Chase Sapphire rental car insurance: What it covers and how to file a claim
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Whether planning a cross-country road trip or just needing a car to move between your hotel to a nearby national park, rental cars are a common part of vacations. When it’s time to pick up your car, the rental agency will offer a variety of options for coverage — for an additional fee, of course.
Does Chase Sapphire cover rental car insurance? Yes, using the right credit card to pay for your rental can invoke thousands of dollars in protection without any additional fees.
Related: Credit card rental car insurance: Best cards and how it works
While planning for emergencies is never fun, Chase Sapphire car rental insurance can cover theft, accidents or other damages to your rental car. This benefit is provided by two cards:
While we tend to focus on earning points and redeeming them for memorable vacations, it’s also important to understand how to protect your family in case something goes wrong on your next trip.
Here’s a closer look at the Chase Sapphire cards and their rental car insurance benefits that can provide peace of mind the next time you hit the road in a rental car.
What is Chase Sapphire Reserve rental car insurance?
When paying for your rental car with the Sapphire Reserve, you can decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver (sometimes abbreviated CDW or LDW) and still be covered for up to $75,000 of theft or collision damages to your rental car.
This benefit provides primary rental car insurance and also covers fees the rental car company may assess, such as loss-of-use charges, administrative fees, and even towing charges to get the car to a repair shop.
Related: 5 things to do once you get your Chase Sapphire Reserve
It’s important to note that there are restrictions to this benefit. For instance, it doesn’t provide other types of insurance, such as medical or liability protection, and it doesn’t cover car rentals that last more than 31 days. However, it does cover additional drivers listed on the rental contract and works worldwide.
Types of cars are not covered by this benefit; however, they include but are not limited to:
- Antique cars (cars over 20 years old or that have not been manufactured for 10 years or more)
- Cargo vans
- Motorcycles, motorbikes and mopeds
- Limousines and vehicles that are rented with a driver
- Passenger vans with seating for more than 12 people including the driver
- Recreational vehicles
- Trucks (other than pick-ups)
Coverage also doesn’t apply to off-road driving or if you’re doing anything illegal at the time damage occurs.
For more details, you can consult the full benefits guide.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review
What is Chase Sapphire Preferred rental car insurance?
The benefits guide for the Sapphire Preferred lists reimbursement for theft or collision up to $60,000, with coverage provided worldwide. However, the terms state that exotic cars and those with a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $125,000 or more are not covered.
This benefit provides primary rental car coverage against theft, damage and fees charged by the rental car agency and is available when you pay for your rental with this card and then waive the damage coverage offered by the rental agency.
Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
This coverage is subject to the same limitations as that offered by the Sapphire Reserve (mentioned above), including vehicle types, not providing other insurance types and only covering rentals of 31 days or less.
For more details, you can consult the full benefits guide.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review
How to get Chase rental car insurance coverage?
To be covered by Chase Sapphire card insurance, you must pay for the rental car with your card (or with points from your card, if booking through Chase Travel℠).
Then, you must also decline the rental car company’s damage protection benefit when you pick up your rental car. If you choose to add damage protection from the rental car company, your credit card’s damage protection benefits (LDW or CDW) will not go into effect.
It’s worth noting that you still can add other protection benefits to your rental, such as liability insurance, roadside dispatch or other benefits offered by the rental car company, without losing the rental car damage protections from your Chase Sapphire card.
Additionally, as always, you should inspect your car before leaving the rental lot and when returning the car, including taking a video of the car’s condition and noting any existing damages.
How to file a claim
If you have an accident or your rental car is stolen, you should first notify the rental car agency and the police. Your next steps will include filing a claim with your credit card’s benefits administrator.
For Chase Sapphire rental car insurance, there are two important dates to know:
- Within 100 days of the incident: File your initial claim
- Within 365 days: Provide supporting documents
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve insurance benefits — Which is better?
You will need to submit the following documents:
- The accident report form
- Your rental agreement(s)
- A repair estimate and itemized repair bill
- Two photographs of the vehicle damage
- The police report, if one was made
- A copy of the rental car agency’s demand later stating the costs you are responsible for and any amounts paid on the claim so far
- A credit card billing statement showing the charges for the rental
Depending on your situation, your claim administrator may ask for additional documents. Thus, you should keep copies of everything related to your accident or vehicle theft until the claim is resolved.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
What is primary car rental coverage?
We’ve mentioned several times that Chase Sapphire rental car insurance provides primary coverage. But what does that mean?
Rental car companies typically offer additional insurance benefits for a fee, often referred to as a “Collision Damage Waiver” or CDW. Fortunately, many popular credit cards offer car rental coverage and thus allow you to decline this added fee but still enjoy protection on the car.
However, the vast majority of these policies give you secondary coverage. As the name indicates, this would kick in on a secondary basis after other applicable insurance policies apply (namely, your own personal car insurance) in the event of damage or loss to your rental car.
Primary coverage is the opposite. It kicks in first in case of a covered incident, like an accident or theft. This prevents you from needing to submit the claim to your personal insurance company, which may cause your rates to go up.
Bear in mind that this benefit only provides coverage for the car; it doesn’t include liability insurance for damage you cause to property, nor will it cover injuries to you or others involved in an accident.
Bottom Line
Travel rewards credit cards can provide many benefits, such as helping you book first-class flights or luxury hotels using points. However, travel credit cards also provide less flashy benefits that can protect your trips during delays or when you have problems with a rental car.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred car rental insurance can cover the cost of your vehicle. At the same time, the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides top-notch coverage for rental cars.
Paying for your next rental car with either of these cards can provide peace of mind and save you and your loved ones tens of thousands of dollars should you experience problems during your vacation. Best of all, the insurance coverage provided by Sapphire cards is worldwide, unlike country limitations that other issuers like American Express impose.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.