Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - Car Rental Insurance

I did not often rent cars in the US, but I know that in addition to the "rent price" there is the additional surcharge for insurance. As a matter of fact, there is a whole menu of insurances offered (last time I tried to rent in 2005). I know various friends who travel for business decline insurance and use their corporate cards. Others say that your regular car insurance covers you?

Whats the deal with getting insurance when renting a car? I have a bunch of Chase and Citibank credit cards, by off chance would they cover me? I am not the primary driver on the car insurance thus I am unsure if my car insurance covers rent a car coverage.

Well, they might cover you but no one here can say for sure, since there are so many types of credit cards. A quick phone call to your card issuer should clear things up. Or, a call to your car insurance company.

Whatever you do, don't ask the people at the rental counter. Their standard answer is "Better safe than sorry". True, but "safe" in this case means paying out the nose. If you have to, you have to. But a few minutes spent on the phone ahead of time can be worthwhile.

AFAIK, standard credit card insurance is pretty basic, and probably won't cover loss of use, say, if the car were totaled and sent to the repair shop for X number of days.

I have been thinking about getting AMEX's additional car insurance- it costs just $19.95 every time you rent, and covers loss of use. It doesn't cost $19.95/day- it's $19.95 for the entire period of rental. Just pay with AMEX, and they tack on $20 later on. It's pretty cheap for peace of mind.

here's the info:

he $100,000 coverage level with a premium of $24.95 covers:
• Up to $100,000 of primary damage and theft coverage for the rental car.
• Up to $100,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $15,000 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $5,000 per person of excess coverage for personal property, maximum of $10,000 for all.

The $75,000 coverage level with a premium of $19.95 covers:
• Up to $75,000 of primary Damage and Theft coverage for the rental car
• Up to $75,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $7,500 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $2,500 per person of excess coverage for Personal Property, maximum of $5,000 for all.

here's the info:

he $100,000 coverage level with a premium of $24.95 covers:
• Up to $100,000 of primary damage and theft coverage for the rental car.
• Up to $100,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $15,000 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $5,000 per person of excess coverage for personal property, maximum of $10,000 for all.

The $75,000 coverage level with a premium of $19.95 covers:
• Up to $75,000 of primary Damage and Theft coverage for the rental car
• Up to $75,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $7,500 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $2,500 per person of excess coverage for Personal Property, maximum of $5,000 for all.

You have to sign up for the cover with Amex before hand ( can be done on line). Once signed up, it is automatic, so you dont have to call them each time.

Covers charges for "loss of use" which car rental companies charge you when the car is damaged and in repair shop, as well as "admin charges" both of which are NOT covered under the normal CDW insurance from credit card companies

As mentioned, great deal for peace of mind, and quite reasonable per day if you are renting for a week or more

You have to sign up for the cover with Amex before hand ( can be done on line). Once signed up, it is automatic, so you dont have to call them each time.

Covers charges for "loss of use" which car rental companies charge you when the car is damaged and in repair shop, as well as "admin charges" both of which are NOT covered under the normal CDW insurance from credit card companies

As mentioned, great deal for peace of mind, and quite reasonable per day if you are renting for a week or more

Right, and you can sign up, but pay with a different card (other than amex) if you were to return the car without damage, wink wink. However, it's only $20, so I personally wouldn't bother with that.

It might come in extra handy if you were to rent a car in E. Europe, Israel, N. Zealand, or Australia, which the regular Amex card does not cover.

Not sure about AMEX Gold/Platinum card coverage. SingaporeDon, is your car rental coverage on your AMEX Plat. the same as other AMEX cards, or is it more comprehensive?

Not sure about AMEX Gold/Platinum card coverage. SingaporeDon, is your car rental coverage on your AMEX Plat. the same as other AMEX cards, or is it more comprehensive?


Sorry, my AMEX Platinum is issued outside USA, so does not give me car rental insurance. I use my US issued AMEX gold, and pay for the extra coverage per rental.

