Rental cars and Amex car coverage

[Anonymous]

I’m renting a car for a week next week. I have my own car insurance and will be using Amex to pay for it. Assuming I have an accident what does the Amex coverage actually do and do I contact them first or geico?

[Anonymous]

Nothing. Your insurance is primary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. Your insurance is primary.

by nothing it means it provides no benefit?

[Anonymous]

If you want comprehensive coverage from amex you can buy it from them. The entire rental period up to 30 days costs 19.99 or 24.99, depending on the coverage level you choose. I generally don't use it domestically, but always for international car rentals. You have to call amex and ask them to add premium car rental coverage to your card.

The weird thing about it is, amex won't actually charge your card until you return the car, but I've gone back and forth with the help desk on this and they say they will pay out if there is an accident, as long as your card is registered with premium coverage and you use your card to secure the rental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want comprehensive coverage from amex you can buy it from them. The entire rental period up to 30 days costs 19.99 or 24.99, depending on the coverage level you choose. I generally don't use it domestically, but always for international car rentals. You have to call amex and ask them to add premium car rental coverage to your card.

The weird thing about it is, amex won't actually charge your card until you return the car, but I've gone back and forth with the help desk on this and they say they will pay out if there is an accident, as long as your card is registered with premium coverage and you use your card to secure the rental.

* and decline supplemental coverage at the rental agency

[Anonymous]

My Amex platinum provides car rental insurance without an additional payment.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/amex-platinum-rental-car-benefits-guide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Amex platinum provides car rental insurance without an additional payment.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/amex-platinum-rental-car-benefits-guide

Yeah, my Amex Bonvoy also automatically covers rental theft, loss and damage as long as I pay with Amex and decline the company's coverage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want comprehensive coverage from amex you can buy it from them. The entire rental period up to 30 days costs 19.99 or 24.99, depending on the coverage level you choose. I generally don't use it domestically, but always for international car rentals. You have to call amex and ask them to add premium car rental coverage to your card.

The weird thing about it is, amex won't actually charge your card until you return the car, but I've gone back and forth with the help desk on this and they say they will pay out if there is an accident, as long as your card is registered with premium coverage and you use your card to secure the rental.

. Have an Amex blue card so it should be automatic but I will call them anyways

[Anonymous]

Does it cover loss of use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. Your insurance is primary.

by nothing it means it provides no benefit?

I mean your Amex card or any other card rental insurance will not cover anything that is already covered by your regular car insurance except for deductible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Amex platinum provides car rental insurance without an additional payment.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/amex-platinum-rental-car-benefits-guide

To this person and OP keep in mind the "built-in" rental car insurance for all Amex cards is secondary, so you'd still go through your Geico/Allstate/Progressive policy if you're in an accident.

If you want Amex to be the primary rental car insurer you need their "premium rental car" add-on:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/amex-platinum-rental-car-benefits-guide#premium-car-rental-protection

https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-coverage/home.do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it cover loss of use?

Both the standard (included, free) and premium ($12-$24/rental) Amex rental coverage do cover loss of use yeah

[1SWMom]

And remember it will not cover a care worth over $100,000

[Anonymous]

We discovered our auto coverage nor our credit card covered international incidents. Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. Your insurance is primary.

Some specific cars offer primary car rental insurance. Both the Chase Sapphire cards have this, but so do several other cards. We have no clue which Amex OP has, there are dozens.