How does the American Express Blue 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 American Express Blue Card travel insurance gives you automatic travel protection benefits at no extra charge, as long as you pay for your travel costs with your card. The American Express Blue Card’s travel insurance includes rental car insurance and Global Assist Hotline.

The rental car insurance pays for damage to and theft of rental cars and the coverage is as high as $75,000 per vehicle. To be eligible for coverage, you must pay your entire travel fare with your American Express Blue Card.... read full answer

The Global Assist Hotline offers 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical, legal, and passport referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance, whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home.

Of course, terms & conditions apply. You can learn more by visiting Amex's benefits page.

The best American Express Blue Card benefits include 2 points / $1 on travel purchases, protections for purchases and returned items, and car rental insurance. This card also offers $0 fraud liability protection and monthly credit bureau reporting, which are relatively common benefits for credit cards.

Here are the best American Express Blue Card benefits:

• Points for Every Purchase:... read full answer Earn 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  
  Points redeemable for merchandise, dining and entertainment, gift cards and more. You can also spend them on flights, hotels, cruises, or other travel-related expenses. Points do not expire as long as the account remains active.
• Purchase Protection: Covers eligible purchases from theft and accidental damage for up to 90 days. Covered for $1,000 per incident up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Car rental insurance: Pays eligible benefits not already paid by any primary insurance. Covers eligible rental vehicles for first 30 days against damage and theft up to a maximum of $50,000 with some restrictions.
• Global Assist Hotline: Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, you are eligible for 24/7 emergency assistance, including medical, legal, and passport referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance.

Note that exclusions and coverage limits apply to many of these benefits, so make sure to check your American Express Blue Card’s guide to benefits for more details on each type of insurance.