Cards that include “primary” auto rental CDW insurance
 

The only card I know that offers primary collision coverage is Diners MasterCard.

Anyone know of another issuer?

As far as I am aware of in US this is the only card issuer that provides primary collision coverage for free. Amex has something for $19 and $29 per rental coverage which becames primary.

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Of course, if one does not own a car, or does not carry collision/comprehensive coverage on one's personal insurance, then any credit card's "secondary" coverage becomes primary, since there would be no other collectable insurance.

For those of us who do not own cars, a credit card that provided third-party liability coverage would be a great find, but I do not know of any U.S. cards that offer such coverage.

Excellent Point!!!

Am I covered?
 

Here's the senario.......I have cancelled the collision and comprehensive coverages on our three older cars (2001, 2002, 2003) since the replacement value has gotten so low. I still maintain collision and comprehensive on our new car, a 2008. I always rent from Avis and never had a problem requiring a claim, and I use a Hilton Platinum Amex in my Avis profile to charge all rentals. So am I covered with my personal insurance in case of an accident based on the collision and comprehensive insurance remaining on our new car, or would I be relying on Amex to step in?

Mike, all AMEX cards only provide secondary coverage, meaning that they would require you to make a claim on your own insurance. If there was a deductible, they would pay it, or if there was no coverage, then they would cover the loss. But be aware that AMEX is not real anxious to pay and they may not pay loss-of-use or the administrative fee.

Not having to make a claim is why primary coverage is so desirable.

You should be covered under your personal insurance. I would recommend to check it with your insurance policy that this is the case. Then Amex would cover any deductible you might have.

The answer will be different for rentals in the US versus elsewhere. Your personal insurance is likely limiited to rentals in the US or maybe North America. Meanwhile, Amex may or may not have limitations on international rentals (many cards exclude certain countries, etc).

The answer also varies state to state. In New York State, rental car coverage is part of the liability coverage. You don't need comp or collision to be covered. From the NYS Insurance Dept website http://www.ins.state.ny.us/auto/autorent.htm

The following questions and answers apply to New York residents only.

I don’t have physical damage (collision or comprehensive) coverage on my motor vehicle liability policy. Am I still covered for damages to rental vehicles?

Ans: Yes, in New York, rental vehicle coverage is included in motor vehicle liability insurance policies that:

insure fewer than five vehicles; and are issued to an individual or a husband and wife. However, policies insuring certain types of vehicles, such as most types of trucks, are not required to include rental vehicle coverage. Your insurer is required to provide you with information about rental vehicle coverage with your policy materials. This coverage is normally included automatically in your policy, but if a premium is separately charged you have the right to reject this coverage.

I have one motor vehicle policy that insures my five automobiles. Do I have rental vehicle coverage on my policy?

Ans: No, rental vehicle coverage is required to be included only in motor vehicle liability policies that insure fewer than five motor vehicles.

I have only $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. What if the rental vehicle is damaged in excess of that amount?

Ans: Your rental vehicle coverage is not subject to the limit of property damage liability of your motor vehicle insurance policy. You would be covered for the full amount of damages to the rental vehicle.

What if I don’t have a motor vehicle insurance policy?

Ans: If you do not have a New York State motor vehicle liability policy (or if your policy is not required to provide the coverage), rental vehicle coverage may be included as a benefit with your credit card on a group insurance basis, if you use the credit card to rent the vehicle. Check the summary of benefits for the credit card to see if the coverage is available and any applicable limitations.

In addition, a rental vehicle company may now offer "optional vehicle protection" (also called "collision damage waiver") to its renters, at maximum daily rates of up to $9 to $12 (depending on the type of vehicle). The rental vehicle company must also advise renters about credit card insurance and motor vehicle insurance policies under which the renter may have rental vehicle coverage.

I have "Rental Reimbursement" coverage on my policy. Does this cover me for damage to the rental vehicle as well?

Ans: No. The "Rental Vehicle Coverage" under your motor vehicle liability policy should not be confused with "Rental Reimbursement," which is also knows as "Transportation Reimbursement" or "Extended Transportation" coverage, which many insurers offer as an optional coverage in combination with the purchase of physical damage coverages. This optional coverage is for the cost of renting a vehicle used as substitute transportation if your own vehicle is damaged and is temporarily out of use due to a covered loss, until it is repaired or is declared a total loss. This type of coverage is automatically provided in the case of a theft loss under comprehensive coverage.

This is not correct. As stated by TAHKUCT earlier in thread, Amex does provide PRIMARY coverage through some of their charge card products for an additional per rental fee.

Further, as someone who has rented continuously since 2005 (for business relocation purposes), I have used this primary coverage for every monthly rental - and have never had any issue whatsoever with Amex. With this additional coverage, they are completely and unequivocally willing to help in any way they can if you happen to be involved in any incident.

This is the link - its self explanatory:

https://www152.americanexpress.com/f...tal/product.do

Warm regards,

Ritz

I use citi professional. I assume it's the case with other citi "business" or "business-type" cards as well... See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=734996
post #7

I'm too lazy to search for other threads on citi professional. It's also talked about on fatwallet as well.

I haven't rented a car in a year or so though so you should double-check with citi.

Visa offers primary insurance on any of there business card products. Check out the visa.com web site it has the info listed under benefits of a business card.

Ritz, I think the issue was a card that INCLUDED primary coverage as a feature of the card, not a buy-up or additional fee every time you rent like the AMEX program you refer to.

Since you didn't make it clear in your initial post that you were looking for FREE coverage:

I posted the info about Amex to help.

Since this info about Amex was incorrect - I posted the link to the Amex Primary coverage to enlighten.

Best CC for “primary” rental car CDW insurance?
 

Hi,
I will be going and renting a car with Avis in Serbia for a duration of about 2 weeks. The cars in Europe come with CDW which covers me with me being deductable 10% of the damages or up to 700 euros. I know my United Visa covers me the full amount with no deductable. Because Serbia is an odd country I would like to keep the regular CDW but have some additional insurance - however the SCDW through Avis is about 11 euro extra a day which is not worth it (reduces the liability from 700 to 200 euros when I am at fault).

Does Amex or any other credit card program offer additional coverage on top of the rental company's CDW?

Thanks!