Any thoughts on what is the actual best PRIMARY rental insurance provided as a card benefit? Not considering the card fee, just who provides the best benefit. Anyone have bad experiences using the Venture X insurance? The Sapphire Reserve seems to have a good reputation for people who have used it. Anyone think another card is better? (Not interested in paying for it with the Amex Platinum)

TLDR
Sapphire includes up to $75K of vehicle coverage, pickup trucks, loss of use charges, and rentals to 31 days.
Venture X includes vehicles with MSRP under $75K (big difference if you are upgraded to an Escalade?), excludes pickup trucks, excludes loss of use, limits to 15 days domestic/31 international, and excludes a couple countries.

I have the Sapphire Reserve and and Venture X as primary spending cards. I am considering getting the Venture X Business and letting the Sapphire go. Maybe picking up the Sapphire again later for the SUB, since I've had it for years. I fly out of DFW a lot, and having the Capital One lounge is the best perk of the Venture X card. I use the Priority Pass Restaurants in Seattle 12-15 times a year, so that perk pays for the Sapphire Reserve card. I'm looking at getting the Venture X Business card because it includes Priority Pass Restaurants, I'm not seeing any outsized value in keeping the Sapphire Reserve EXCEPT car insurance. I rent 10-12 times a year, or 20-40 days, so having primary insurance coverage is a huge value. I have only had one pickup truck rental, and one rental over 15 days in the past two years, so I can manage that. Never get anything more expensive than a Tahoe, comfortable under the $75K cap.

The Sapphire seems better.

From the Fine Print:

Capital One

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver reimburses You for damages caused by theft or collision – up to the Actual Cash Value (Actual Cash Value means the amount a Rental Vehicle is determined to be worth based on its market value, age and condition at the time of loss) of rental vehicles with an original manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00) when new.

Vehicles not covered

Certain vehicles are not covered by this benefit, they consist of expensive, exotic, and antique cars; cargo vans; certain vans; vehicles with an open cargo bed; trucks; motorcycles; mopeds; motorbikes; limousines; and recreational vehicles.

An expensive automobile is defined as any vehicle with an original manufacturer’s suggested retail price of more than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00) when new.

Vans are not covered. But those designed as small-group transportation vehicles (seating up to nine (9) people, including the driver) are covered.

Related instances & losses not covered

Depreciation of the Rental Vehicle caused by the incident including, but not limited to, “diminished value”

Rental periods of fifteen (15) consecutive days within Your country of residence, and thirty-one (31) consecutive days outside it, are both covered. (Longer rental periods, however, are not covered).

Theft or damage from rental transactions that originated in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, or Northern Ireland

Capital One does not specifically call out Pickup Trucks as being insured.

Sapphire

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

The Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver benefit provides reimbursement for damages caused by theft or collision up to seventy–five thousand ($75,000.00) dollars. The Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver acts as primary coverage and covers theft, damage, valid loss–of–use charges imposed and substantiated by the auto rental company, administrative fees, and reasonable and customary towing charges (due to a covered theft or damage) to the nearest qualified repair facility. The Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver covers no other type of loss. For example, in the event of a collision involving Your Rental Vehicle, damage to any other driver’s car, the injury of anyone, or damage to anything is not covered. Rental periods up to thirty–one (31) consecutive days are covered. You are covered when Your name is embossed on an eligible card issued in the United States, and You use Your credit card Account and/ or rewards programs associated with Your Account to initiate and complete Your entire car rental transaction. Only You, as the primary renter of the vehicle, and any additional drivers permitted by the Rental Car Agreement are covered.

What Vehicles Are Not Covered?

Certain vehicles are not covered by this benefit, including: antique cars (cars over twenty (20) years old or that have not been manufactured for ten (10) years or more), cargo vans, vehicles with open cargo beds, trucks, (other than pick–ups), motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines, and recreational vehicles and passenger vans with seating for more than nine (9) people, including the driver (passenger vans with seating for nine (9) or less, including the driver, are covered).

Rental periods that either exceed or are intended to exceed thirty–one (31) days

Depreciation of the Rental Vehicle caused by the incident including, but not limited to, “diminished value”

What Types of Vehicles Are Covered?

All self-propelled, four (4) wheel vehicles designed, licensed, and used for private on-road transportation, with trucks limited to a carrying capacity of up to two thousand (2,000) pounds, are covered subject to the guidelines section. Commercial vehicles are not eligible for coverage.