When to Utilize American Express Premium Car Rental Protection – The Points Guy

Certain credit cards provide car rental insurance when the card is used for payment. This insurance covers the vehicle in case of an accident, theft, or damage.

There are a few premium travel rewards credit cards that provide primary coverage, allowing you to avoid filing with other insurance first. However, secondary coverage is more prevalent.

Although the majority of American Express credit cards do not include primary car rental coverage automatically, many of them do offer the option to buy a Premium Car Rental Protection policy, which does provide primary coverage.

For a nominal charge, the optional Premium Car Rental Protection policy can be included in rentals secured with an eligible Amex card. We examine this optional coverage and inform you of situations where it is beneficial to enroll.

What automatic car rental coverage is included with American Express cards?

Many qualifying American Express cards provide secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, which protects you if a qualifying rental car is damaged or stolen.

Nonetheless, because the insurance acts as secondary coverage, in the event of an incident with your rental car, you must first file a claim with your primary insurer (for instance, your personal auto or travel insurance) prior to submitting a claim to Amex.

This situation is far from perfect, as it may increase your insurance rates. Moreover, it can be particularly troublesome if your main policy has a high deductible, potentially resulting in expenses of hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.

That’s why it’s advisable to secure primary rental car insurance whenever feasible.

If you possess an Amex card and qualify for secondary insurance, be cautious, as certain vehicles are not covered. These vehicles include:

• Cargo vans
• Custom vans
• Vans that can seat more than eight passengers
• Cube vans
• Box trucks
• Any truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 10,000 pounds.
• Antique cars
• Limousines
• Off-road vehicles
• Motorcycles
• Mopeds
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorized carts
• Campers

Furthermore, any rental vehicle obtained in Australia, Italy, New Zealand, or any nation that appears on the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned country list is not included.

To find out if a specific American Express card offers secondary coverage, you can check the Amex website, which lists the policies for all cards that provide this type of coverage.

Various cards offer varying degrees of coverage; therefore, it’s important to review the policy specific to your card.

Similar: The 10 cards we anticipate Amex might update this year — here’s what to look out for

What is the Premium Car Rental Protection offered by American Express?

American Express Premium Car Rental Protection provides primary insurance for damage or theft of your rental vehicle. It covers various rental car types, such as luxury cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs.

The coverage, which is valid for up to 42 continuous days, can be utilized to insure rental vehicles in the majority of countries globally, except for a few.

As previously stated, the majority of American Express cards, including those that do not offer secondary coverage on rental vehicles, permit you to buy primary coverage for a modest, fixed fee per rental.

Primary coverage implies that there is no need to submit a claim with any other insurance provider prior to filing with American Express. Enrollment is mandatory for certain benefits.

Keep in mind that the secondary car rental policies provided with American Express cards can vary, so the coverage on your card may not be identical to that of another Amex card.

What is not covered by Premium Car Rental Protection?

Although Premium Car Rental Protection is available, rentals that exceed 42 consecutive days (30 consecutive days for residents of Washington state), as well as the specified types of rentals listed below, are not covered.

• Any type of truck that is not a pickup truck
• Box trucks or cube vans
• Rented or short-term rented vehicles
• Vehicles that have had any component customized or altered after manufacturing by the original maker (excluding driver’s assistance equipment for physically challenged drivers)
• Rental or commercial vehicles
• Vintage cars refer to any vehicle that is over 20 years old or has not been produced for 10 or more years.
• Luxury cars, 4×4 vehicles, bikes, scooters, RVs, motorized carts (such as golf carts), moving trucks, trailers, and camper vans

Furthermore, you will not receive coverage for:

• Expenses related to the rental company’s standard business operations and costs covered, waived, or paid by the rental company or its insurer
• Pre-existing damage prior to taking possession of the rental car
• Tires, unless additional damage happens to the rental car from the same incident, or if the entire rental car is stolen
• Flaws in the production of the rental vehicle.
• Reduced value, unless mandated by law
• Depreciation, unless legally mandated reimbursement for depreciation
• Gradual deterioration, including effects that develop over time.
• Any asset aside from the rental vehicle and individual belongings.
• Lost items
• Creatures, furnishings, artwork, currency, financial instruments, passes, or paperwork.
• Belongings left in the rental vehicle after the cardholder or authorized driver has given up control
• Any injury, other than coverage for a covered individual described under the accidental injury expense benefit and accidental death or
  dismemberment benefit
• Any injury or pre-existing physical condition of a covered individual prior to an accident.

Benefits will not be provided if the loss being claimed was partially or wholly caused by any of the following:

• Breach of the rental company’s agreement
• Deliberate actions by an individual aimed at causing harm or injury
• Consumption of alcohol that meets or exceeds the legal blood alcohol limit for driving in the state or area where the incident took place.
• Being affected by any drug unless it is taken according to a physician’s or dentist’s prescription or advice
• Armed conflict or military action, whether officially declared or not
• The actual, alleged, or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, escape, release of, or exposure to any hazardous biological, chemical, nuclear, or radioactive materials, gases, substances, or contamination.
• Seizure by a government agency
• Damage caused by freezing and mechanical or electrical malfunctions, except when it is a consequence of theft.
• Leaving the rental car unattended and unlocked, or with a window not fully closed
• Pushing or pulling any object
• Commitment of a criminal offense or action, whether cited or prosecuted, by or on behalf of the insured individual
• Involvement in a riot, civil unrest, or uprising
• Taking one’s own life, a failed suicide attempt, or purposefully causing harm to oneself while in a sound state of mind.
• Failure of the cardholder or authorized driver to return all vehicle keys after having possession
• A rental car operated outside the area permitted by the rental company.
• A rental vehicle utilized for any form of racing or team athletic activities
• A rental vehicle utilized for commercial purposes, whether for transporting individuals or goods.
• Driving the rental vehicle on unpaved or rugged terrain
• Any ailment, sickness, or weakness

Which cards qualify for Premium Car Rental Protection?

