American Express Travel Car Rental: Your Guide to Savings and Coverage

American Express Travel Car Rental is a great option for those who want to save money and have coverage while renting a car. You can get discounts of up to 25% off base rates at participating car rental companies.

To qualify for these discounts, you'll need to have an American Express card and book your car rental through the American Express website or mobile app. This can be a huge money-saver, especially if you're renting a car for an extended period.

American Express Travel Car Rental also offers additional coverage options, including insurance that covers you in case of theft or damage to the rental car. This can give you peace of mind while you're on the road.

As an Amex Platinum card member, you'll get perpetual Five Star status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, which normally requires seven vehicle rentals in Australia or $1,500+ in spend with Hertz each year.

This status unlocks upgrades to the next vehicle booking class, subject to availability, and earns you 10% more points than base members when crediting reward points to Hertz.

You'll also be able to register your spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver on vehicle rentals at no extra cost.

To activate your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star status, log in to your American Express account on the American Express website, select Platinum Benefits, and follow the prompts to enroll in the program.

Once enrolled, you can access your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account and start enjoying the benefits of Five Star status.

If you're not already a member of Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, don't worry – you can join as part of the Five Star activation process for those Amex Platinum car hire perks.

The Hertz President's Circle is another perk of being an Amex Platinum card member, offering up to a 20% discount on vehicle rentals (taxes and fees apply and are not eligible for the discount).

Other benefits of President's Circle status include a four-hour grace period on rental returns, guaranteed upgrades on economy through standard vehicle rentals, free additional driver for your spouse or domestic partner, and dedicated customer service line.

To access these benefits, simply use a designated code at booking or enroll in the Hertz President's Circle program through your American Express account.

The Amex Platinum Card offers automatic savings when booking car hire with Hertz, with discounts available for flexible rates that can be even lower than pre-paid public rates. For example, a 72-hour hire in February 2023 could be had for $448.20 with the Amex Platinum CDP, compared to $463.26 for a pre-paid rate.

Complimentary travel insurance is also included with the Amex Platinum Card, covering car hire cover as well as other benefits. This means you can enjoy peace of mind while renting a car, knowing you're protected in case of theft, physical damage, or other issues.

Some American Express cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, offer more comprehensive car rental insurance coverage, including accidental death or dismemberment, accidental injury, and car rental personal property coverage.

You can save a significant amount of money on car rentals with your Amex Platinum Card.

The Amex Platinum Card offers discounts with several popular car rental companies, including Hertz and Avis. With Hertz, you can get automatic savings when you book a car rental using the Amex Platinum CDP attached to your Gold Plus Rewards account.

For example, a 72-hour hire from Sydney Airport can cost as little as $448.20 for an Economy vehicle, compared to $521.10 for a flexible booking without the discount.

Avis also offers discounts, with Amex Platinum Card Members able to save up to $229.59 on a three-day rental, depending on the vehicle class. The discounts are accessed by joining the free Avis Preferred program and using the discount code provided by American Express.

Here's a rough idea of the savings you can expect with Avis:

The Amex Platinum Card's discounts can be especially helpful if you're planning to rent a car for an extended period, as the savings can add up quickly.

If you need to book or change a reservation with American Express Travel, just call 1-800-297-2977.

If you're an American Express Platinum card member, you can get exclusive discounts on Avis car rentals through the Avis Preferred membership program. This program is free to join, but you'll need to sign up through the American Express website to get the discount code.

Avis offers both flexible and 'Pay Now' rates, which can be booked directly through their website or through Qantas. However, if you have access to the American Express Platinum discounted rates, paying extra to earn points through Qantas might not be the best value.

Here's a comparison of the rates:

As you can see, the American Express Platinum discounted rates are significantly cheaper than the other options. In some cases, you can save more than the annual fee for the Amex Platinum card.

With the Avis Preferred membership, you can also earn a discount of up to 25% on car rentals, which can be used in addition to the already discounted rates. This discount excludes optional upgrades like refueling and car rental insurance.

American Express offers various levels of car rental insurance coverage, depending on the type of card you hold. If you're a premium cardholder, such as the Platinum Card from American Express, you'll have comprehensive coverage that includes theft, physical damage, accidental death or dismemberment, and more.

For standard cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Card, coverage is less comprehensive but still includes theft, loss-of-use fees, and reasonable towing charges. You'll need to pay for the full rental using your eligible AmEx card and decline the rental company's optional insurance coverages to receive coverage.

Here's a breakdown of the coverage you can expect from American Express:

If you're looking for primary coverage, you can purchase Premium Protection for an additional fee, which ranges from $12.25 to $24.95 depending on your state of residence and coverage level. This coverage includes up to $100,000 in vehicle coverage, up to 42 consecutive days of coverage, and higher secondary medical and personal property coverage limits.

