Does Capital One Cover Rental Car Insurance?

Capital One credit card holders may be eligible for rental vehicle insurance, offering more peace of mind when you travel. In our guide, you'll find out what a Capital One card covers you for, what limitations your cover may have and what other policies can help you enjoy a relaxing holiday in a rental vehicle.

Note: Capital One credit cards issued outside of the United States do not include rental car coverage as a benefit. Capital One cards issued inside the United States do offer worldwide coverage. However, this is dependent on legal restrictions in the country you're travelling to.

The information on this page refers only to cards issued in the United States.

What does Capital One rental car insurance actually cover?

Capital One offers rental car insurance on a number of different cards. The following information applies to Venture and VentureOne cards on Discover Network. Terms can vary significantly for different cards on different networks.

For more information, check the Benefits Guides for specific cards here.

Topic	Covered by Credit Card Provider	Not Covered / Limitations
Collision Damage	Up to $60,000 for Chase Sapphire Preferred® and up to $75,000 for Chase Sapphire Reserve®.	Exclusions apply for breaches of rental agreement, off-road operations or if the driver is under the influence.
Theft	Covered under card policy.	Exclusions apply for breaches of rental agreement and a lack of reasonable care for protecting the rental vehicle.
Liability	N/A	No personal liability coverage.
Rental period	Rental periods up to 31 consecutive days are covered.	Periods over this time limit are not covered.
Loss of use	Covered under policy.	Exclusions apply for expensive or antique cars, cargo vans, trucks, recreational vehicles and vehicles with a seating capacity over 9.
Vehicle Types	Many standard rental vehicles.	Exclusions apply for antique cars, cargo vans, trucks (other than pick-ups), motorcycles, mopeds, passenger vans with seating for more than 12 people including the driver, and more.
Country Restrictions	Policy can apply in most foreign countries.	Insurance is not available in countries where it is precluded by law.

Is rental car insurance from Capital One enough on its own?

Credit card rental insurance through most Capital One cards is secondary coverage. This means that coverage from your personal auto insurance policy is applied before cover from your card. However, certain cards, including Capital One Venture X do offer primary coverage.

Depending on your specific cover, there may be significant gaps in your insurance through Capital One. For example, there is no liability cover through Capital One cards, so you aren't protected for injuries to other people and damage to other vehicles and property.

So, while Capital One cards do offer some valuable coverage, there are policies out there that can help you travel with even more peace of mind.

How RentalCover offers more complete coverage

RentalCover's rental car insurance is a superior choice for many people when compared to Capital One cards. That's because:

Our cover is primary. When things go wrong on your travels, you don't need to wait for your personal auto insurance to kick in. We work directly with car rental companies to settle claims, with 98% of our claims paid out within 3 days.
In Canada and the United States, we offer a Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) product, so you have cover for third-party liabilities including injuries to other people and damage to property.
Our policies cover cars with seating capacities up to 10, while Capital One Venture and VentureOne cards on the Discover Network limit cover at 9 seats.
We offer cover for rental periods up to 1 year. With cover through Capital One Venture and VentureOne cards on the Discover Network, only rental periods up to 31 consecutive days are covered.

Checklist: How to verify your policy details

If you're unsure of exactly the car rental coverage you're getting through your Capital One credit card, here's how you can find all the information you need to travel with confidence.

Benefits Guides: Benefits Guides are documents that detail the perks of your credit card, including rental car insurance benefits. You can find Benefits Guides for Capital One here.
Coverage type: Depending on the Capital One card you have, your coverage could be primary or secondary. Make sure you understand your coverage type, and how your cover will interact with policies like personal auto insurance.
Refusing rental company insurance: Capital One cards like Venture and VentureOne require you to decline coverage like Collision Damage Waivers (CDWs) offered by your rental company for your credit card insurance to apply. Make sure you understand if this is a necessary part of your cover.

Get in touch: If you're left with any lingering questions about your cover, contact Capital One directly.

Choose RentalCover for rental car insurance

Not satisfied with the cover offered by your Capital One card? A RentalCover policy might be right for you. Our cover is primary, and we deal directly with your rental car company to settle your claim.

Our policies offer comprehensive protection in areas where Capital One cover can fall short. This includes cover for rental periods over 31 days and cars up to 10 seats.

In Canada and the United States, we also have a Supplemental Liability Insurance product. It offers cover for third-party costs you may need to pay if you're at fault for an accident. Get your instant quote today and discover how RentalCover can level up your peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions:

Does Capital One offer primary or secondary coverage?

The Capital One Venture X card offers primary insurance. However, the majority of Capital One cards offer secondary coverage, meaning it comes into effect after a primary policy like personal car insurance.

Does Capital One rental car insurance cover luxury or specialty vehicles?

Capital One rental car insurance coverage typically excludes expensive, exotic and antique cars. This includes brands like Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari and McLaren.

However, for Venture and VentureOne cards on the Discover Network, selected models made by Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz can be covered.

Does Capital One cover theft of the rental vehicle?

Yes, Capital One cards cover rental vehicle theft. However, this cover may be voided due to factors like breaching your car rental agreement or a lack of reasonable care for protecting the rental vehicle.

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

Yes, for cards like Venture and VentureOne, it's necessary to decline damage waivers offered by the car rental company to activate coverage through your card.

How long can a rental car be covered under Capital One's insurance policy?

For Capital One Venture and VentureOne cards on the Discover Network, the maximum rental period for coverage is 31 days. By contrast, RentalCover's policies offer cover for periods up to 1 year.

Does Capital One rental car insurance apply to accidents caused by another driver?

Yes, Capital One credit card rental car insurance can cover incidents where you are at fault, and also where you are not at fault. Keep in mind that you're only covered for damages to your rental car, and not for any liability costs you may face.

Does Capital One cover rental car insurance?