Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance: Coverage Details and Claim Process

Whether you're embarking on a cross-country road trip or just need a vehicle to get from your hotel to a nearby national park, rental cars are a staple of many vacations. When it's time to pick up your vehicle, the rental agency will present various coverage options—of course, for an extra fee.

Did you know that using the right credit card for your rental can unlock thousands of dollars in protection at no additional cost?

While preparing for emergencies isn't enjoyable, Chase Sapphire car rental insurance can safeguard against theft, accidents, and other damages to your rental vehicle. This benefit is available through two cards: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. While earning points and redeeming them for unforgettable trips is important, it's equally crucial to understand how to protect your family in case something unexpected happens during your next adventure.

Let’s take a closer look at the Chase Sapphire cards and their rental car insurance benefits that can offer peace of mind on your next road trip.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Rental Car Insurance

When you use the Sapphire Reserve to pay for your rental vehicle, you can forgo the rental company’s collision damage waiver (often referred to as CDW or LDW) and still receive coverage for up to $75,000 in theft or collision damages to your rental car.

This benefit offers primary rental car insurance and also includes coverage for fees that the rental company might charge, such as loss-of-use fees, administrative costs, and even towing fees to transport the car to a repair facility.

It’s essential to be aware of the limitations of this benefit. For example, it does not cover other types of insurance, like medical or liability coverage, and it does not apply to rentals longer than 31 days. However, it does extend coverage to additional drivers listed on the rental agreement and is valid in most countries worldwide.

Types of vehicles not eligible for this benefit include, but are not limited to:

• Antique cars
• Cargo vans, trucks, vehicles with open cargo beds, and vans designed for more than nine passengers
• Motorcycles and mopeds
• Limousines

Coverage also excludes off-road driving and any illegal activities occurring at the time of damage.

For further information, you can review the complete benefits guide here.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Rental Car Insurance

In contrast to the benefits guide for the Sapphire Reserve, the Sapphire Preferred guide does not specify a maximum dollar amount for coverage. Instead, it indicates that coverage is available "up to the actual cash value of most rented vehicles,"

This benefit offers primary coverage for rental cars against theft, damage, and fees imposed by the rental agency, provided you use this card for payment and decline the insurance offered by the rental company.

The coverage is subject to similar limitations as the Sapphire Reserve's, including vehicle types, not covering other insurance types, and only applicable to rentals of 31 days or fewer.

For further information, please refer to the complete benefits guide here.

How to obtain rental car insurance coverage through Chase

To be eligible for Chase Sapphire's car rental insurance, you must pay for the rental with your card (or redeem points if booking via Chase Travel℠) and decline the damage protection offered by the rental company upon picking up your vehicle. If you accept the rental agency's damage coverage, your credit card's benefits (LDW or CDW) will not apply.

It's important to note that you can still opt for additional protection benefits from the rental agency, like liability insurance or roadside assistance, without forfeiting the rental car damage protections provided by your Chase Sapphire card. As always, make sure to inspect your vehicle before leaving the rental lot and upon return — including documenting the car's condition and any pre-existing damages with video evidence.

Steps to file a claim

In the event of an accident or if your rental car is stolen, your first actions should be to inform both the rental car agency and the police. After that, you'll need to file a claim with the benefits administrator of your credit card.

For Chase Sapphire rental car insurance, there are two crucial deadlines to keep in mind. First, you must submit your initial claim within 100 days of the incident. Second, the claim form must be postmarked within 120 days of the incident, even if you are still in the process of collecting other necessary documents. Alternatively, you can file your claim online at eclaimsline.com by the same 120-day deadline.

You will be required to provide the following documents:

• The accident report form
• Your rental agreement(s)
• A repair estimate along with an itemized repair bill
• Photographs documenting the vehicle damage
• The police report, if one was filed
• A copy of the rental car agency's demand letter outlining your financial responsibilities and any amounts already paid on the claim
• A credit card statement showing the rental charges

Depending on your circumstances, the claims administrator may request additional documentation. Therefore, it’s wise to retain copies of all materials related to your accident or vehicle theft until the claim is fully resolved.

What is primary coverage for rental cars?

We've highlighted multiple times that Chase Sapphire rental car insurance offers primary coverage. But what exactly does that entail?

Rental car agencies usually provide additional insurance options for a fee, commonly known as a "Collision Damage Waiver" (CDW). Fortunately, many widely-used credit cards include car rental coverage, enabling you to decline this extra charge while still receiving protection for the vehicle. However, most of these policies only offer secondary coverage. As the term implies, this coverage activates only after other relevant insurance policies, such as your personal car insurance, have been applied in cases of damage or loss to your rental vehicle.

Primary coverage is different; it activates first in the event of a covered incident, such as an accident or theft. This eliminates the need to file a claim with your personal insurance company, which could potentially increase your premiums.

It's important to note that this benefit only covers the rental vehicle itself; it does not include liability insurance for any damage you may cause to property, nor does it cover injuries to yourself or others involved in an accident.

Conclusion

Travel rewards credit cards offer a variety of benefits, such as enabling you to book first-class flights or stay at luxury hotels using points. Beyond the more glamorous perks, these cards also provide practical benefits that can protect your trips from delays or issues with rental cars. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers coverage for your rental car expenses, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve delivers superior coverage for rental vehicles.

Using either of these cards to pay for your next rental car can offer reassurance and potentially save you and your loved ones tens of thousands of dollars in case any issues arise during your trip.