The majority of American Express cards are eligible for enrollment in the Premium Car Rental Protection program.

Corporate cards (distinct from business credit cards) and card accounts issued through a third-party bank partner of American Express are usually not eligible.

Moreover, your eligibility might differ depending on your state of residence and the enrollment status of other card accounts you have previously opened.

What is the process for signing up for Premium Car Rental Protection?

To sign up, go to the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection page and select “Enroll Now.” After logging into your American Express account, pick the card you wish to enroll, choose your preferred plan, and review the program’s terms and conditions.

You can register cards online if you are the primary cardholder, but for enrolling authorized user cards, you need to call 1-866-518-0259.

You won’t incur any charges until you use a registered card to rent a vehicle, at which time the fee will be automatically applied to your account. Your enrollment will continue until you actively cancel it.

If you don’t need coverage for a particular car rental booking, cancel your enrollment prior to the rental by calling the same number mentioned earlier (1-866-518-0259) or the number on the back of your card.

If you don’t cancel, you will keep incurring charges for coverage every time you rent a vehicle with the enrolled card.

Benefits of Signing Up for Premium Car Rental Insurance

Even though the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection plan is not costly, it’s generally preferable to utilize a card that offers primary car rental coverage automatically when the card is used to pay for the rental.

Nonetheless, there are a few reasons to consider using an American Express card and signing up for the Premium Car Rental Protection program instead:

• None of your credit cards provide primary insurance coverage for rental car loss or damage.
• You are renting a pickup truck, cargo van, passenger van, or SUV, and none of your cards that provide primary car rental insurance cover this type of vehicle.
• You need to rent a vehicle for a period of up to 42 days, but none of your cards that offer primary insurance cover rentals for the duration you require.
• You find value in the medical expense and property loss benefits, both of which offer secondary coverage but are not typically included in the benefits offered by most credit cards.
• You might prefer using an American Express card, possibly for superior points accumulation, an Amex Offer, or a simpler claims process, which many have found to be more straightforward compared to handling claims through other issuers’ benefit administrators.

Related: Planning to travel this summer? Here’s all the information you need about achieving rental car elite status.

Steps to File a Claim for Amex Premium Car Rental Protection

In the event that an issue arises while you’re driving, follow these steps to utilize the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection.

The initial action you should take is to notify the relevant law enforcement agency about any harm to your rental car, such as vandalism, theft, or an accident, as soon as it is reasonably feasible.

Next, contact your rental agency to let them know about the incident, that you’ve alerted the authorities, and that you will be submitting a claim via American Express.

Next, contact the number listed on the back of your registered card to report the event and initiate the claims procedure.

A claim form will be sent to you if necessary. This form, along with any other requested documents, needs to be submitted to the Premium Car Rental Protection Claims Unit within 60 days of the damage or theft date.

If the necessary documentation is not provided within 60 days from the date of loss, coverage may be refused, except in cases where the documentation could not be furnished due to circumstances outside of your control.

Necessary documentation may include, but is not restricted to:

• Detailed invoice for the repair or replacement of the rental vehicle or item
• A report from a law enforcement agency, for instance, a police report
• Images of the impaired automobile
• A copy of all claim documents and correspondence supplied by the rental company
• Duplicate of the signed rental contract with the leasing agency
• Death certificate and/or detailed medical invoices and health records
• Authorization signed for acquiring medical records
• Completed claim form
• Proof from the rental agency showing that the insured individual was liable for the damage or loss
• Documentation of purchase or ownership for the item that was stolen or damaged

If your claim is approved, the payment will be made either to the cardmember or the rental agency, based on the circumstances and coverage.

Is it worth getting Amex Premium Car Rental Protection?

The American Express Premium Car Rental Protection policy offers cardholders a reliable choice for insuring their rental vehicle.

Other travel cards from companies like Chase provide primary car rental insurance just by using the card to cover the cost of the rental.

However, be aware that the third-party insurance company used by Chase and some other issuers like Capital One has a bad reputation for approving claims.

If your wallet lacks a card offering primary auto rental coverage, the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection policy is a solid option available for a modest fee.

It’s also a great choice if you’re arranging a longer rental or a vehicle that’s otherwise hard to insure, like a pickup truck, van, or SUV.

Bottom line

For avid travelers, a credit card providing car rental insurance can be valuable. Nonetheless, the majority of credit cards offer only secondary coverage for car rental loss and damage. This means you need to initially submit a claim to your primary insurance provider if your rental vehicle gets damaged or stolen.

If you possess an eligible card, the primary coverage available through Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection can offer added reassurance.

Related reading: