The Guide to AmEx Car Rental Insurance

Do you have an American Express card? Many AmEx cards include travel insurance, which can cover you in the event that an incident occurs. Among other benefits, AmEx provides complimentary rental car insurance on its cards, though the coverage level can vary depending on the card you hold.

Here's a look at AmEx car rental insurance, which cards have it and how it works.

Many AmEx cards include rental car insurance as a benefit. This applies to its most premium options, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, as well as standard cards such as the Hilton Honors American Express Card. Terms apply.

Here are some of the AmEx cards that provide rental car insurance:

• American Express® Gold Card.

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Coverage levels differ depending on which card you hold. If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, for example, AmEx will reimburse up to $75,000 for damage or theft after a qualifying incident. Meanwhile, if you have the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, you’ll receive $50,000 in coverage after an incident. Terms apply.

Note that AmEx car rental insurance is secondary, which means it’ll reimburse you only after all other insurance has paid out. This includes any personal insurance that you have. However, secondary insurance becomes primary if you don’t hold any other car insurance, even within the U.S.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for rental cars

Complimentary credit card rental insurance does a pretty good job when it comes to coverage, but keep in mind that what's covered depends on the card you hold.

Here’s what American Express rental car insurance generally covers for premium cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card:

• Theft of a covered rental car.

• Physical damage to the vehicle.

• Accidental death or dismemberment.

• Accidental injury.

• Car rental personal property coverage.

• Loss-of-use charges as incurred by the agency.

• Appraisal fees.

• Reasonable towing charges.

Terms apply.

Coverage for other cards is less comprehensive and includes:

• Theft of the rental car.

• Loss-of-use fees.

• Reasonable towing charges.

• Physical damage to the vehicle.

Terms apply.

You’ll find this type of insurance on cards such as the American Express® Gold Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Terms apply.

To receive coverage for your rental vehicle, you’ll need to:

• Pay for the full rental using your eligible AmEx card.

• Decline the optional insurance coverages offered by the rental company — for higher-end cards, this means you’ll also need to decline insurance such as personal property coverage and personal accident insurance. Other cardholders simply need to decline the full collision damage waiver.

Terms apply.

Note that you can still receive insurance if you’ve used your American Express Membership Rewards to pay for the car, but not if you used any other reward programs.

Rental car insurance is valid for rentals of up to 30 consecutive days only. Terms apply.

» Learn more: What your credit card rental car coverage doesn’t include

AmEx’s rental car insurance protects more than the cardholder. As defined in the guide to benefits, an eligible renter for collision insurance is a card member with an eligible card, their spouse or partner and any authorized drivers. For other types of insurance, such as accidental injury insurance, passengers of the vehicle are also covered. Terms apply.

There are two different ways to file a claim for an incident. The first is to head to AmEx’s online site and start your claim.

If you prefer talking to someone, report your claim by calling 800-338-1670. If you’re out of the country, call 303-273-6497 collect. You’ll want to report the incident within 30 days of the loss or as soon as reasonably possible.

Then, you'll need to submit proof of loss within 60 days. Expect to provide a variety of documentation, including:

• An itemized repair estimate and itemized bill.

• A copy of the rental agreement.

• A copy of the charge slip for the vehicle.

• A copy of your personal insurance or a notarized letter stating that you don’t have any.

• Police report (if there is one).

• A copy of your driver’s license.

Once AmEx has all your information and has processed your claim, they’ll pay out your benefits within 30 days. Terms apply.

Most AmEx cards come with some form of rental car insurance. This is true of both premium cards with high annual fees and lower-fee cards alike. However, the type of insurance and the level of coverage that you’ll receive varies based on your card. Terms apply.

To determine how the AmEx rental car benefits for your card work, you’ll want to check out its guide to benefits, where you’ll find information such as coverage limits and who is eligible for coverage.

To receive complimentary rental car insurance, you’ll need to pay for the full rental with your eligible card. You’ll also need to decline any insurance offered by the rental agency. Once that’s done, insurance is automatic and you can drive away knowing that you’re covered.