Can someone enlighten to to the differences between LDW and actual insurance when renting in the US and Canada. I've constanty been told LDW and insurance are not the same but i'm unsure to the limitations of LDW. In an accident would it only cover the rental vehicle and the driver is liable for damages to other vehicle and property or something like that???

here's the info:

he $100,000 coverage level with a premium of $24.95 covers:
• Up to $100,000 of primary damage and theft coverage for the rental car.
• Up to $100,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $15,000 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $5,000 per person of excess coverage for personal property, maximum of $10,000 for all.

The $75,000 coverage level with a premium of $19.95 covers:
• Up to $75,000 of primary Damage and Theft coverage for the rental car
• Up to $75,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $7,500 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $2,500 per person of excess coverage for Personal Property, maximum of $5,000 for all.

Was about to start a similar question on a random rental car agency thread and noticed this one. Am currently in the middle of a minor crunchmobile experience. Have been paying extra for years for a Visa Card with rental car insurance included, but now that I have a claim I'm being told they are secondary coverage in the USA and they turn around and go after my primary carrier to be reimbursed. My insurance agent advises that policies written in Texas can't even exclude rental car coverage, and unless the State of Hawaii has specifically different laws, they can do just as they say. It appears I'd be ahead paying out of pocket rather than take a rate hit, so I'm kind of frustrated here.

You are telling me that if I get an AMEX and sign up ahead of time I can buy primary-coverage, term-of-rental coverage that includes collision, loss of use, and. . .what? Does it extend to any third party liability?

You are telling me that if I get an AMEX and sign up ahead of time I can buy primary-coverage, term-of-rental coverage that includes collision, loss of use, and. . .what? Does it extend to any third party liability?

Sorry to hear of your crunchmobile incident Jayer, hope that works out.

I *believe* that is what amex is offering, see the following from their website, linked below.

And since this is primary insurance for theft and damage to your rented vehicle, you won't have to dip into your own insurance first (which could lead to higher personal rates), or pay a deductible.

https://www152.americanexpress.com/fsea/travel/car_rental/product.do

I thought this bit was helpful- how the AMEX insurance differs from the default insurance provided by credit cards:

The difference between the Premium Car Rental Protection (PCRP) and Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance (CRLDI)
PCRP differs from the CRLDI plan included with most Cards in four key ways:
• This Plan offers excess coverage for medical expenses, damage or theft of personal property, and Accidental death & dismemberment benefits. With the exception of the coverage on some premium American Express Cards, CRLDI only covers damage to or theft of the rental car.
• PCRP provides primary coverage for damage or theft of the rental car. CRLDI offers coverage in excess of other sources of insurance.
• PCRP covers many types of vehicles that CRLDI does not, including full-sized SUVs, expensive and exotic cars, and others.
• CRLDI only covers vehicles rented in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. PCRP offers worldwide coverage, except for vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.
Determining coverage of personal car insurance or business insurance
It’s possible that a Cardmember’s personal car insurance or business insurance might cover these types of losses. However, here are a few things to keep in mind:
• PCRP is primary insurance of theft and damage to the rented vehicle, which means enrollees won’t have to dip into their own insurance first, or pay a deductible.
Also, insurance policies often vary in their coverage of rental cars, or out-of-state or international driving. Cardmembers should check personal policies carefully to see whether they’re covered for rental cars. But this Plan covers enrollees almost anywhere in the world.
Coverage is automatically extended to other American Express Cards

Definition of the Premium Car Rental Protection Plan
Premium Car Rental Protection (PCRP) is insurance coverage offered to American Express® Cardmembers to help protect them and Passengers when the Cardmember uses an enrolled Card to pay for a Rental Auto from a Rental Company. Coverage includes 1) reimbursement for damage to or theft of the Rental Auto and personal property, and 2) medical expense and death and dismemberment benefits resulting from a covered Accident. Coverage is worldwide except vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. Enrollment is available to Consumer and Small Business Cardmembers residing in the 50 United States of America or the District of Columbia. Corporate Cardmembers are not eligible.

