It cost $20 but I like to use it in the US because the coverage is primary, unlike the free CC coverage.

Outside the US, my regular car insurance won't cover, so CC coverage is always primary anyway. Are there still material benefits to paying for the premium coverage? (It has higher limit than the free coverage, that's not a material difference).

For countries that don't require that you purchase locally provided insurance, I think Amex's Premium Car Rental Coverage is a godsend! At least for my purposes, it has been substantially less expensive. Most of my CCs no longer provide any car insurance (though most used to provide it). You would, I think, need to check your CC coverage options, check the prices of insurance elsewhere, and calculate the relative costs and benefits.

I don't believe Amex Premium Car Rental Protection covers either Italy or Ireland.

I did not know about this amex option. Maybe it doesn't matter to me because I don't have collision coverage on my car.

Not covered

• Vehicles in Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Italy, Ireland, or Jamaica

Amex Premium Protection for Car Rentals --- Is It Worth It? [2025]

I've done it both ways when I rented in Europe. I've never had an issue, but I've found that my trip is far more enjoyable when I don't have to worry about damaging the car and dealing with credit card insurance. That's just me, others will see it differently.

Years ago, our good poster Patrick was in an accident in Wales. Nobody was hurt, but a few thousand dollars in damage was done to the car. It took him about 6 months to collect from the credit card insurance. This is partly what made me re- think using credit card insurance. Other posters have had better luck.

What are the two ways?

Sorry if that was unclear. One way is to use credit card insurance, the other is to pay extra and buy full coverage from the rental company.

I have had two car park wall to auto incidents in Nice. One for me and one for my daughter. Chase reserve was a pain to deal with and took 6 months. AMX was easy to deal with and well worth the small cost. Do tend to use insurance through Auto Europe when in Italy or Ireland

I agree 100%.

A few years ago we picked up a rental car in Florence and had a great time. On the last day, I noticed a "ding" in the back bumper. Someone had hit us in a parking lot. I was just sick at the thought of dealing with insurance issues after returning home. I went out with a wet wipe to scrub a bit to see how bad the damage was. The paint from the other car came off the (plastic) bumper and it didn't look bad at all. I'm used to corporate rentals (paid for by my company) when I didn't even look at the paperwork. The corporate defaults were used and even if I wrecked the car, I would not have to deal with the repairs/ paperwork. I missed that piece of mind.

On my next trip, I paid for Hertz' supercoverage. It was an additional $200 for the week but that piece of mind was priceless. I've rented almost every year in Italy and/or France since. I always rent from Hertz (I have a long rental history with them and National). I always add the super coverage at pick up at airport. Not only do I not have to worry at all - they don't do walk-arounds at pick up and drop off. No matter what happened on the trip, it's covered. I remember dropping off at the Marseilles airport and watching a renter beside me do the walk-around inspection with the Hertz guy taking notes and mapping scratches. When they saw my contract, they just waved me off and I was on my way.

Oftentimes my travel partner/ friend will do the math with other rental companies, just to see. In truth, unless there's a significant price difference, I'm always going to rent from Hertz in Europe. Another plus = I usually see long lines at other rental counters. I've never had to wait at Hertz. Shorter to no lines. It's Hertz' super coverage for me.

Photos from Venice airport - 11 am on a Saturday in July
to door service from the hotel to the airport. We used the porter service too for our bags from the water taxi to the rental car counter.

Hi, I’ve been following this thread, and it’s great to see the insights! I’ve used AmEx Premium Car Rental Protection in Europe a couple of times, and for me, the $20 feels worth it for the peace of mind, especially in countries where my regular car insurance doesn’t apply. The primary coverage and smoother claims process compared to standard credit card insurance like the slow Chase experience mentioned make it appealing. That said, it’s not perfect. As others pointed out, it doesn’t cover countries like Italy or Ireland, so you’d need to double-check for your destination. I’d suggest comparing the AmEx premium’s coverage limits and terms with the rental company’s insurance to see what fits your trip best. Has anyone found other cards with solid primary coverage abroad?