Long joined the Thrifty Traveler team in 2023 after working in higher education. Now, he dedicates his love for racking up credit card points and redeeming them into helping Thrifty Traveler readers d.
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It might get buried underneath the allure of big points bonuses and other travel perks, but the rental car insurance you get on the *chase sapphire preferred* and the *chase sapphire reserve* is one of the most valuable benefits of all.
The coverage you get from charging your rental to a Sapphire card is some of the best rental car insurance you can get from a credit card … and in some cases, it's even better than the policy you'd pay extra for at the rental car desk. It'll cover any damage to your rental and provides cardholders with primary auto rental insurance. And that generally means you can skip additional policies from your rental car company – and even from using your own policy to file a claim if the worst happens.
Still, rental car insurance can be complicated. So we've broken it down to help you know exactly what you're getting from Chase's auto insurance benefit.
In this postChase Sapphire cards aren't the only ones that offer some level of insurance when renting a car. But this coverage is better.
Almost every other card on the market offers secondary rental car coverage. If you get into an accident or your car is damaged with secondary coverage, you'd have to file a claim with your personal insurance policy before turning to your credit card company for help. That means you'll have to pay your deductible … and your auto insurance premiums will likely go up, too.
But it's different with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve. You get primary rental car coverage, which means you can skip your own policy and head straight to Chase for help.
It's time to get technical.
This primary coverage from Chase Sapphire cards replaces the typical “collision damage waivers” – or loss damage waivers – that car rental companies are required to offer.
These policies will provide reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft on a rental car. So if you get into an accident, it will cover the costs of any damage up to the cash value of the vehicle. But from car rental companies, it costs $10 to $30 a day. That can add up fast if you're traveling for more than a day or two.
This is why Chase's rental car coverage is so valuable. It means you can decline the car rental's add-on policy – in fact, you have to – and still be covered. And you get it not just in the U.S., but internationally with any car rental.
Just note that this is not liability insurance: It will not cover medical bills, damage to another vehicle, or damage to property.
First things first: You must charge your rental car to your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Second, you also must decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver. If you don't decline the car rental company's collision damage waiver, your Chase coverage will be voided.
Just because you've got a Chase Sapphire card and used it to make your car rental doesn't mean you're all set. It's important to know exactly who – and what – is covered.
The primary cardholder – whose name is printed on the card – is covered as long as they are listed as the primary renter on the car rental agreement. In addition, any additional driver listed in the rental agreement will also be covered.
Anyone in your party not listed in the rental agreement as a driver will not be covered.
This benefit does cover any authorized users on your card as long as they use their card to rent a car.
Primary rental car insurance covers much more than other rental policies you'll get from most other credit cards. Still, it's important to know exactly what will be covered on your rental.
While Chase Sapphire rental car insurance coverage is broad, it won't include everything.
If you have any concerns about coverage for a specific type of vehicle, or any other questions about what is covered, just contact a Chase benefit administrator.
If you get into an accident or your rental car is stolen, you should immediately contact a Chase benefit administrator to report damage or theft. You must notify the benefits administrator within 100 days – but it is better to do so immediately after any incident.
You can contact Chase at 1-888-320-9961. If you're outside of the U.S., call 1-804-673-1691 to file a claim.
Chase will send you a claim form when you report your loss. You must submit a completed claim form within 100 days of the damage or theft. You then have 365 days from the incident to submit all required supporting documentation.
Required documentation may include:
There are a few things ahead of time that you can do to make sure filing a claim is as easy as possible.
Besides filing a claim with Chase there are a few things you may want to clarify before renting a car. Here is when you should contact a Chase Benefit Administrator.
Chase Sapphire Benefit Phone Number: 1-888-320-9961
Yes, in order to get the coverage you need to use your Chase Sapphire card to rent the car.
Yes, when using points to pay for a rental car you still need to put a credit card on file. To receive the coverage you must use your Chase Sapphire card.