What the Plan Covers
The $100,000 coverage level with a premium of $24.95 covers:
• Up to $100,000 of primary damage and theft coverage for the rental car.
• Up to $100,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $15,000 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $5,000 per person of excess coverage for personal property, maximum of $10,000 for all.
The $75,000 coverage level with a premium of $19.95 covers:
• Up to $75,000 of primary Damage and Theft coverage for the rental car
• Up to $75,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $7,500 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $2,500 per person of excess coverage for Personal Property, maximum of $5,000 for all.
For California Residents:
The $100,000 coverage level with a premium of $17.95 covers:
• Up to $100,000 of primary damage and theft coverage for the rental car.
• Up to $250,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $15,000 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $5,000 per person of excess coverage for personal property, maximum of $10,000 for all.
The $75,000 coverage level with a premium of $15.95 covers:
• Up to $75,000 of primary Damage and Theft coverage for the rental car
• Up to $150,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Up to $7,500 per person of excess coverage for Medical Expenses.
• Up to $2,500 per person of excess coverage for Personal Property, maximum of $5,000 for all.

Premium
There is no cost to enroll in Premium Car Rental Protection, and there are no monthly, annual, or cancellation fees. The Cardmember pays a flat fee of $19.95 or $24.95 per rental ($15.95 or $17.95 for California Residents) each time a rental car is charged to his or her enrolled American Express Card, until coverage is terminated. The flat rate covers the duration of the rental, for up to 42 consecutive days (up to 30 consecutive days for Washington Cardmembers).

Vehicles covered by the Plan
The Plan covers most vehicles typically available from a Rental Company, from smaller economy sizes to large luxury sedans, convertibles, exotic cars (worth more than $50,000), minivans, vans, pickup trucks, and full-sized SUVs. The vehicle must be rented from a Rental Company, which is a commercial rental agency that rents passenger type motor vehicles, but it does not include a company whose primary business is something other than renting cars, such as an auto body shop or a moving van company.

Excluded vehicles include: automobiles that have been customized or modified from the manufacturer's factory specifications, except for driver's assistance equipment for the physically challenged; any rented vehicle used for hire or commercial purposes; antique cars (cars over 20 years old or cars that have not been manufactured for over 10 years); limousines; off-road vehicles, motorcycles, motorbikes, mopeds, recreational vehicles, golf or motorized carts, campers, moving trucks or moving vans, and trailers.

Benefits of Premium Car Rental Protection
Some of the most popular products with Cardmembers are the travel insurance services, such as Automatic Flight Insurance* and Premium Baggage Protection.† Our research shows that Cardmembers are interested in purchasing similar products that help protect them at key times in their travels, such as when they rent cars. Also, Premium Car Rental Protection is appealing to Cardmembers who do not have Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance (CRLDI),§ which is a benefit included with many American Express Cards. And for those Cardmembers who do have CRLDI for no additional charge on their Card but are looking for more extensive protection, this plan will also offer more comprehensive coverage.

The difference between the Premium Car Rental Protection (PCRP) and Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance (CRLDI)
PCRP differs from the CRLDI plan included with most Cards in four key ways:
• This Plan offers excess coverage for medical expenses, damage or theft of personal property, and Accidental death & dismemberment benefits. With the exception of the coverage on some premium American Express Cards, CRLDI only covers damage to or theft of the rental car.
• PCRP provides primary coverage for damage or theft of the rental car. CRLDI offers coverage in excess of other sources of insurance.
• PCRP covers many types of vehicles that CRLDI does not, including full-sized SUVs, expensive and exotic cars, and others.
• CRLDI only covers vehicles rented in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. PCRP offers worldwide coverage, except for vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.
Determining coverage of personal car insurance or business insurance
It’s possible that a Cardmember’s personal car insurance or business insurance might cover these types of losses. However, here are a few things to keep in mind:
• PCRP is primary insurance of theft and damage to the rented vehicle, which means enrollees won’t have to dip into their own insurance first, or pay a deductible.
Also, insurance policies often vary in their coverage of rental cars, or out-of-state or international driving. Cardmembers should check personal policies carefully to see whether they’re covered for rental cars. But this Plan covers enrollees almost anywhere in the world.
Coverage is automatically extended to other American Express Cards

