Best Credit Cards for Car Rental of 2024

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is our choice for the best card overall for car rentals. It provides primary rental car coverage due to theft or collision. Plus, you’ll Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases..

You can use these points to book travel, get gift cards, transfer to airline and hotel partners and more. And when you book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, points are worth 50% more. There is a $550 annual fee for this card, but you’ll receive a $300 travel credit every year.

Car rental insurance details

• What’s covered: Collision or theft damage on most rental vehicles up to $75,000 for rentals
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: Coverage is good within the U.S. and in most foreign countries.
• Exclusions: Damage to other vehicles or property or injuries caused by an accident. In addition, 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. Additional drivers are also covered.

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® offers great rental car coverage, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card also offers primary insurance coverage for a much lower annual fee.

In other words, either of the Chase Sapphire cards could be a winning choice for car rental insurance coverage. In fact, both cards offer a bevy of rewards and travel benefits — you’ll have to compare their features to decide which one is right for you.

Car rental insurance details

• Type of coverage: Primary
• What’s covered: Theft or collision damage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle
• 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. Additional drivers are also covered.

The 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.

Car rental insurance details*

• Type of coverage: Secondary
• What’s covered: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. The coverage covers a 30-day rental. The policy also provides up to $5,000 accidental injury coverage for eligible injuries resulting from a car rental accident.
• 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 vehicle, 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.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card that offers rental car coverage and earns an unlimited 10X miles 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.

For businesses with a lot of travel expenses — including car rentals — the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card may be your go-to card. The card offers primary rental insurance in most countries for vehicles rented for business purposes, as well as a high 3X rewards rate on car rentals. 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: Theft or collision damage up to the actual 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 Unlimited^® is the best card for cash back on rental cars because it earns 5% cash back on rental cars and other travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee, so all of the cash back that you earn won’t bet reduced by paying fees.

Car rental insurance details

• Type of coverage: Secondary for U.S. rentals, primary for international rentals
• What’s covered: Collision or theft damage of a rental vehicle 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 pick 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 up to 31 days.

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 or theft damage of a rental vehicle up to its actual cash value or $75,000 for rentals
• 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. 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). From there, cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, a check in the mail, gift cards and more. Note that a $39 annual fee applies, and that the high APR of 29.99% (Variable) can make carrying a balance costly.

All said, this credit card offers more rental car perks for those with limited / fair credit than comparable cards for this credit rating.

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card is a good choice for small business owners who want cash back rewards, a $0 annual fee and primary rental car protection. 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.

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: Theft or collision damage of a rental vehicle up to its cash value
• Length of coverage: Up to 31 consecutive days
• Countries covered: U.S. and most foreign countries. Israel, Jamaica, Ireland and Northern Ireland are excluded.
• 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.