Credit Cards and Car Rental Insurance
I am looking to rent a car for the month of July and August. I wanted to know which credit card offers the best car rental insurance?
The effectiveness of the rental car insurance offered by credit cards, really depends on the particular coverage plan (and the policies, restrictions, terms and conditions) of the particular credit card that you use.
You mentioned that you're renting the car for July and August. The first thing you need to know is that all four credit cards that offer coverage (see below) have limits on rental length.... American Express only covers rentals up to 30 days, Mastercard 31 days, Discover 31 days, Visa 15 days and Diners Club 45 days. That may exclude the possibility of your using a credit card for coverage.
If you are looking for more info:
There are five credit cards that come with a rental car loss and damage insurance plan. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club. It's important to know that with regards to rental insurance coverage, credit card companies' policies can be very different in regards to who's covered, to what extent (amount of coverage), in which vehicles and where and for what length of rental (you should check to see if the credit card coverage would extend for the full length of your rental).
I suggest that you visit http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/rental-car-insurance-policies-1273.php for a great basic overview of credit card coverage for rental car insurance. Make sure to click on the link in the first paragraph starting Editor's Note for the 2010 survey of credit card companies' rental car insurance policies.
There's also a link to a chart that provides information on Comparing credit cards' rental car insurance policies.
But note that Before you rent a car, it is best that you call your issuing bank to get information on the specific details, especially restrictions and terms and conditions, of your particular credit card's individual policy plan. Credit card coverage may only kick in after coverage is exhausted through your own personal automobile coverage (if you have any that applies to rental cars).
Read more about:
Car Rental Credit Card Coverages
Category Article car rental Insurance, credit card cdw coverage, rental car insurance, rental car insurance coverage
