Marshall Jamieson, WalletHub Finance Consultant
@bergman77
USAA credit card rental car insurance covers physical damage and theft up to $50,000 per account, but you need to decline the rental company’s insurance in order to use your credit card’s one. Keep in mind that you’re only covered if you file your claim within 60 days of the incident. But there are instances, like driving non-general passenger vehicles, that are not covered. And certain conditions, such as reckless driving, would also void your coverage.
Basically, there are plenty of things you should know about your coverage before you sign a rental agreement.
Here’s how USAA credit card rental car insurance works:
- You are covered when you rent a vehicle in your own name for up to 31 consecutive days using a USAA credit card. You must pay for the full rental with your card, USAA reward points or a combination of the two. Split payments with a non-USAA credit card are not accepted. Also, you must decline any similar coverage offered by the rental company.
- USAA will pay for any physical damage, vandalism or theft. It will also pay for loss of use charges from the car rental company for the period of time the vehicle is out of service, along with towing costs.
- Coverage amounts are limited to repair costs, the vehicle’s market value, the rental company’s purchase price or $50,000, whichever is less. Loss of use charges are limited to $15,000 per claim.
- Only general passenger vehicles are covered. Vehicles not covered include trucks, SUVs, vans, pickups, motorcycles, recreational and off-road vehicles and luxury vehicles. To view the complete list, refer to your credit card’s Guide to Benefits.
- You are not covered for personal injury or damage to personal property, damages to other vehicles, property or injury to another person. Nor are you covered for losses related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, racing or reckless driving, or any damage of an intentional or non-accidental nature
- To file a claim, call 1 (800) 288-2141, or 1 (800) 673-1164 if you are outside the United States, and request a claim form. You must report the claim within 60 days of the loss. Any claim-related documentation, like police reports or damage estimates, must be submitted within 180 days of the incident or the claim will not be honored. A list of required documents can be found in your credit card’s Guide to Benefits.
Review your credit card’s insurance policy and familiarize yourself with what is and isn’t covered before you rent a vehicle. Contact your card’s customer service department to clarify anything not clear to you in the Guide to Benefits. Don’t assume you’re covered for every mishap when you pay for a car rental with a credit card that offers rental car insurance, as many exceptions and exclusions may apply.
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