Your Guide To Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance: How And When To Use It

Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled h.

Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled h.

Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled h.

Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled h.

Over a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.

Over a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.

Over a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.

Over a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.

| Credit Cards Editor

Updated: Jun 27, 2024, 10:50am

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

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Table of Contents

• Car Rental Insurance Offered by Chase Sapphire Credit Cards
• How To Get Rental Car Insurance With Chase Sapphire Cards
• How To Use Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance
• How To Submit a Chase Rental Car Insurance Claim
• When To Use Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, renting a car can offer convenience and flexibility. However, the prospect of getting into an accident or having your rental car stolen can be a significant source of anxiety for many travelers—and the insurance options offered at the rental car company can be confusing, not to mention costly.

Fortunately, if you’re a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholder, you have access to rental car insurance as one of the many benefits included with your credit card. The two Chase Sapphire cards provide virtually identical rental car insurance benefits, the only difference being the maximum liability covered.

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Car Rental Insurance Offered by Chase Sapphire Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire’s collision damage waiver (CDW) is considered primary coverage, meaning that Chase Sapphire coverage will be the first insurance company to cover any damages or losses. Only rental periods up to 31 days are covered.

Coverage is valid in the U.S. and in most other foreign countries. Both the Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred are Visa cards, and Visa typically excludes coverage in Israel, Jamaica and Northern Ireland. It’s worth double checking with your Chase benefits administrator to ensure that rentals within the country you are traveling to are eligible for coverage.

What’s Covered by Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance

• Auto rental collision damage waiver. The Chase Sapphire cards provide a rental CDW to reimburse damage caused by theft or accident.
• Coverage varies between cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve covers losses up to $75,000, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred will reimburse up to the actual cash value of the vehicle.
• Certain miscellaneous expenses are covered. The Chase CDW also covers miscellaneous expenses, which can add up quickly: Think loss-of-use charges passed on by the rental agency, towing fees or administrative fees.
• Most rental vehicle types are covered. Chase Sapphire’s rental car insurance covers most rental cars, including SUVs and pick-up trucks.

What’s Not Covered by Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance

• Certain types of losses are excluded. The CDW (sometimes abbreviated as LDW or loss damage waiver) doesn’t cover losses related to damage to another driver’s vehicle or property or injury to a person.
• Contents inside the rental are excluded. While the rental car is covered for theft, the contents of the car are not covered. So if the rental car is stolen, any personal property in the car, such as your luggage, would not be insured under the Chase Sapphire CDW.
• Certain vehicle types are excluded. Luxury or exotic vehicles, antique vehicles more than 20 years old, cargo vans or trucks other than pick-ups, motorcycles or mopeds, limousines and other cars that can accommodate more than nine people are not covered.

How To Get Rental Car Insurance With Chase Sapphire Cards

• To activate Chase Sapphire’s rental car insurance, use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® to initiate and complete your entire car rental transaction.
• Decline the rental company’s CDW. You must decline the rental car company’s CDW to be eligible for Chase Sapphire coverage.
• Rewards redemptions qualify. Chase Sapphire cardholders can also use their Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to reserve and pay for their car rental and still be eligible for the Chase Sapphire CDW benefit.

How To Use Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance

• The cardholder must be the primary renter. The Chase Sapphire cardholder must be the primary renter on the rental car agreement for the coverage to take effect.
• Authorized users are eligible for coverage. When using their authorized user card to rent a car, authorized users on your Chase Sapphire card are eligible for the rental car insurance benefit.
• The coverage extends to additional drivers. Additional drivers permitted by the rental car agreement are also covered.
• Purchase supplemental coverage from the rental company if needed. Even if you decline the rental company’s CDW policy to activate the Chase Sapphire CDW, you can still purchase other supplemental coverage through the rental car company. For example, you may want to add liability insurance to cover any damage you may cause to another vehicle, property or person.
• Inspect the car before leaving the lot. Perform a thorough inspection of the rental car to note any preexisting damage. Photos or videos are a reliable way to document the vehicle’s condition.

Bring along a letter attesting that you have coverage through Chase Sapphire as some car rental agencies abroad are unaware of credit card insurance benefits and are unwilling to let you waive their CDW without proof of coverage. You can get a letter emailed to you by calling the Chase Benefits administrator.

Find The Best Credit Cards For Car Rental Insurance Of 2024

How To Submit a Chase Rental Car Insurance Claim

If you need to submit a Chase Sapphire rental car insurance claim, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Collect all necessary documentation. Compile all documentation of the incident, including a police report, rental car agreement and the relevant paperwork.
2. Contact the benefits administrator. Call the benefits administrator to report any theft or damage to the rental vehicle, regardless of who is at fault, as soon as possible within 100 days of the incident. Claims for charges that would not have been included if notification happens before the charges can be declined.
3. File your claim online or by mail. You can file your claim online through eclaimsline.com.
4. Provide the required information. When filing your claim, you must provide details about the incident, including the date and time of the incident, the rental car company and any other relevant information. You will need to provide the following information regarding the incident and initiate your claim:
   1. A copy of the accident report form
   2. A copy of the rental agreement
   3. A copy of the vehicle’s repair estimate and final repair bill
   4. At least two photos of the damage
   5. Police report, if available
   6. A copy of the demand letter from the rental agency indicating what you are liable for
   7. Completed and signed CDW claim form
   8. Credit card account statement that shows the charge for the rental transaction

   If you file your claim via mail, the following deadlines apply:

   • All documents submitted regarding your claim must be postmarked within one year of the theft or damage date.
   • The benefits administrator must also be made aware of the incident within 100 days of its occurrence.
   • The signed CDW claim form must be postmarked within 120 days, even if you’re still waiting on other documents.

   When To Use Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance

   Chase Sapphire rental car insurance can be a valuable benefit for many travelers. Here are some scenarios when it may be a good idea to use Chase Sapphire rental car insurance:

   • You don’t have car insurance. If you don’t have personal car insurance, or if your car insurance has a high deductible, using Chase Sapphire’s primary rental car insurance could be a good way to save money.
   • You’re traveling internationally. If you’re traveling internationally, your personal car insurance may not cover you, making Chase Sapphire’s coverage even more valuable.
   • You want to avoid making a claim on your personal insurance. Filing a claim can potentially raise your personal insurance premium, so you can avoid a rate increase by using Chase Sapphire insurance.
   • You want to save money on a CDW or LDW. By declining the rental car company’s CDW or LDW and using Chase Sapphire’s rental car insurance instead, you can save money on the cost of the rental car.

   Forbes Advisor Contributor Laura Ratliff contributed to this article.

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   Credit Cards Writer

   Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled her to explore over 50 countries on six continents, enjoying both budget and luxury travel.

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