephan
Thanks. I did not. And it does look interesting. Do you (or anybody else) happen to know whether this claim on their site is trustworthy?
"Q.: If I purchase this Policy, am I fully covered for car rental insurance in the USA and Canada?
A: Yes, this Policy covers you for all your car rental insurance requirements in the USA and Canada. You do not need to purchase any additional car rental insurance."
I was told when I rented the car that I HAD to take out liability insurance in California, and that the only way to do so was through the car rental agency (Thrifty). I still have to extend my current rental agreement, so if this CDW/SLI policy works, I might still get that.
Thanks for your advice!
-Stephan
Jul 15, 2010, 4:41 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
As far as I am aware, in California (and other states) there's a legal minimum that the car rental company has to cover for liability. This is without you paying extra, and is included in the main rental rate. Any SLI (Supplemental Liability) is optional and you should be able to decline it. Once declined, your other insurance policy applies.
Are you based in the US? Sometimes when you have a different country of residence, the rate structure is different and some coverages are included by default when you book. This should be clear on your rental agreement.
I have rented many cars in CA and have never paid any rental company for their insurance. They do try to pressure sometimes, just stand your ground!
Jul 15, 2010, 10:22 pm
#67
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Hi Stephan,
As far as I am aware, in California (and other states) there's a legal minimum that the car rental company has to cover for liability. This is without you paying extra, and is included in the main rental rate. Any SLI (Supplemental Liability) is optional and you should be able to decline it. Once declined, your other insurance policy applies.
Are you based in the US? Sometimes when you have a different country of residence, the rate structure is different and some coverages are included by default when you book. This should be clear on your rental agreement.
I have rented many cars in CA and have never paid any rental company for their insurance. They do try to pressure sometimes, just stand your ground!
CA is different than other states. CA does not require car rental companies to provide any liability insurance to renters, and CA law requires renters to have liability insurance. Renting with certain organization discount codes (like AARP) will provide some liability coverage (25/50/10) at affiliated rental companies.
Originally Posted by nutternet
As far as I am aware, in California (and other states) there's a legal minimum that the car rental company has to cover for liability. This is without you paying extra, and is included in the main rental rate. Any SLI (Supplemental Liability) is optional and you should be able to decline it. Once declined, your other insurance policy applies.
Are you based in the US? Sometimes when you have a different country of residence, the rate structure is different and some coverages are included by default when you book. This should be clear on your rental agreement.
I have rented many cars in CA and have never paid any rental company for their insurance. They do try to pressure sometimes, just stand your ground!
Jul 16, 2010, 1:03 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 34
Thanks. And hmmmm... It so hard to figure all of this out. I would have thought that my liability insurance at home (The Netherlands) would cover overall liability issues. And that that insurance4carhire would cover any 'holes' that might still exist. But to be honest - I'm still not sure now whether that would cover me in case there were some liability issue.
Seems to me this suggests a hole in the market - a big international comparative insurance 'benchmarking' site. Just a long list of what type of coverage is included where, where the holes are AND how one can fill them. Maybe an idea for somebody on this forum
. And given the enormous complexity of the issue AND the arbitrage potential I bet you'd find insurance brokers who would advertise on the site - sufficiently to actually make some money off of this.
But that won't help me this time...
-Stephan
Seems to me this suggests a hole in the market - a big international comparative insurance 'benchmarking' site. Just a long list of what type of coverage is included where, where the holes are AND how one can fill them. Maybe an idea for somebody on this forum
. And given the enormous complexity of the issue AND the arbitrage potential I bet you'd find insurance brokers who would advertise on the site - sufficiently to actually make some money off of this. But that won't help me this time...
-Stephan
Jul 16, 2010, 5:51 am
#69
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I would discuss this with the agent who sold and services the policy, if that's how it's done in The Netherlands. The agent's explanation will not matter to the rental car company, but it will give you a better understanding of what you have purchased and how you may need to supplement it.
Jul 16, 2010, 2:36 pm
#70
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
Stephan - I am also based in the Netherlands. The insurance4carhire will cover all CDW and SLI that you need to rent in the US. In their policy wording it states:
In the event that the law of a US state deems this policy to provide primary liability coverage, we will indemnify the insured person in the terms of this Policy for that primary liability coverage up to a maximum of $1,000,000.
Mar 7, 2011, 3:23 am
#71
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1
AMEX Premium Car Rental Protection for current US residents only?
I used to live in the US for 10 years till 2010 on a H1B visa . While i was there, I picked up an AmEx Platinum card. I moved to my home country in early 2010 .
I am visiting the US this April and will be renting a car there for a week . I thought of using the AMEX Premium Car Rental Protection for $24.95 for this .
Someone told me that I need to be a current resident of the US to avail this? Is that true? I have kept my card and still use it for online purchases, so it is still active.
Thanks
I am visiting the US this April and will be renting a car there for a week . I thought of using the AMEX Premium Car Rental Protection for $24.95 for this .
Someone told me that I need to be a current resident of the US to avail this? Is that true? I have kept my card and still use it for online purchases, so it is still active.
Thanks
Mar 7, 2011, 5:58 am
#72
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Welcome to Flyertalk.
Start here:
https://www295.americanexpress.com/p...verage/home.do
Scroll down
Click: View Summary of Terms and Conditions
Read: Enrollment is available to Consumer and Small Business Cardmembers residing in the 50 United States of America or the District of Columbia. This product may not be available in certain states.
Start here:
https://www295.americanexpress.com/p...verage/home.do
Scroll down
Click: View Summary of Terms and Conditions
Read: Enrollment is available to Consumer and Small Business Cardmembers residing in the 50 United States of America or the District of Columbia. This product may not be available in certain states.
Mar 8, 2011, 2:01 am
#73
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Worth noting that Amex cards from other countries have their own car rental protection programs that apply, even if you are renting a car in the USA.
Feb 28, 2012, 1:11 pm
#74
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Idaho
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 352
No Premium Car Rental Protection for GA residents?
I got a notice in the mail yesterday stating that AmEx can no longer issue Premium Car Rental Protection for Geogia residents, and that they were cancelling my enrollment in the program. Anyone else get a similar notice? The rep on the phone stated the change was due to recent state legislation.