It's worth noting that American Express cards come with secondary car rental insurance, so you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in. Reimbursements you receive from any other source are also considered before coverage applies.

Here's a comparison of the standard car rental insurance included on an American Express card and Premium Protection:

To activate Premium Protection for your next car rental, log in to your online American Express card account or call the number on the back of your card. You can also select Rewards and Benefits, then Benefits, to choose Premium Car Rental Protection.

You can enroll in Premium Protection car rental insurance by selecting Learn More, then Enroll Now. You'll be taken to a page that describes the coverages, and you can choose the level of coverage you prefer, which varies by your state of residence.

To file a claim, contact American Express promptly at 800-338-1670 or by calling the number on the back of your card. You'll need to provide proof of loss within 60 days, which includes an itemized repair estimate and itemized bill, a copy of the rental agreement, and a copy of your personal insurance or a notarized letter stating that you don’t have any.

You'll also need to submit a police report, if there is one, and a copy of your driver’s license. Make sure to gather information, take photos, and obtain the necessary documents as soon after the loss as possible.

Here's a list of the necessary documents to file a claim:

You'll be paid out your benefits within 30 days of processing your claim.

You can add Premium Protection to your American Express card for a low price, which covers your car rental for up to 42 consecutive days.

The cost of Premium Protection varies by state and the level of coverage you select, ranging from $12.25 to $24.95 for the entire rental period.

Adding Premium Protection to your card has several advantages over the standard car rental insurance included on an American Express card.

Here are some of the key advantages:

As an Amex Platinum cardholder, you earn elite status with several popular rental car providers and secondary insurance coverage when you rent a vehicle.

If you're an American Express cardholder, you're in luck - many of their cards offer rental car insurance, including the American Express Gold Card, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, and more.

Some of these cards offer higher levels of coverage, such as the Platinum Card, which will reimburse up to $75,000 for damage or theft after a qualifying incident.

To activate the rental car benefits on your Amex Platinum card, you'll need to pay for the entire rental cost with your card and decline the optional insurance coverage offered by the rental car company.

If you're looking for American Express cards that provide rental car insurance, you're in luck. The American Express Gold Card, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express, and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card all offer this benefit.

Each card has its own coverage level, so it's worth checking your specific card details. For example, The Platinum Card from American Express offers up to $75,000 in reimbursement for damage or theft after a qualifying incident.

Rental car insurance with American Express is secondary, meaning it'll only reimburse you after all other insurance has paid out, including any personal insurance you have. However, if you don't hold any other car insurance, even within the U.S., secondary insurance becomes primary.

Here are some American Express cards that provide rental car insurance:

If you're a frequent renter, you might also want to consider the American Express Platinum Card, which unlocks Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star status. This means you'll get perks like upgrades to the next vehicle booking class, 10% more points when crediting reward points to Hertz, and free registration for your spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver.

To get offers with your American Express card, you must pay for the entire rental cost with your Amex Platinum card and decline the optional insurance coverage offered by the rental car company.

You can also receive member discounts by using a special code provided by the rental company.

To be eligible for these discounts, you need to use the code when renting a vehicle.

The American Express Gold Card has its own set of benefits, but it's worth noting the differences compared to other cards. The Gold Card's rental car collision damage waiver insurance has a lower maximum limit of $50,000 compared to the Amex Platinum card, which offers $75,000.

If you're considering the Gold Card, it's essential to weigh these differences against the card's other benefits. The Gold Card's rental car insurance may not provide the same level of coverage as the Platinum card, especially if you're renting a high-value vehicle.

Here's a quick comparison of the Gold Card's rental car insurance with the Platinum card's:

This comparison can help you make a more informed decision about which card is right for you.

AmEx car rental insurance is a valuable benefit that comes with most American Express cards. It provides coverage for theft or damage to rental vehicles, but the type and level of coverage vary by card.

To receive complimentary rental car insurance, you'll need to pay for the full rental with your eligible card and decline any insurance offered by the rental agency. This will automatically activate the insurance.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 or $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles, depending on your card. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.

Eligibility and benefit level vary by card, so it's essential to check your card's guide to benefits for specific information. You can find this information on americanexpress.com/benefitsguide.

Some American Express cards, like The Platinum Card, offer additional benefits, such as elite status at major rental companies, which can provide perks like vehicle upgrades and exclusive offers.

Here are some key details about AmEx car rental insurance:

Remember to check your card's guide to benefits for specific information about your car rental insurance coverage.