Yes, you should use the Chase Sapphire rental car insurance. That way, if any damage occurs to the car, you can make a claim with Chase and not your own personal car insurance. If there is a situation where the Chase coverage doesn't cover something, you can then file a claim with your car insurance.
Yes, this coverage should be accepted in most countries around the world. The only exception is where coverage is precluded by law, or where it’s in violation of the territory terms of the auto rental agreement.
If you are concerned or just want to verify that it will, contact Chase before your trip.
The Chase Sapphire benefit will cover up to the cash value of the rental car. The Sapphire Preferred will cover up to the actual cash value of the rental car for rental periods that do not exceed 31 consecutive days. The Sapphire Reserve will cover up to $75,000 for rental periods that do not exceed 31 consecutive days.
It's important to note that certain kinds of vehicles are not covered including recreational, classic cars, expensive makes and models, and motorcycles. Chase does exclude “high-value motor vehicles” and exotic cars from Sapphire Preferred rental coverage. Chase explicitly states that the following car brands are excluded: “Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, Corvette, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Maybach, McLaren, Porsche, Rolls Royce, and Tesla.”
Most people probably aren't renting exotic vehicles and hoping their Sapphire Card provides coverage but one notable vehicle type on this list is Tesla. Many rental car companies are offering EVs these days and more often than not, it's a Tesla that you're getting. Be aware of this when choosing your car.
Please note: You shouldn't have any issues renting a Tesla and having coverage if you hold the Sapphire Reserve, though.
Yes, this benefit does extend to an authorized card user as long as they use their card to rent a car.
Chase Sapphire rental car insurance is one of the most underrated benefits on these cards. It's there when you need it, and it goes much farther than the coverage you get from many other credit cards.
Just make sure you use your Chase Sapphire card, decline your rental company's coverage, and understand how to use this benefit beforehand – just in case.
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Long joined the Thrifty Traveler team in 2023 after working in higher education. Now, he dedicates his love for racking up credit card points and redeeming them into helping Thrifty Traveler readers do the same. Long’s love for travel stems from his desire to learn more abo.
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Thanks for laying out the info on this great benefit. I believe the insurance does not count in Australia or New Zealand, perhaps other countries. May want to confirm.
Mike says:This is explained better here than with the benefits administrator I was speaking to. Just be warned they can be kind of rude if you call them.
Mark says:“Yes, when using points to pay for a rental car you still need to put a credit card on file. To receive the coverage you must use your Chase Sapphire card.”
I thought the card and this benefit was really good, but I rented a car with points and had minor accident. My card benefits claim has now been rejected because I used points and the Chase benefits number has told me that using points voids the collison waiver. So please be careful using your points on a rental car.
Not true. The Chase Sapphire Guide to Benefits, page 3, states:
“You are covered when Your name is embossed on an eligible card issued in the United States, and You use Your credit card Account and/or rewards programs associated with Your Account to initiate and complete Your entire car rental transaction.”
I am making a trip of 2 months exactly (61 days); I will need to rent a car for this entire trip. The Chase Sapphire Reserve does not cover “Rental periods that exceed or are intended to exceed 31 days”. Now, if I break my 2-month rental periods, one with a length of exactly 30 or 31 days, and another one with a duration of exactly 31 or 30 days; I do both rentals charging to the same CSR. My question: will CSR cover the CDW for my both rentals? If it does, can I book my car from the same car rental company, at the same location (literally the same car for 2 months, but broken up to two periods with neither exceeding 31 days so that CSR would cover it) – would my rentals be regarded by Chase as “intended to exceed 31 days” and thus void my coverage?
Sandy says: Just used the Chase Sapphire card for car rental insurance in Ireland and it went slick! Bea says:I will be renting a car in Barcelona, traveling thru Spain and crossing over to Portugal. I see different levels of coverage when I review the terms. One is regular and the other is the zero out of pocket. So if I charge this to the Chase Sapphire, will be the same as the car rentals zero out of pocket coverage? I was told I could get excess insurance from a third part vendor, is this really necessary?
