Credit Cards That Provide “Primary” Rental Car Coverage (2019)

Car Rental Strategies, Credit Card Reference

A handful of credit cards provide “primary” rental car insurance. This means that if you damage your rental car, you don’t need to involve your auto insurance company.

With most other credit cards, you’ll still get rental car coverage, but it will be “secondary”. If you damage your rental car in the US or Canada, you will still need to file a claim with your personal auto insurance company. Your credit card only covers whatever is leftover, such as your auto insurance deductible; and potentially some fees which were tacked on by the rental car company, which your auto insurance company refused to pay. Guide to Car Rental Insurance.

For a US or Canadian rental, you are obviously better off using a card that offers primary coverage.

When you are traveling outside of the US or Canada, your US-based auto insurance doesn’t provide any coverage, so there isn’t a real difference between the two different types of credit card coverage.

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Do you need one of these cards?
All the “consumer” cards with primary car rental coverage
Small business credit cards with primary car rental coverage

For most people, signing up for credit cards, just to receive travel benefits, good reward earning rates, or lucrative signup bonuses, isn't an irresponsible thing to do. It won't kill your credit rating—it just might improve it. But, if you have a problem with credit, or you aren't organized enough to avoid unwanted credit card fees, you'll need to stick to our other strategies for discounted travel. For more information, see our Credit Cards 101 guide.

You probably don’t want to get a credit card just to get primary rental car coverage. However, all the cards that offer primary rental car coverage also have other valuable benefits, so there are other reasons you may want at least one of these cards.
You may even have already decided to get one of these cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve (for its airport lounge access and great reward earning rate), the United Explorer card (for its free checked bag on United), or the US Bank Altitude Reserve card (for its mobile payment bonus category and Gogo passes).
If you do wind up getting one of these cards, you should always use it to pay for your car rentals, even if it offers a lower reward rate than one of your other cards. The value of the extra protection is worth more than the value of the extra reward points. If you are willing to be tricky, you can reserve the car with a card that includes primary rental car insurance. Then, when you return the car, if you haven’t had any problems, switch the charges to a card that earns a higher reward rate. We think this is a bit unfair, so we settle for a few less points.

All the “consumer” cards with primary car rental coverage

Sapphire Reserve Guide	The Sapphire Reserve card is part of our simple plan. It is the key to unlocking the highest possible rewards for your credit card spending, and it comes with free airport lounge access. The annual fee is $450, but an automatic $300 travel credit reduces the effective annual fee to $150. Many travelers should (and will) get this card, and won’t have to look further for a card that has primary rental car insurance. Plus, you’ll earn the highest reward rate on your car rentals, along with getting the best protection.
Altitude Reserve Guide	The Altitude Reserve card is the another high-end reward card that we recommend for many people. It helps boost your rewards by giving you a 4.5% rebate on mobile wallet payments, comes with 12 Gogo inflight internet passes per year, and has an effective annual fee of only $75. It also comes with primary rental card coverage, and earns 4.5% on car rental charges.
United Credit Card Guide	The United MileagePlus Explorer card makes sense for people who can significantly benefit from its checked bag benefit, and the ability to redeem United miles for any available seat, without restrictions (but with a higher number of miles). You also get two free United club passes per year and priority boarding. $95 annual fee, waived for the first year. If you frequently fly United, you should probably get this card, and, as a side benefit, you'll be covered for rental car insurance. The premium version of this card, the United Mileage Plus Club card, offers the same benefits and more. However, we don’t think it makes sense for most people to hold onto this card, given its $450 annual fee. If you do wind up getting it, for its included United Club membership, you can take advantage of it for your car rentals as well.
Ritz Carlton Credit Card Guide	The Ritz Carlton Rewards card is no longer available for new signups. But, if you already have the card, you can still use it for primary rental car coverage.
Sapphire Preferred Guide	The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a lower annual fee ($95) and a higher signup bonus (60,000 vs 50,000 points) than the Sapphire Reserve card, but still offers primary rental car coverage. It earns a lower (but still good) reward rate for travel (and restaurants), but doesn’t come with the airport lounge privileges and some other premium benefits. We recommend the Sapphire Reserve card for most people, but some people might might choose this card instead.
CNB Crystal Infinite Card Guide	The CNB Crystal Infinite card is a less well-known premium card that offers primary rental car insurance. The card has a $450 fee, but comes with airline incidental credits, airport lounge access, the same reusable $100 airfare credit that is available from the Ritz card, and other valuable benefits. Unique among cards, you are entitled to a separate airline incidental credit for each authorized cardholder, allowing you to get up to $1,000 in credits per year (and $2,000 in the initial year). However, the card can be hard to get. You'll need to apply in branch (primarily in Southern California), and they will ask for a bunch of paperwork to prove your income and assets.
Diner's Club Card Guide	The Diners Club cards are another option, but are no longer available for new sign-ups.

Small business credit cards with primary car rental coverage

Primary rental car coverage is more common on small business credit cards, than on personal cards. You can usually get a small business card even if you have a very small business. However, you aren’t supposed to use them for non-business purchases. We are reluctant to recommend using one of these cards for your personal car rentals. If you get in an accident, it is very unlikely, but possible, that someone would look into whether it was an actual business-related rental, and refuse your claim if it wasn't.

Ink Preferred Guide	The Chase Ink cards are among the best available small business cards. Unfortunately, they are subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. If you have a small business and aren't blocked by the Chase 5/24 rule, you probably want at least one of these cards. They all come with Primary Rental Car Insurance.
Marriott Credit Card Guide	The discontinued Marriott Rewards Premier Business card is similar to the personal version, but comes with primary rental car insurance. Every year you have the card, you’ll get a free night certificate that you can use for rooms valued at up to 25,000 pooints per night. $99 annual fee.
Southwest Credit Card Guide	The Rapid Rewards Premier Business card is essentially identical to the personal version, but comes with primary rental car insurance. $99 annual fee.
American Airlines Credit Card Guide	The CitiBusiness Platinum Select card has the same American Airlines benefits as the personal version of the card, such as a free checked bag, priority boarding, a 25% discount on inflight purchases, access to reduced mileage awards, and a companion certificate (if you spend $20,000 on the card). It also earns 2x points on car rentals, gas purchases, and telecommunication expenses. $95 annual fee, waived the first year.