Many travelers purchase rental car insurance to protect against damage or theft when renting a car. However, buying coverage can add up with the average rental car insurance cost at $20 to $30 per day.

So, does The Platinum Card® from American Express cover rental car insurance? In short: Yes, in certain situations, and provided you pay for your rental with the card.

If you pay for your rental with the The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can save money through its car rental insurance protections. Terms apply.

What does rental car insurance through The Platinum Card® from American Express cover? Who is covered? Are there any exclusions? Let's learn more about this coverage, its exclusions and how to file a claim.

What does the The Platinum Card® from American Express car rental insurance cover?

When you pay for your entire rental with The Platinum Card® from American Express and decline the collision damage waiver, your rental car is covered if it is damaged or stolen. The built-in car rental insurance on The Platinum Card® from American Express covers up to $75,000 per rental agreement when there is damage or theft of a rental car. This protection is secondary coverage to your personal car insurance policy.

Additionally, suppose you decline the personal accident insurance and personal effects coverage. In that case, you and your passengers are covered for accidental death or dismemberment, accidental injury, and theft of or damage to your personal property.

Coverage amounts vary. For example:

Accidental injury coverage limits are $5,000 per person.

Payouts for accidental death and dismemberment are limited to $200,000 per card member and $20,000 per passenger or authorized driver.

Personal property losses are limited to $1,000 per claimant and $2,000 total per accident.

There is a cap of $300,000 per car rental accident.

Terms apply.

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American Express Platinum rental car coverage

Paying for your rental car with The Platinum Card® from American Express means that the primary cardholder, any authorized users, their spouse or domestic partner, and authorized drivers are all covered for rental vehicle damage or theft through The Platinum Card® from American Express car rental insurance. Passengers in a covered rental vehicle are also covered for accidental death or dismemberment, accidental injury, and personal property damage or theft.

You'll receive coverage when paying for your car rental with The Platinum Card® from American Express, Membership Rewards points, or Pay with Points. This means you're covered, even if you redeem points to pay for your rental car.

Are there any exclusions?

Yes, there are several exclusions to the car rental insurance included with The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Damage to other property

This benefit covers the rental car if it is damaged or stolen. However, it does not cover damage to other vehicles and property. Additionally, this protection does not cover injuries to people outside your car. To protect against those claims, you'll need to purchase additional insurance from the rental car company. Or, you can rely on your personal car insurance policy.

Certain behaviors

These rental car protections do not cover intentional damage to the vehicle if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if the vehicle was unlocked when it was stolen. The AmEx rental car insurance also does not cover wear and tear or damage to tires.

The accidental death or dismemberment and accidental injury coverages do not cover:

Pre-existing conditions.

Team sports or racing.

The voluntary ingestion of a substance.

Self-inflicted injury.

Several vehicle types

This protection is for the personal use of a rental vehicle. It does not cover:

Cargo vans

Commercial trucks.

Limousines.

Off-road vehicles.

Moving trucks.

Rideshare vehicles or vehicle sharing.

Specific regions

AmEx Platinum car rental insurance does not cover vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, New Zealand or any countries sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Terms apply.

How to file a claim for rental car damage

If you've experienced a loss and need to file a claim, here's how to do it.

Start your claim. You can start the claims process by calling customer service at 800-338-1670 or visiting americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits.

Be timely. To receive coverage benefits, you must submit a Notice of Claim within 30 days of the loss or as soon as reasonably possible.

Complete and return claim forms (if necessary). After submitting your Notice of Claim, you may receive claim forms. These must be completed and submitted within 15 days of your Notice of Claim. If claim forms are not received, you can submit a letter that describes the incident and what your claim is for.

Submit proof of loss. Submit documentation that verifies your loss within 60 days. Examples of documents include an itemized repair bill, the rental agreement or a police report.

After providing satisfactory proof of loss, your claim will be reviewed. If your AmEx Platinum car rental insurance claim were approved, it would be paid within 30 days.

The Platinum Card® from American Express rental car insurance benefit recapped

Having rental car coverage protects you in case something bad happens to the vehicle, its passengers, or their personal items. Instead of paying a daily rate to the rental car company, use your credit card benefits to save money. Paying with The Platinum Card® from American Express provides AmEx Platinum car rental insurance. It protects the vehicle against damage or theft and passengers in case of an accident. Terms apply.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.