If you are the Basic Cardmember, your other American Express Card accounts, and any Additional Cards issued on those accounts, are automatically enrolled in the Premium Car Rental Protection Plan. Any Card accounts issued to you in the future, and Additional Cards on those accounts, will also be enrolled. Cards that are not enrolled include Corporate Cards, Additional Cards enrolled independently, Additional Cards issued to you on someone else's account, and any Card issued by a third-party bank partner of American Express.

If you are the Additional Cardmember, coverage does not extend to other accounts you may have. You are only covered on the account on which you have been issued the Additional Card.

Provider of Premium Car Rental Protection
Premium Car Rental Protection is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0610 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy.

When identifying insurance products that may be of interest to you, American Express may act on behalf of the insurance company and receive compensation that may vary by company and product. American Express may also receive additional financial benefit when AMEX Assurance Company or another American Express entity acts as the insurer or reinsurer for these products.


Enroll Online
You will be asked to log in to your account prior to enrolling.
The enrollment process will take just a few minutes.

Enroll by Phone
Call 1-800-263-9669 to speak to an insurance representative.
* Automatic Flight Insurance is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0950 and AX0910 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policies mentioned above.
† Premium Baggage Protection is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0913 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy.
§ Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusion of Policy AX0925 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the policy.

Thank you everyone for helping.

First, the number on the AMEX website is disconnected. Now is 1-800-338-1670 (if I wrote it down correctly). The rep clarified the AMEX deal is primary coverage, but strictly on the rented car and its passengers. Good alternative to rental agency LDW, which I'm really sorry I didn't pursue long ago, but will not cover any other liability. I still want to talk to a few local agents to see if there is any separate-policy alternative that can be purchased on a standby, stand-alone basis for that.

My experience with Visa "rental car insurance" appears to be heading for a unhappy conclusion. They sort of talk in circles, and don't want to put anything in writing, but it sounds like any domestic (USA) incident they consider themselves secondary and look to your personal insurance to be primary (a fact I don't feel Chase clearly disclosed). They were rather blunt that they felt the only parties to the conversation were the rental agency, the insurance company, and themselves (and as the lowly cardholder you didn't have a seat for the discussion, so please go away).

Apparently the only way they would be primary is if you had no car insurance at all, or if it specifically excluded rental car coverage. (I'm told in Texas I can't even write that exclusion, but it seems like 20 years in Oklahoma you could).

Second, I was reminded AMEX also offers lost baggage and travel disruption insurance for a nominal fee. I need to look into that before my next major adventure. I've never been stranded at a mid-point connection, but if I was, I like the idea of walking past the frustrated crowd clamoring for hotel vouchers and grabbing the shuttle to the hotel of my choice, content in the knowledge AMEX will pick up the tab. I guess the experience has left me turning libertarian about a no-fault world where everyone should insure their own routine risks without smoke, mirrors, and lawsuits.

