Secondary rental car insurance: Best cards and what's covered

A visit to the car rental counter involves making some decisions. Will you decline the company's insurance offer? Do you need additional coverage for your trip?

If you hold certain travel rewards cards, you may have rental car insurance built into your benefits. But not all coverage is the same. It's important to know if your card offers primary or secondary insurance.

As its name suggests, secondary coverage kicks in second after other types of insurance, and it typically reimburses you for the amount that's not covered by your initial claim.

If you're interested in applying for a card with secondary car insurance (or wondering whether you already hold a card with this perk), here's what you should know.

What is secondary rental car insurance?

Secondary rental car insurance is offered by many popular rewards credit cards (including most American Express cards).

These policies kick in after other types of insurance, such as travel insurance or personal car insurance. This means secondary rental car insurance can cover leftover expenses, such as deductibles. You will have to file multiple claims if you go this route.

It's important to note that secondary coverage typically only covers damage to the rental car itself, and rarely covers personal injury or liability.

Related: Common rental car mistakes — and how to avoid them

How does secondary insurance differ from primary insurance?

If your card has primary rental car insurance (or an auto collision damage waiver), you'll usually make a single claim and receive coverage for either the rental's full value or the cost to repair it.

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Secondary coverage typically reimburses you for the amount not covered by your primary insurance. However, there are situations where secondary insurance can become primary, including:

• If you don't own a car or carry a car insurance policy
• If you have an eligible American Express card with secondary car insurance and enroll in the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection program

With the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection program, you can add a policy that provides primary car rental insurance to an eligible Amex card for a small fee. Enrollment is required in advance for some of these benefits, and terms apply.

Related: Your car rental company has a 'do not rent' list. Here's how to steer clear of it

The best credit cards with secondary car insurance

You can expect to receive a secondary car rental insurance benefit with the cards below.

The table mentions three popular American Express cards, but most American Express cards offer secondary car rental insurance. These three cards are not the only ones that offer this perk.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

If you don't have a credit card that offers primary car rental insurance, your next best bet is a card that provides secondary insurance. Many credit cards offer secondary car rental insurance, so we've only highlighted a few of our favorite options.

American Express cards

Most American Express cards offer secondary car rental insurance* that takes effect after damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory.

This list includes popular cards like the Amex Platinum, the Amex Gold and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. If you don't need primary insurance, you can use one of these cards and decline the rental company's insurance.

To learn more about each card, check out our reviews of the Amex Platinum, the Amex Gold and the Bonvoy Brilliant.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Related: Your complete guide to travel protections on American Express cards

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

Apply here: American Express Gold Card

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offer car rental collision damage waivers.

Insurance is secondary when you rent within your country of residence and primary when you rent outside of it. However, benefits are available only on accounts approved for the Visa Signature card, and terms apply.

To learn more about each card, check out our full reviews of the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Capital One VentureOne.

Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Learn more: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited

If you're looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that offers secondary car rental insurance, the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited merit attention.

These cards provide insurance for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.

Although neither card has an annual fee, both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. So, using these cards to pay for a car rental outside the U.S. would add damage protection but increase your rental cost.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited.

Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex

Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Bottom line

Secondary rental car coverage is valuable for those with personal auto insurance, as it helps cover costs that primary coverage doesn't, such as a deductible.

It's good to consider your plan in the event of theft or damage to a rental car. Just remember that you'll have to place more than one claim if you decide to lean on a combination of primary and secondary insurance.

Related: How to skip long rental car pick-up lines for free

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bonvoy Brilliant, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.