How does the Blue Cash Everyday rental car insurance work?

American Express offers rental car insurance as a complimentary benefit on all American Express-branded credit cards. American Express rental car insurance covers rental car damage or theft, accidental injury, accidental death or dismemberment, and personal property damage. Cardholders are covered up to $50,000 - $75,000 per rental agreement for rental car damage or theft. To get the coverage, a cardholder must decline the rental agency’s insurance and pay for the rental entirely with an American Express credit card or points or cash back rewards.... read full answer

Notable American Express Credit Cards That Offer Rental Car Insurance

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card
• American Express Cash Magnet® Card
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Key Things To Know About American Express Rental Car Insurance

• Coverage Amount. Up to $50,000 - $75,000 per rental agreement for rental car damage or theft.
• File Claims for Domestic Rentals Through Primary Insurance First. The American Express rental car insurance benefit provides secondary coverage for domestic rentals of up to 30 days, so you will need to file a claim through your primary insurance carrier first, if you have one.
• Coverage Is Primary When Renting Vehicles Abroad. If you’re renting a vehicle outside of your home country, coverage under the American Express Platinum card rental car insurance benefit is primary and lasts for up to 30 days.
• Not All Vehicles or Incidents Are Covered. American Express rental car insurance does not cover vans, cars used for commercial purposes, leased vehicles, cars older than 20 years, limousines, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, among others. Coverage also does not apply to certain incidents such as events arising out of illegal activity, intentional damage, off-road operation of the rental vehicle, or use of the vehicle in violation of the terms and conditions of the rental agreement.

American Express Rental Car Insurance Claims

To file a American Express rental car insurance claim, call the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-338-1670 or visit the card’s benefits website to obtain a claim form. You will need to submit the claim form, along with any requested supporting documents – such as an itemized repair bill, a copy of the receipt for the rental of the vehicle, photos of the damaged vehicle, or a police report – no later than 60 days after the incident.

You should receive payment from the Benefits Administrator within 90 days after receipt of all documents and the validation of your claim.

All information about the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by WalletHub. The American Express Cash Magnet® Card is no longer available to new applicants through WalletHub, but may be available on the American Express website.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday benefits include rental car insurance and purchase protection. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express card also offers the lowest hotel rates guarantee policy and instant card numbers, which are more common perks across American Express cards.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card Benefits

• Rental car insurance*
• Purchase protection*
• Lowest hotel rates guarantee
• Instant card numbers
• Free ShopRunner membership (for free shipping with participating online merchants; enrollment required)... read full answer
• Up to $7 back each month for the Disney Bundle subscription (enrollment required)
• Up to $15 per month (a total of $180) for Home Chef meal purchases (enrollment required)

Along with these benefits, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card has a $0 annual fee and gives rewards on all purchases. As long as you have good credit, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is certainly a card to consider adding to your wallet.

*Insurance Benefits Disclosure: Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

No, you do not need insurance to rent a car because rental companies have their own insurance. Rental car companies usually provide minimum liability coverage only, so if you don’t have personal insurance, you’ll probably want to purchase extra rental car insurance through the rental company. If your personal car is insured and you pay for your rental with a credit card, you can probably skip the optional coverage offered at the rental counter.... read full answer

Coverage Offered by Rental Car Companies

• Collision Damage Waiver:

Covers: Damage to the rental car in an accident

Similar to: Collision and comprehensive

• Supplemental Liability

Covers: Damage and injuries to the other driver from an accident you cause

Similar to: Bodily injury and property damage liability

• Personal Accident

Covers: Medical costs for injuries to you and your passengers

Similar to: Personal injury protection, MedPay and health insurance

• Personal Effects

Covers: Personal items stolen out of the rental car

Similar to: Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance

You don’t have to purchase all of these coverage types to be protected while driving your rental. But minimum liability insurance carried by the rental car company isn’t enough protection if you get into an accident.

When You Don't Need The Rental Company's Insurance

Before you buy the rental company’s insurance, you should consider what coverage you may already have through your personal car insurance. The coverage limits and deductibles you have on your personal vehicle typically still apply to rentals, as long as you’re renting for personal use. Many major credit cards also offer coverage for rental cars if you pay with your card and decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company.