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When you rent a car, rental insurance can add quite a bit to your bill. Chase Sapphire rental car insurance can help you avoid that added cost, while covering you if something goes wrong.
Both Chase Sapphire cards have excellent auto rental insurance, even compared to other travel cards. This guide will cover exactly how Chase Sapphire rental car insurance works, what's covered and not covered, and how to use it.
How Chase Sapphire rental car insurance works
Each Chase Sapphire card offers an auto rental collision damage waiver. This is rental car insurance that provides reimbursement for damages caused by theft or collision. The Chase Sapphire line includes the following Chase credit cards:
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
Welcome Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
Rewards Program:
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.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Program:
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Regular APR:
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Annual Fee:
$550
Annual Fee:
$95
Highlights:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
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
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Primary coverage means that if there's an incident, you file a claim with your Chase Sapphire rental car insurance. You don't need to file with your personal car insurance provider. This is an underrated perk, as even among the best credit cards, you won't find many with primary rental car coverage.
Insurance policies are nearly identical with the two Chase Sapphire cards. There's just one difference in what they offer:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides reimbursement up to a maximum of $75,000.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of most rented cars.
What is covered
Chase Sapphire car rental insurance covers rental periods of up to 31 consecutive days. Here are the types of expenses it covers:
Theft
Damage
Valid loss-of-use charges from the rental car company
Administrative fees
Reasonable and customary towing charges to the nearest qualified repair facility (due to a covered theft or damage)
What's not covered
Losses outside the categories listed above aren't covered by Chase Sapphire rental car insurance. The policy only covers the rental car, and it doesn't provide liability insurance.
If you're in a collision, this insurance doesn't cover damage to another driver's car or to anyone's property. It also doesn't cover injuries to you or anyone else involved in the incident.
Here is a list of more situations that aren't covered:
Theft or damage due to intentional acts or due to the driver(s) being under the influence (of alcohol, intoxicants, or drugs), due to contraband, or due to illegal activities
Violations of the rental agreement or the Chase Sapphire rental car insurance
Damage due to off-road use of the rental vehicle
Rental periods that exceed or are intended to exceed 31 days
Theft or damage due to a lack of reasonable care by the cardholder or an authorized driver
Certain vehicles are also not covered. Vehicles that aren't covered by Chase Sapphire rental car insurance include:
High-value motor vehicles
Exotic and antique cars
Motorcycles
Recreational vehicles
Passenger vans with seating for more than nine people, including the driver
You can find more information in your card's guide to benefits, which you receive after being approved for your Chase card. Each card's guide to benefits is available online on the Chase website.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
You must pay for the entire rental car transaction with your Chase Sapphire card to get Chase Sapphire rental car insurance coverage. You must decline the optional collision damage waiver coverage offered by the rental company.
How to file a claim
Submit a Chase Sapphire rental car insurance claim at Eclaims Line, or call the benefits administrator at 1-888-320-9656. You must file the claim with the credit card company no later than 100 days from the date of the incident.
You need to submit documentation of the incident. Here are the documents to get at the time of the theft or damage, or from the car rental company when you return the vehicle:
Copy of the accident report form
Copy of the initial and final auto rental agreements (front and back)
Copy of the repair estimate and itemized repair bill
Two photos of the damaged vehicle, if available
Police report, if obtainable
Copy of the demand letter indicating the costs you're responsible for and any amounts paid towards the claim
Also submit to the benefits administrator:
Completed and signed Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver claim form (this must be postmarked within 120 days of the incident date, even if all other required documentation is not yet available, or your claim may be denied)
Copy of your credit card statement with the last four digits of the card number and the charge for the rental car
Any other documentation the benefits administrator requests to substantiate the claim
Additional Chase Sapphire rental car benefits
In addition to free rental car insurance, both Chase Sapphire credit cards provide other perks. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides the most rental car discounts and perks. Here are the Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits that can help when renting a car:
National Car Rental elite status and discounts: Enroll for a complimentary Emerald Club Executive Level membership for special rental benefits. When you use your card and make a reservation with National online or by phone, you save up to 25% on qualifying rentals.
Avis discounts: Enroll in an Avis Preferred membership (this membership option is available to anyone, not just cardholders). When you use your card and make a reservation with Avis online or by phone, save up to 35% on qualifying rentals.
Audi on demand discounts: Save up to 30% on qualifying rentals when you pay with your Chase card.
$300 annual travel credit: Receive up to $300 every year in statement credits toward travel purchases, including car rentals.
10x points on car rentals (and hotels) purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards: This rate applies to purchases that aren't covered by the card's $300 annual travel credit.
Since it has a much lower annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn't provide nearly as many benefits. But there are still plenty of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card benefits, and it earns 5X points on car rentals (and hotels) purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
1% - 5% Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro:
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular:18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending
$200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
2% cash rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro:
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases
25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
1.5 points per dollar
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Intro:
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Chase Sapphire rental car insurance provides reimbursement for damage or theft to rental vehicles on rental periods of up to 31 consecutive days. Both Chase Sapphire cards offer primary rental coverage, which means you can file a claim directly with it instead of filing with your own auto insurance first.
No, Chase Sapphire rental car insurance doesn't cover all types of vehicles. Vehicles that aren't covered include:
High-value vehicles
Exotic and antique vehicles (vehicles over 20 years old, or those that have not been manufactured for 10 years or more)
Cargo vans
Vehicles with open cargo beds
Trucks (other than pick-ups)
You can find a full list of exclusions in your card's guide to benefits, or you can call the benefits administrator at 1-888-320-9656.
If you have a Chase Sapphire card, its rental car insurance automatically applies when you use it to pay for the full rental cost and decline the coverage offered by the rental company.
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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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