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.

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 and the rest of the information on this page is a general overview of the popular premium Platinum card for United Kingdom customers.

Coverage may be significantly different depending where you live. Contact American Express directly for more precise information.

Topic	Covered by Credit Card Provider	Not Covered / Limitations
Collision Damage	£50,000.	Charges beyond this amount are not covered.
Theft	£50,000.	Charges beyond this amount are not covered.
Liability	£500,000 (US$1 million in USA) for damage to another person or their property.	Costs beyond this amount are not covered.
Loss of Use	Some cover available.	Certain limitations may apply.
Vehicle Types	Many standard rental vehicles.	Exclusions include commercial vehicles, motorhomes, caravans and trailers.
Country Restrictions	Worldwide trips are covered.	Contact your Benefits Administrator to confirm if your specific itinerary is covered.

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

Credit card rental car insurance through American Express credit cards is secondary coverage. It only pays out amounts if they are not covered by other insurance, state benefits or other agreements.

This can mean you have to deal with a significant back-and-forth between different parties to access your coverage.

American Express also excludes many types of vehicles, including motorhomes and caravans. So if you're planning a spacious road trip with your family, your coverage may not apply.

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 also cover a wider range of vehicles compared to American Express, including motorhomes and caravans. Get your instant quote today and find out how RentalCover can offer the cover you need to travel with peace of mind.

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: Check out full Benefits Guides for a complete breakdown of coverage. You can access these on your local version of the American Express website.
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.

Get in touch: Any doubts at all about your American Express coverage? Contact American Express directly and get all your questions answered. Benefits guides for your card should provide information on who to get in touch with if you have any questions.

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

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. It only pays out amounts if they are not covered by other insurance, state benefits or other agreements.

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

You generally must purchase mandatory insurance from your rental company, and decline any additional, optional cover for your American Express rental car insurance to apply.

This means you'll have to consider if insurance offered by rental companies may offer better cover for you compared to insurance through American Express.

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

Does American Express cover rental car insurance?