The American Express Platinum Card has multiple benefits, including travel credits, lounge access, elite hotel status, and rental car benefits. While it comes with a premium price tag, it offers excellent advantages you may want to take advantage of when renting a car.
Apart from the American Express car rental Privileges Program, you can enjoy car rental privileges from some major car rental companies such as Avis, Hertz, and National Car rental. This article will explore everything about the Amex Platinum card and how it affects your rental car insurance purchase.
Amex Platinum Car Rental Insurance Policy Definition
The Platinum Card comes with rental car insurance, also called collision damage waiver or CDW. It covers you up to $75,000 for 30 consecutive days. Amex Platinum provides secondary coverage, meaning that the policy only covers what your insurance provider does not cover.
If you get into an accident, Amex platinum rental car insurance would require you to file a claim with your car insurance provider. That means you may never have to use the policy if you have adequate car insurance. These may include appraisal fees, loss of use, and emergency towing services not covered by your auto insurance company.
When you purchase the Amex car rental insurance policy, there are specific eligibility tests that you must pass. To receive full benefits, you must:
- Pay for the full rental cost using your American Express Platinum card
- Decline the CDW offered by your car rental company
About the Premium Car Rental Platinum Protection
If you don’t own a car or have personal auto insurance, the best way to get the most out of your card is to enroll in Premium Car Rental Protection Coverage. You can add it to your rental car for $12 to $24, depending on the rental car company you choose. The coverage is primary, meaning you enjoy similar benefits as you would with primary auto insurance. This coverage is typically more affordable as you’re charged one lump sum amount, not per day.
It’s important to note that the Premium Car Rental Platinum Protection excludes some types of vehicles and it’s not applicable to car rentals in Ireland, Australia, Israel, Jamaica, Italy, or New Zealand.
Related: Does My Car Insurance Cover Rental Cars?
Who Does Amex Platinum Rental Car Insurance Cover?
You can receive full benefits of the rental car insurance if:
- You fully activate your coverage.
- You’re a primary card member or an additional card member.
- You maintain permanent residence within the 50 United States of America, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- You’re the primary signer of the rental agreement.
If you add a child, parent, travel partner, or spouse to the rental car agreement, they will be part of your policy.
What Does Amex Platinum Car Rental Insurance Cover?
If you or a card member, passenger, or authorized driver gets injured in an accident in the rented vehicle, the plan pays up to $5,000 for medical bills. Similarly, if the passenger, card member, or authorized driver dies as a result of an accident that occurred in the rented vehicle, the plan can pay up to $20,000 for an authorized driver or passenger per accident maximum of $300,000, and $200,000 for the card member.
The policy pays $1,000 per person and a total of $2,000 per accident for any personal belongings lost, damaged, or stolen while in the rented vehicle. The platinum card also covers up to $75,000 for theft or damage to the rented vehicle.
Amex Platinum Rental Car Exclusions
Amex Platinum rental car insurance does not cover certain types of vehicles.
Some of the vehicles not covered include:
- Custom vans, cargo vans, or vans seating more than eight passengers
- Trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds
- Leased or partly leased vehicles
- Rental vehicles used for commercial activities
- Antique cars or vehicles older than 20 years
- Limousines
- Recreational vehicles, mopeds, off-road vehicles, campers, trailers, and any vehicle that is not a rental car
Amex Platinum Losses Not Covered
The policy does not cover some losses and damages such as:
- Property that the owner intentionally damages
- Damage that occurred before the rental period
- Manufacturing defects associated with the rented car
- Wear and tear
- Items confiscated by authorities
- Damage or theft of vehicles that you did not secure at the time of the incident
- Damage caused by mechanical, electrical, or other technical issues
- Damage to the vehicle other than the rented vehicle
Benefits of the Amex Platinum Car Rental Insurance
Here are some unique benefits of the Amex Platinum car rental insurance.
Provides Coverage up to $75,000
Amex provides peace of mind knowing that in the event of a carjack or theft, you won’t have to pay for the loss from your savings. This coverage limit is typically higher than what other companies offer.
Primary Coverage Comes With All the Benefits
The Amex Platinum insurance provides an all-around rental car insurance protection that you can use even if you don’t have personal auto insurance or own a vehicle.
Provides Protection for the Unexpected
Unlike your auto insurance, which comes with basic coverages such as liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist, the Amex Platinum secondary coverage protects against damage or loss not covered in your typical auto insurance.
Available in Almost All States
If you enjoy traveling around America, you can rely on your American Express Platinum card to get adequate insurance. The cards let you know all the benefits you’re likely to enjoy and which ones are not accepted, including types of vehicles.
Related: Credit Card Rental Car Insurance
Final Thoughts
The Amex Platinum card has many benefits to offer, including rental car privileges and rental car insurance. It allows you to enjoy primary and secondary rental car coverage without increasing or reducing its price tag.
It’s crucial to assess your needs and determine whether to apply for the Platinum Program or purchase the Amex Platinum car rental insurance policy. Be sure to compare prices with competitors and thoroughly and carefully inspect the rented vehicle before driving.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
