Best Credit Cards for Car Rentals of 2024

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is our choice for the best card overall for car rentals, as it provides primary rental car coverage for theft or collision worth up to $75,000. This card also offers generous rewards for travel purchases through Chase (including rental cars) and it comes with a broad selection of additional travel insurance benefits. There is a $550 annual fee for this card, but you’ll also receive a $300 travel credit every year, airport lounge membership and plenty of other perks.

Car rental insurance details:

• What’s covered: Theft or collision damage on most rental vehicles
• Coverage maximum: $75,000
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: Coverage is good within the U.S. and in most foreign countries.
• Exclusions: Certain vehicles are excluded, such as antique automobiles, cargo vans, motorcycles, mopeds, limousines and recreational vehicles.
• Other limitations: The cardholder must be the primary driver and use the card or the card’s rewards to initiate and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. Additional drivers are also covered.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card offers primary insurance coverage, but for a much lower annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. This covers you up to the actual cash value of the car (for most rented vehicles) for theft and collision damage. Plus, it applies to rental periods of up to 31 days in most countries. Cardholders also get access to a broad range of additional travel protections, and they can earn flexible points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Primary
• What’s covered: Theft or collision damage
• Coverage maximum: The actual cash value of (most) vehicles
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries
• Exclusions: Some vehicles are excluded, such as high-value motor vehicles, antique and exotic cars, cargo vans and recreation vehicles.
• Other limitations: The cardholder must be the primary driver and use the card or the card’s rewards to initiate and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. Additional drivers allowed in the rental agreement are also covered.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is a great card to have if you crave elite status with multiple rental car companies. Once enrolled, cardmembers automatically receive elite status with Avis, Hertz and National Car Rental. Status in these programs comes with many benefits that make renting a car much easier, including discounts, upgrades and the ability to skip the counter. Cardholders also get secondary auto rental coverage as an included benefit, and they have the option to purchase premium car rental protection from American Express.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Secondary
• What’s covered: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles. The policy also provides up to $5,000 accidental injury coverage for eligible injuries resulting from a car rental accident.
• Coverage maximum: $75,000 for theft or damage; $5,000 accidental injury coverage for eligible injuries
• Length of coverage: This covers a 30-day rental
• Countries covered: Coverage is worldwide, except for Australia, Italy, New Zealand and any country on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) sanctioned country list.
• Exclusions: This product provides secondary coverage and doesn’t include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Among many exclusions, certain kinds of vehicles — such as vans and antique cars — are not covered.
• Other limitations: This benefit only covers drivers who are authorized under the rental car agreement to drive the vehicle. The cardholder must use the card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card that offers rental car coverage and earns an exceptional rewards rate on rental cars when booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, cardholders receive an annual $300 travel credit, which can be used to book future travel (including rental cars) through Capital One Travel.

Car rental insurance details:

• See terms

For businesses with a lot of travel expenses — including car rentals — the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card may be your go-to card. This card offers primary rental insurance in most countries for vehicles rented for business purposes, as well as generous rewards on car rentals and other travel bookings. Moreover, there’s no extra fee for issuing employee cards, so you and your employees can use all its car rental benefits cost-effectively.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Primary in all locations for business purposes; secondary for U.S. rentals and primary for international reservations for personal purposes
• What’s covered: Collision damage or theft of a rental vehicle
• Coverage maximum: Up to the vehicle’s cash value
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries
• Exclusions: No passenger vans that seat 10 or more people, no trucks and no vehicles with an open cargo bed. In addition, it doesn’t cover expensive, exotic or antique vehicles.
• Other limitations: The cardholder must be the primary driver and initiate and pay for the entire rental with the card. Additional drivers are also covered.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is an exceptional cash back credit card that also offers auto rental coverage. This card offers secondary coverage in the U.S. if you have your own auto insurance; if you don’t have auto insurance, you’ll receive primary coverage in the U.S. (primary coverage for eligible rentals is available abroad).

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also comes with a surprising number of additional travel insurance benefits and consumer protections for a cash back credit card — this includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, cell phone protection, purchase protection and extended warranties.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Secondary for U.S. rentals (unless you have no car insurance), primary for international rentals
• What’s covered: Collision damage or theft of a rental vehicle
• Coverage maximum: Up to the car’s actual cash value
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries
• Exclusions: Expensive and exotic vehicles, like antiques, cargo vans, motorcycles and recreational vehicles
• Other limitations: The cardholder must be the primary driver and use the card (or the card’s rewards) to initiate and pay for the rental. Secondary drivers are also covered.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is one of the best cards for cash back on rental cars because it earns 5% cash back on rental cars and other travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This card can be also used as your primary insurance for rentals if you don’t have auto insurance coverage of your own.

Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee, so all of the cash back that you earn is yours.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Secondary for U.S. rentals, primary for international rentals; also primary for U.S. rentals when you don’t have your own insurance
• What’s covered: Collision damage or theft of a rental vehicle
• Coverage maximum: Up to the car’s actual cash value
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries
• Exclusions: Expensive and exotic vehicles, like antiques, cargo vans, motorcycles and recreational vehicles
• Other limitations: The cardholder must be the primary driver and use the card (or the card’s rewards) to initiate and pay for the rental. Secondary drivers are also covered.

We picked the United℠ Explorer Card as the best airline miles card for car rentals thanks to its car rental protection, along with valuable miles and airline perks. Cardholders get primary rental car protection both in the U.S. and abroad for rental periods of up to 31 days. This coverage is also good for up to the cash value of eligible rental vehicles.

You’ll also get great United perks, including bonus miles on many of your purchases and free checked luggage on United flights.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Primary
• What’s covered: Collision damage or theft of a rental vehicle
• Coverage maximum: Up to the rental’s actual cash value
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries
• Exclusions: Certain vehicles, including: high value motor vehicles, exotic and antique cars, cargo vans, vehicles with open cargo beds, trucks (other than pickups), motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, limousines, recreational vehicles and passenger vans with seating for more than nine
• Other limitations: You must be the primary renter and use your card to pay the bill.

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is good for people who want to build credit and earn rewards. While this card doesn’t offer any rental car protection, cardholders earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, a check in the mail, gift cards and more.

It has a relatively low $39 annual fee, but also comes with a high variable APR that can make carrying a balance costly.

Car rental perks:

5% cash back on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card is a good choice for small business owners who want primary rental car protection and cash back rewards from a no-annual-fee business card. Plus, with free employee cards, all employees who rent cars with the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card also receive primary coverage on their rental cars used for business.

Just keep in mind, though, that primary rental car protection is only available when renting a car for business purposes.

Car rental insurance details:

• Type of coverage: Primary in all locations for business rentals, secondary in the U.S. and primary for international rentals for personal rentals
• What’s covered: Collision damage to or theft of a rented vehicle
• Coverage maximum: Up to the cash value of the rented vehicle
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries
• Exclusions: High-value cars, exotics, antiques and select types of vehicles
• Other limitations: The cardholder must be the primary driver and pay for the entire rental with the card. Additional drivers are also covered.