American Express has rental car insurance
available for customers who charge the entire rental fee of their eligible rented vehicle to their American Express Platinum credit card. Getting behind the wheel of a new rental vehicle can be the start of your next big adventure. But, before you hit the road, car rental companies usually want to know you’re covered by rental car insurance in the event of damage to or theft of the rental car. Rental car insurance can be obtained directly from the car rental company, but it also comes standard as a membership reward with some credit cards like the American Express Platinum credit card.
Today, we’ll give you an overview of American Express Platinum credit card rental car insurance, what it covers, what it doesn’t cover, and how to secure your very own Amex Platinum credit card.
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
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What is American Express Platinum Card rental car insurance?
If you’re heading off on your next road trip with a rental vehicle, there’s a high likelihood that the car rental company will try to upsell their insurance as an add-on to the rental agreement.
To keep travel expenses low, it’s a good idea to clarify what coverage you already have. You may already have coverage through your regular car insurance
policy or you may be covered by your rewards credit card. Rental car insurance is one of the card benefits for holders of an Amex Platinum credit card who:
Use the Amex Platinum credit card to reserve and pay for the full cost of the rental vehicle
Decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) offered by the car rental company
Cardholders who meet the required criteria are covered by secondary coverage in the event of damage to or theft of the rental vehicle, but it’s important to know exactly what that rental car coverage includes and where it’s applicable to make sure it’s the right type of insurance for your needs.
MORE: How to avoid being unfairly charged for rental car damage
What Amex Platinum Card car rental insurance covers
To be covered by Amex Platinum Card rental insurance, the rental vehicle must be a four-wheel private passenger vehicle or minivan rented from a licensed rental agency and used exclusively to carry a maximum of seven passengers.
Eligible holders of an American Express card are covered by:
Up to $75,000 of car rental loss and damage insurance in the event of theft of, loss of, or damage to a rental car
$5,000 per person for medical expenses as a result of an accident by the Card Member or their passengers
$200,000 for the Card Member and $20,000 for each eligible passenger for accidental death or dismemberment benefits
$1,000 per person (up to $2,000 for all occupants) for loss or damage of personal property
This coverage is secondary insurance which means the only covered expenses are those that are in excess of other policies you have (for example, your primary insurance, your employer’s insurance company, or a partial collision damage waiver). In the event of loss or damage, you would have to first seek reimbursement from your primary coverage provider.
It’s also worth noting that the Platinum card coverage is time limited. The above coverage only applies for thirty consecutive days after the car was checked out (or until it is returned to the car rental company, whichever is sooner).
What Amex Platinum Card car rental insurance doesn’t cover
Nothing’s worse than ending up in a sticky situation and realizing you should have read the fine print more carefully. Here’s what Amex Platinum credit card rental insurance doesn’t cover.
Liability coverage
is not included, which means you aren’t covered for damage you cause to other people or vehicles. It’s a good idea to check if you have liability coverage through your personal auto insurance provider that extends to rental vehicles. If you don’t, it might be something worth looking into. Personal injury protection (PIP)
and uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance
are also not included.Amex’s Platinum Card rental insurance doesn’t cover rental periods beyond 48 days or vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.
The types of vehicles that aren’t covered by this insurance coverage are:
Any vehicle with an MSRP of over $75,000
Motorcycles, mopeds, or motorbikes
Vans, cargo vans, or mini cargo vans
While it seems obvious, it’s also worth noting some other exclusions:
Damage sustained as a result of impaired driving
How to get an Amex Platinum credit card
You can apply for an Amex Platinum credit card by phone, however, the easiest way is to apply online
. Once you fill out the online application form, the card issuer will determine if you’re eligible for the Platinum card. If you are, you’ll receive an offer to accept the credit card. Amex considers factors like your age, credit score, ability to pay the annual fee, and more. Since the Platinum card is considered a premium credit card with many perks and membership rewards, it requires a higher-than-average credit score to be approved.
FAQs
Amex covers rental car theft up to the actual cash value
of the rental car when the rental vehicle meets the terms and conditions requirements. The insured cardholder must send written notice of a claim within forty-five days after the loss occurs. American Express Platinum rental car insurance covers the primary cardholder, any authorized users, their spouse or domestic partner, and authorized drivers. This secondary coverage covers damage to or theft of your rental vehicle.
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