What rental car insurance is included with your Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier cardholder benefits? We sifted through the terms and conditions to save you effort!
Keep reading to find out what is included and excluded in your damage collision waiver. You will also find out how your Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier travel and insurance perks compare to other popular cards.
What is Covered with Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier’s Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver?
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier’s Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is offered to cardholders. To obtain this insurance, follow these guidelines:
- Pay for the rental with the Southwest Rapids Reward Premier credit card.
- Opt out of the insurance policy offered by the rental car company at checkout
- Coverage is primary when outside of the United States
- Coverage in the United States is secondary to your automobile insurance policy.
What’s Excluded with Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier’s Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver?
The rental car insurance offered with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card is not full insurance coverage. The following expenses are excluded:
- Damage to cardholder’s personal property
- Policy does not cover any medical expenses
- Liability for other property and the vehicle damaged is not covered
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs. Other Cards’ Rental Car Insurance Offers
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card is one of many credit cards that offers a collision damage waiver for rental vehicles paid for with the card. This table compares the annual fees and availability of Collision Damage Waivers of ten popular credit cards.
| Credit Card | Rental Car Insurance | Location Provided | What is covered? | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $99 |
| American Express Gold Card | Provided | Worldwide Except for Australia, Italy, and New Zealand | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $695 |
| American Express Platinum Card | Provided | Worldwide Except Australia, Italy, and New Zealand | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $0 |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $250 |
| Capital One Venture X Travel Rewards Credit Card | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $395 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle, Loss of Use Charges | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle, Loss of Use Charges | $550 |
| Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | Costco Membership, $60/Person |
| Ink Business Preferred by Chase | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $95 |
| Ink Business Cash by Chase | Provided | Worldwide | Damage or Theft of Rental Vehicle | $0 |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Travel Benefits vs. Other Cards’ Benefits
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit cardholders get 25% cash back on all in-flight purchases on Southwest. This card also includes other travel insurance:
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Baggage delay
- Roadside assistance.
We compared the purchase Annual Percentage Rates (APR) and travel benefits of ten popular credit cards in the following table.
| Credits Card | Purchase APR | Gasoline Rewards | Restaurants/Bars | Other Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier | 19.74% to 26.74% | 1 Reward Point per $1 | 1 Reward Point per $1 | 3 Points for Every $1 on Southwest, 2 Points for Every $1 on Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Partners |
| American Express Gold Card | 19.74% to 26.74% | 1x Points | 4x Points | 3x Points for Flights Booked through AmexTravel and Other Credits Available |
| American Express Platinum Card | 19.74% to 26.74% | 1x Points | 1x Points | 5x Points for Flights and Hotels Booked through AmexTravel Plus Credits for Hotels, TSA Precheck and More |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards | 16.99% to 26.99% | 1.5 Points per $1 | 1.5 Points per $1 | 1.5 Points per $1 |
| Capital One Venture X Travel Rewards Credits Card | 19.99% to 26.99% | 2x Miles | 2x Miles | 10x Miles for Rental Cars and Hotels, 5x Miles for Flights, Plus Credits through Capital One Travel, Other Bonus Miles |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 18.74% to 27.49% | 1.5 % Cash Back | 3% Cash Back | 5% cashback for Flights, Hotels, Rental Cars, Activities, and Cruises |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 20.74% to 27.74% | 1 Reward Point per $1 | 3x Points on Dining Out, 10x Points on Select Dining | $300 Annual Travel Credits, 5x Points on Flights, 10x Points on Cars and Hotels, 3x Points on Other Travel |
| Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | 18.99% | 4% on Gas and EV charging First $7,000 Then 1% After | 3% Cash Back | 3% on Eligible Travel Purchases |
| Ink Business Preferred by Chase | 18.99% to 23.99% | 1x Points | 1x Points | 3x Points for Select Travel Purchases, Travel Insurance |
| Ink Business Cash by Chase | 16.24% to 22.24% | 2% Cash Back on First $25,000 Annually | 2% Cash Back on first $25,000 Annually | 1% Unlimited Cash Back on All Purchases |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier | 19.74% to 26.74% | 1 Reward Point per $1 | 1 Reward Point per $1 | 3 Points for Every $1 on Southwest, 2 Points for Every $1 on Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Partners |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do credit card companies offer car protection for rented cars?
Some credit cards, like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card, include an auto rental damage collision waiver in their terms and conditions.
How do I know if my credit card benefits include rental car insurance?
You can find out if your credit card benefits include rental car insurance by reading your terms and conditions, or you may call the customer service line.
Does the name on the credit card name have to match the driver for the rental car?
The cardholder must be listed on the rental agreement for Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier’s car rental benefit.
References
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Jesse Cunningham V is a professional writer and licensed insurance agent. He has worked in the insurance industry in different capacities, starting as a customer service representative and working his way up to an independent agency owner. He is licensed in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania for Property, Casualty, Life, and Health products. Jesse has worked with many national carriers, including Nationwide, State Farm, Travelers, and Liberty Mutual, and specializes in car and home insurance and health, life, accidental death, and disability insurance. He writes for multiple publications including FIXD and Bauple.com. All articles by Jesse are opinion-based. Speak with your licensed insurance agent about the particulars of your insurance before making any decisions.
