Credit Cards not covering Car Rentals
 

Okay, call me stupid for not reading those few pages of fine print that my credit card sends each year. Well, turns out that not one of my 3 credit cards covers me for CDW or anything for that matter when renting a car...even in the US. (Oh, at one time they covered me in Switzerland.) These credit cards include a Platinum from Capital One, a Miles & More and another one.

They used to cover it, but no longer.

Anyone have the names of a credit card that covers Car Rentals in the US.

PS. Just as I'm typing, I spoke to my car insurance agent, she said that my car policy may not cover me out of state, it depends upon the state insurance laws. She always buys the insurance from the rental car company.

My BofA card covers it.Wachovia MBNA covers. CitiBank covers. All gold or platinum.

American Express covers anything your regular insurance doesn't cover. You can also purchase Premium Car Rental Protection for a one time fee of $25 for each rental that will make Amex your primary insurer.

I'm confused that your own car insurance agent states she is unsure as to whether your insurance covers you in other states? Huh? Are you in the US? I've never had this problem, and I've driven in almost every state west of the Mississippi. The insurance you buy with a rental agency (which is way over-priced) works in that the rental agency will not inform your insurance company of an accident. You will still have to pay a deductible - usually higher than your normal deductible. I would have your agent inform you whether you are covered in whichever state(s) you will be traveling. After all, it is part of her job!

As far as CDW, that is up to you. But there are credit cards that do cover this when you rent the car. Amex, as state above, and BofA, among others.

wow tmt you had me scared. I called Capital One (I have a business Visa) and they assured me that CDW is continuing as a benefit. I told the operator what you wrote, and she was surprised. Said that she has not heard of Capital One discontinuing the program for any cardholders, and that she'd be out of a job if they did....hmmmm....

While I am automatically insured--to a point--on my credit cards, I always book my car rentals on my AMX. As Chele60 mentioned, the cost is about $25 and covers absolutely everything for the duration of the rental. So whether it's a cracked windshield or a totaled vehicle, AMX covers it with no deductable and, more importantly, without getting your regular insurance carrier involved.

It's tough to beat for the price.

AL ((d))

Interesting....

Have researched this subject several times...and each time most all the credit card companies coverage is "EXCESS or SECONDARY" to your personal insurance. Only if you DO NOT have the coverage on your presonal policy and you decline the rental coverage, the credit card company will then be the "primary" coverage.

Not saying that their are not credit card companies that cover as mentioned in other post....just that I have not seen it in any of the card benefits that I have read.

And yes...collision coverage,no liabilty coverage is covered by the credit card benefits I have read.

Lots of good article on this subject.

Rental car companies do not sell "insurance". They charge a fee and in return for payment of that fee the rental company agrees to absorb the cost of any damage to the car. There is is no insurance or insurance company involved.

tmt, just to be clear...it is a credit card, not a debit card, correct? Many car rental companies don't take debit cards...

Correct Rusty....

Sounds like you have inquired about the subject thoroghly also.

Circa2 ~ The only credit card company that I personally deal with for renting cars is Amex. And yes, typically they will only cover whatever your regular insurance will not cover. However, and I'm not sure if this is written in any literature, if you call Amex they will tell about the program I spoke of. I just did this because of my upcoming trip to Spain. My American insurance company does not cover me and I was wondering what Amex would do. They did tell me in that case they would become my primary insurer, but for the $25 I could extra coverage. This extra coverage also places them as primary insurers - even if I rent within the US.

Hope that clears things up.

UPDATE from Original Poster.

After reading that another poster was covered by Capital One Platinum, I called Capital One again.

I was again told that the Platinum card and the Business Miles One did NOT cover rental coverage, BUT that some cards did cover rental and that each card had different benefits...however mine did not.

So, after thinking, I called to cancel the Platinum card and told the service rep the reason for cancelling. Lo and behold she said that both of my credit cards covered auto insurance, including covering it outside the US (with a few exceptions including Ireland). Hmmm...so who was giving me the correct info. I'm supposed to be getting something in writing directly from Capital One.

Next, I called Visa directly - to their "Enhancement Sercices" department...which was wonderful. The rep there emailed me a copy of their Auto Rental Collison Damage Waiver Progam telling me I am covered under both cards. Each card being a bit different since one is a business card and will be the primary insurer over my auto policy.

He said I must decline CDW or if I'm forced to take the CDW from the rental company, then I must get something from them saying that they were "forcing" me to take the CDW. This would be especially true in Italy, Costa Rica, and I heard Panama as well.

What a pain in the ...
So, bottom line, don't believe the customer service reps. In my case they said I didn't have coverage when I did...but what if it was the other way around and they said I had coverage when I did not. How often have I been told "get it in writing".

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions.

T.

Here is a link to Visa's information page about rental car coverage.
http://www.usa.visa.com/personal/car...iver%20Program
Harry

Chase Mastercard provides free coverage all over the world.

Wow, tmt, I'm the poster with the Capital One Miles One business card. When I originally read your post, I checked my visa file and only found the agreement from 2004 (which showed CDW coverage) so I called and spoke to customer service rep. You guessed it, she confirmed that I still had coverage. They did ask my CC number twice "to verify your individual benefits". Too weird. I'm going to do as you've done, and get it in writing, since I seem to have misplaced my 2005 agreement. I'm thinking of how many times I've rented a car in the past year, totally assuming I had coverage.

That old saying comes to mind: How do you spell assume? Make an ass out of you and me. Not too funny after all!

Thanks again for the heads up.

P.S. You wrote: "Each card being a bit different since one is a business card and will be the primary insurer over my auto policy."

My card agreement says that if the car is rented for business, then they're the primary insurer. However if the car is a leisure rental, then their coverage is secondary to your personal auto policy.

Grrrr!

Last time I rented in the US I called my insurance carrier (State Farm) and was assured that I was covered fully. I'm guessing that in the case of a fender bender the CC coverage would keep the info from your insurance company.