Does American Express Cover Rental Car Insurance?

American Express credit cards are known for offering significant perks, including rental car insurance. In this complete guide, we'll break down rental car insurance on American Express cards, and how you can ensure you have the right level of cover to travel with peace of mind.
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Note: Information on this page is in reference to cover available as part of the United Kingdom’s Platinum card. Coverage may be significantly different depending where you live. Contact American Express directly for more precise information.

What does American Express rental car insurance actually cover?

American Express offers many different types of cards with different levels of rental car cover. The table below is a general overview of the popular premium Platinum, Gold and Green cards.

You can find more information about individual American Express cards here. Keep in mind this is a general overview, and information is subject to change. Contact American Express directly for more precise information.

Topic	Covered by Credit Card Provider	Not Covered / Limitations
Collision Damage	Up to $50,000-$75,000 on certain premium cards..	Charges beyond this amount are not covered.
Theft	Up to $50,000-$75,000 on certain premium cards.	Not covered if the vehicle is left unlocked at the time of the theft.
Liability	N/A	No liability coverage.
Tires, Wheels Undercarriage	Covered in case of damage by fire, malicious mischief, vandalism, or an accident that is otherwise covered.	Not covered in other situations.
Loss of Use	Reasonable and customary charges are covered.	Other charges are not covered.
Vehicle Types	Many standard rental vehicles.	Exclusions include cargo vans, vans with a seating capacity over 8 passengers, off-road vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds, among others.
Country Restrictions	Most nations around the world.	Australia, New Zealand, Italy and any country subject to comprehensive sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Is rental car insurance from American Express enough on its own?

For US: Credit card rental car insurance through American Express credit cards is secondary coverage. That means that in order to use this cover, you need a form of primary insurance to report the incident to, first. This is generally your personal car insurance policy.

Depending on the specific cover that you have, your credit card may not cover costs like towing fees or offer any liability coverage. This can leave you with significant gaps in your cover when things go wrong.

American Express does offer rental car insurance products that function as primary cover. However, these are separate policies that require additional fees, rather than being automatic benefits of American Express cards.

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How RentalCover offers more complete coverage

RentalCover's policies are a better option for many travellers. That's because:

Our cover is primary. There's no need to lodge a claim with any other insurer before making a claim with us. We work directly with car rental companies to settle claims, with 98% of our claims paid out within 3 days.
We cover many of the exclusions of American Express and other credit card companies. For example, we can cover towing fees, and also offer liability insurance.
We cover a wider range of vehicles compared to American Express. We cover vehicles with a capacity up to 14 passengers, while many American Express policies don't offer cover for vehicles with a capacity over 8.

Get your instant quote today and find out how RentalCover can offer the cover you need to travel with peace of mind.

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Checklist: How to verify your policy details

Here's how you can ensure you completely understand your rental vehicle coverage under an American Express credit card:

Benefits Guides: Familiarise yourself with the complete Benefits Guides breaking down AmEx car rental insurance. You can access Benefits Guides for different American Express cards here.
Check for exclusions: One of the most important parts of your cover to understand is exclusions. Make sure you're completely aware of where your cover applies and where it doesn't.
Coverage type: The coverage American Express offers is secondary. You'll need to confirm how it interacts with primary coverage, like your personal auto insurance policy.

Get in touch: Any doubts at all about your American Express coverage? Contact American Express directly and get all your questions answered. Customers in the United States can get in touch on 1-800-338-1670.

Choose RentalCover for rental car insurance

Want car rental cover with fewer exclusions that works directly with your rental company in the event of a claim? RentalCover is the right choice for you.

With RentalCover, there's nothing for you to pay in the event of a claim. 98% of our claims are paid out within 3 days, in any currency.

Get your instant quote today and enjoy travelling in your next rental vehicle with peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions

What countries are excluded from American Express rental car insurance coverage?

Australia, New Zealand, Italy and any country subject to comprehensive sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control are not covered under American Express rental car insurance coverage.

Does American Express cover rental car towing or loss of use fees?

Yes, American Express rental car insurance coverage does include rental car towing and loss of use fees. These charges must be "reasonable and customary".

Does American Express require the entire rental to be paid using the card to qualify?

Yes, you must pay for your entire rental with an American Express card for hire car benefits to apply.

Does American Express offer primary or secondary rental car insurance?

Unlike cards such as Chase Sapphire, rental car insurance offered through American Express cards is secondary. In order to use it, you must first file a claim with your primary insurer, which is usually your personal auto insurance.

American Express also offers additional products that function as primary insurance. However, this requires additional payment, rather than being an automatic benefit.

Do I need to decline the rental company’s damage waiver if I use American Express for coverage?

Yes, rental car insurance through American Express won't apply unless you decline the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) offered by your rental company. This means you'll have to consider if the CDW offered may deliver better cover for you compared to insurance through American Express.

You should also weigh up alternatives like RentalCover, which offers superior coverage to CDWs rental companies offer while being 50% cheaper†.