Credit Cards That Cover Rental Car Insurance

These cards can save on rental car insurance, especially for international travel.

A ride in a convertible down a narrow, windy road in the French Alpes-Maritimes.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Disclaimer

This article covers only some of our picks for the best credit cards for rental car insurance. All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Kiplinger. We may get compensation if you visit partner links on our site. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our website. However, our selection of products is made independently of our relationship to advertisers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Rates checked as of July 2, 2024.

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Personal Auto and Travel Cards Coverage
Rental Car Insurance ScenariosPersonal Auto InsuranceThe Best Travel Credit Cards
Travel in the U.S.YesYes
International TravelNo (except Canada)Yes (though most cards exclude Italy, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Australia, Israel, Jamaica and New Zealand)
Business Travel*NoYes, with some exceptions
Luxury car rentalYou may need additional insuranceYes
Exotic cars, off-road, trucksNoNo
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First Place: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

This card is ideal for those willing to book travel, dining, and other services through Chase's rewards programs. Earn between 5 and 10 points for each dollar booked through Chase. Plus get a $300 yearly statement credit for travel purchases.

According to WalletHub, this card offers the best rental car insurance for coverage at home and abroad.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠, more than offsetting the $550 annual fee.

This card provides the kind of travel perks you would expect from a high-end card, like access to VIP airport lounges, hotel room upgrades, and up to $100 every four years to help offset the cost of TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS applications.

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Second Place: Other Chase personal credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 

The Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you earn with this card are redeemable for travel bookings through Chase Travel℠ at a heightened value of 1.25 cents each, or get a respectable value of 1 cent per point for cash back or gift cards. Alternatively, transfer points to a solid list of partner travel loyalty programs, including Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. 

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's about $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. For our review of this bonus offer, read Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card: $750 Bonus Offer.

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Third Place: Most Wells Fargo cards, such as the

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card 

Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $500 in the first three months.

This card keeps it simple: Cardholders get 2% cash back on everything they buy. Redemption options include statement credits on purchases, a credit to other qualifying Wells Fargo accounts (including a checking account or mortgage) and gift cards.

Disclaimer

As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view of the best deals and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.

Ellen Kennedy
Personal Finance Editor, Kiplinger.com

Ellen writes and edits personal finance stories, especially on credit cards and related products. She also covers the nexus between sustainability and personal finance. She was a manager and sustainability analyst at Calvert Investments for 15 years, focusing on climate change and consumer staples. She served on the sustainability councils of several Fortune 500 companies and led corporate engagements. Before joining Calvert, Ellen was a program officer for Winrock International, managing loans to alternative energy projects in Latin America. She earned a master’s from the U.C. Berkeley in international relations and Latin America.