This AmEx card provides theft and damage coverage as well as personal accident and property protection.
Updated Jun 24, 2024 9:10 a.m. PDT · 2 min read Written by Lee Huffman Lee Huffman
Lee is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Lee has held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2007 and enjoys being spoiled thanks to his Kimpton Inner Circle status.
Assigning Editor Meg Lee
Assigning Editor | Travel, SEO, Travel Loyalty Programs
Megan Lee is a former editor on the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She had more than 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
Fact CheckedMany or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Table of Contents
MORE LIKE THIS Travel Insurance Travel Travel Rewards Credit CardsTable of Contents
MORE LIKE THIS Travel Insurance Travel Travel Rewards Credit CardsMany travelers purchase rental car insurance to protect against damage or theft when renting a car. However, buying coverage can add up with the average rental car insurance cost at $20 to $30 per day.
So, does The Platinum Card® from American Express cover rental car insurance? In short: Yes, in certain situations, and provided you pay for your rental with the card.
If you pay for your rental with the The Platinum Card® from American Express , you can save money through its car rental insurance protections. Terms apply.
What does rental car insurance through The Platinum Card® from American Express cover? Who is covered? Are there any exclusions? Let's learn more about this coverage, its exclusions and how to file a claim.
When you pay for your entire rental with The Platinum Card® from American Express and decline the collision damage waiver, your rental car is covered if it is damaged or stolen. The built-in car rental insurance on The Platinum Card® from American Express covers up to $75,000 per rental agreement when there is damage or theft of a rental car. This protection is secondary coverage to your personal car insurance policy.
Additionally, suppose you decline the personal accident insurance and personal effects coverage. In that case, you and your passengers are covered for accidental death or dismemberment, accidental injury, and theft of or damage to your personal property.
Coverage amounts vary. For example:
Accidental injury coverage limits are $5,000 per person.Payouts for accidental death and dismemberment are limited to $200,000 per card member and $20,000 per passenger or authorized driver.
Personal property losses are limited to $1,000 per claimant and $2,000 total per accident. There is a cap of $300,000 per car rental accident. Earn up to 120,000 bonus points with our favorite American Express cardsCheck out our nerdy picks for the best American Express credit cards and find the right card for you.
BROWSE CARDSPaying for your rental car with The Platinum Card® from American Express means that the primary cardholder, any authorized users, their spouse or domestic partner, and authorized drivers are all covered for rental vehicle damage or theft through The Platinum Card® from American Express car rental insurance. Passengers in a covered rental vehicle are also covered for accidental death or dismemberment, accidental injury, and personal property damage or theft.
You'll receive coverage when paying for your car rental with The Platinum Card® from American Express , Membership Rewards points, or Pay with Points. This means you're covered, even if you redeem points to pay for your rental car.
Yes, there are several exclusions to the car rental insurance included with The Platinum Card® from American Express .
This benefit covers the rental car if it is damaged or stolen. However, it does not cover damage to other vehicles and property. Additionally, this protection does not cover injuries to people outside your car. To protect against those claims, you'll need to purchase additional insurance from the rental car company. Or, you can rely on your personal car insurance policy.
These rental car protections do not cover intentional damage to the vehicle if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if the vehicle was unlocked when it was stolen. The AmEx rental car insurance also does not cover wear and tear or damage to tires.
The accidental death or dismemberment and accidental injury coverages do not cover:
Pre-existing conditions. Team sports or racing. The voluntary ingestion of a substance. Self-inflicted injury.This protection is for the personal use of a rental vehicle. It does not cover:
Cargo vans Commercial trucks. Limousines. Off-road vehicles. Moving trucks. Rideshare vehicles or vehicle sharing.AmEx Platinum car rental insurance does not cover vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, New Zealand or any countries sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Terms apply.
If you've experienced a loss and need to file a claim, here's how to do it.
Start your claim. You can start the claims process by calling customer service at 800-338-1670 or visiting americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits .
Be timely. To receive coverage benefits, you must submit a Notice of Claim within 30 days of the loss or as soon as reasonably possible.
Complete and return claim forms (if necessary). After submitting your Notice of Claim, you may receive claim forms. These must be completed and submitted within 15 days of your Notice of Claim. If claim forms are not received, you can submit a letter that describes the incident and what your claim is for.
Submit proof of loss. Submit documentation that verifies your loss within 60 days. Examples of documents include an itemized repair bill, the rental agreement or a police report.
After providing satisfactory proof of loss, your claim will be reviewed. If your AmEx Platinum car rental insurance claim were approved, it would be paid within 30 days.
Having rental car coverage protects you in case something bad happens to the vehicle, its passengers, or their personal items. Instead of paying a daily rate to the rental car company, use your credit card benefits to save money. Paying with The Platinum Card® from American Express provides AmEx Platinum car rental insurance. It protects the vehicle against damage or theft and passengers in case of an accident. Terms apply.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card About the authorYou’re following Lee Huffman
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
Lee Huffman is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Lee has held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2007 and enjoys being spoiled thanks to his Kimpton Inner Circle status. See full bio.
On a similar note.
Finance Smarter Credit Cards Financial Planning Financial News Small BusinessDownload the app
Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product's site. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution's Terms and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly.
NerdUp by NerdWallet credit card: NerdWallet is not a bank. Bank services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC. The NerdUp by NerdWallet Credit Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Inc.
Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539
California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812
Insurance Services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no.OK92033) Insurance Licenses
NerdWallet™ | 55 Hawthorne St. - 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105