National - Free rental-- collision coverage by Credit card?

Do you guys purchase optional CDW for free rental? Will my credit card CDW apply if the estimated charge is $0 for the entire rental period?

The Amex wording is something like 'decline the CDW and charge the full amount of the rental.'

Since taxes, annoyance/disposal fees/registration and airport fees ensure we never have absolutely free rentals in the USA, there's always a charge to the Amex.

If something bad happened I would have the rental company remove the coupon/voucher/free payment method from the reservation and pay the default rate.

Since taxes, annoyance/disposal fees/registration and airport fees ensure we never have absolutely free rentals in the USA, there's always a charge to the Amex.

But the estimate charge is indeed $0. No % tax can be added since the base is $0. No airport fee shown on the estimate also. Is this correct?
I am using the one-two-free promo if make a different.

But the estimate charge is indeed $0. No % tax can be added since the base is $0. No airport fee shown on the estimate also. Is this correct?
I am using the one-two-free promo if make a different.

You have to pay tax on the base rate. All the gov. entities want THEIR monies.
Since ALL cc companies are different...call the card you wish to use for your rental and your insurance company since cc don't cover liability...medical...and roadside asst. Don't ever assume anything, go right to the horse's mouth...so to speak. Don't listen to anyone say you are or you aren't. GO and call the cc company you wish to charge the rental to and ASK them directly because all card policies are different and tell them exactly the type of vehicle you wish to rent (sedan, van, suv etc.) and let them tell you whether you are covered.
MOST cc are only secondary coverage anyhow...and there can be serious loopholes. That's why I said talk to your personal insurance carrier as well. Let them know the same thing as I said above, the type of vehicle you are renting. Be sure to ask about Loss of Use and admin fees...roadside asst. A lot of rental companies, including National are charging for Roadside Assistance now. Loss of keys, lock the keys in the vhcl, need a jump, need a tow etc. Min. $50 charge and much more for loss of keys. Those remotes are expensive. Mechanical breakdown of the vehicle isn't your fault, you aren't charged anything for that of course.
Best to know for sure rather than assume.

While I completely agree with Paminaz' advice to contact your credit card issuer, I can tell you that from my own investigation that, of the big three credit cards, even the one with the most favorable LDW coverage (World MasterCard) will not cover you unless at least one day's time and mileage is charged to the card (taxes and fees alone won't work). Amex told me that my Hilton HHonors Amex card would not cover me if I used any coupon, other than an Amex coupon, for a car rental, although this policy apparently varies with different Amex cards. (I think that the coverage provided by the Starwood Amex card is akin to that offered by World MasterCard.) And Visa told me that I would not be covered if any dollars-off or free-day coupon was used for the rental.

My research concur's with Gov in that both my American Express Corporate Green card and my Delta American Express Platinum will not cover my 3 day free rental.
Only exception would be if I am using an AMEX voucher or an AMEX free rental from their program.

This is what my Canadian BMO Mastercard states:

4.1 CAR RENTAL BENEFITS
Coverage Eligibility
The Car Rental Benefits apply when You enter into a
non-renewable Rental Car Agreement for a fourwheel
passenger vehicle, where the total rental period
does not exceed thirty-one (31) days, subject to
exclusions and limitations and the following requirements:
1. the Rental Car must be rented by the Primary
Cardholder, or a Family Cardholder; and
2. the Rental Car must be rented from a commercial
car rental agency; and
3. the full cost or portion of the rental cost must
be charged to the Account; and
4. You must decline the collision damage waiver
benefits (or similar provisions, such as “loss
damage waiver”) offered by the rental agency
(when not prohibited by law). If such coverage
is not available from the rental agency, then
CDW benefits are not available under this
Certificate of Insurance; and
5. the Rental Car must have been operated by the
Primary Cardholder, or a Family Cardholder,
or other person authorized to operate the
Rental Car under the Rental Car Agreement
and in accordance with its conditions, when
the loss occurs.

Like mentioned earlier, there's always a charge for the taxes, etc. The last time I used a 'free' rental, this was $5.xx.

Ron.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7130e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

If your credit card will not cover you for LDW unless you charge at least one day's rental cost to the card, it may be cost effective to tack on an additional (paid) day to your otherwise free rental. One day's time and mileage may cost considerably less than several days of paid LDW.