The coverage you get from the Rental Car Companies is Primary if you purchase it. LDW/CDW is a Waiver of responsibility...it's NOT insurance. There is no deductible. As long as you don't purposefully cause the damage or you aren't in violation of your rental contract when the damage occurs, you describe what happened, if you know, and you may not even hear from the Rental Car Company again, obviously depending on the circumstances.
That coverage covers the Car You are Renting ONLY.
Supplimentary Liability Insurance is the coverage to cover cars or property you come in contact with...as in a car you hit, the people in that car, a lawsuit against you. In many cases that coverage is a Million Dollars US.
There are other coverages you can purchase from the rental car companies but they vary from state to state.
The benefit in purchasing from the Rental Car Company is that it's ususally cheaper than paying your deductible if something does happen and it can keep your insurance premiums clean. Why screw up your insurance for a car you don't own. Yes the coverage can be pricey, but it's a deductible expense for most people if you travel a lot. And if you don't get reimbursed for it...claim it as a non-reimbursed business expense.
It's all a personal preference.
Some people don't want the hassle of dealing with something/someone out of state/country. You are driving in areas you aren't familiar with...it's not your "stomping grounds." Don't take a bad memory home with you...the bad gift that keeps on giving...year after year...as your premiums keep going up.

But Quiz your insurance agent...don't listen to anyone but THAT person. Not the Credit Card person...not anyone here who tells you that you ARE or AREN'T covered. All credit cards are different depending on the issuing bank.

Thanks. Actually clears up alot.

Thank you everyone for helping.

First, the number on the AMEX website is disconnected. Now is 1-800-338-1670 (if I wrote it down correctly). The rep clarified the AMEX deal is primary coverage, but strictly on the rented car and its passengers. Good alternative to rental agency LDW, which I'm really sorry I didn't pursue long ago, but will not cover any other liability. I still want to talk to a few local agents to see if there is any separate-policy alternative that can be purchased on a standby, stand-alone basis for that.


BTW Jayer, do you know if the Premium Rental Insurance will cover damages even if coupons were applied to the total purchase? I heard a disturbing rumor that neither the basic AMEX secondary coverage nor the PRI will cover you if you used coupons to lower the total price. It sounds bizarre, since the remaining amount is still paid on the amex card.

Can someone enlighten to to the differences between LDW and actual insurance when renting in the US and Canada. I've constanty been told LDW and insurance are not the same but i'm unsure to the limitations of LDW. In an accident would it only cover the rental vehicle and the driver is liable for damages to other vehicle and property or something like that???

LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) is only about damage/loss to the rental car ...
As a renter of a car from a rental car company you agreed to bring the car back undamaged , and agreed to reimburse the rental company if damage happens to the rental car .... By offering an LDW option the rental car company agrees to "waive" their rights to recover from you the costs associated with fixing the damage to the rental car. (note that if you choose this option and pay for it there are still usually terms and conditions that you have to follow : things like damage caused while DUI or while committing a crime is not acceptable for the waiver to be applied...)

LDW is -NOT- about "liability insurance" , LDW will never cover the property damages beyond the rental car or injury to anyone.

In the US , rental companies are usually obligated to provide liability insurance with ALL rentals (not and option, this is included in the base rate) .
The BIG catch here is that this "obligation" is usually capped at the State minimums for liability coverage required for cars : these minimums are usually very low given the costs of accidents and the litigious society we live in , and in some cases like California there is no minimun requirements altogether therefore practically this means rental car company do not provide you with any liability coverage at all.

if you have a liability insurance policy on a car you own in the us most of the time that policy will cover rentals and rental car companies will usually go after that first (their limited coverage being considered secondary)

If you want the rental car company to provide you primary coverage at a decent level (generally 1M$ per occurence aggregate of damage and injuries) you will have to pick another option and pay for that : some call it ALI (additionnal Liability Insurance) some call it LIS (Liability insurance supplment)

Thanks for the info.

BTW Jayer, do you know if the Premium Rental Insurance will cover damages even if coupons were applied to the total purchase? I heard a disturbing rumor that neither the basic AMEX secondary coverage nor the PRI will cover you if you used coupons to lower the total price. It sounds bizarre, since the remaining amount is still paid on the amex card.

To answer my own question, called AMEX the other day regarding their PRI plan. As long as the rental is paid for by AMEX, the PRI will cover you.

In fact, the CSR and his supervisor suggested that if you don't want to pay the $19.95 (even though you've signed up for the plan, e.g. returning the car, but no dings on it), just pay with a different credit card.