The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card offers primary rental car coverage, which means you don't need to file a claim with your personal auto insurance.
This coverage includes a $75,000 liability limit, which is a significant amount of protection in case of an accident.
If you decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you're still covered under the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card.
However, if you purchase the rental company's collision damage waiver, the card's coverage is secondary to the rental company's coverage.
How Credit Card Insurance Works
To get the most out of credit card rental insurance, you need two things: a credit card with car rental insurance and a rental car. Simply having them isn't sufficient, though - terms and conditions vary, but they generally require you to pay for your rental car with the appropriate card, usually the whole bill, not just part of it.
You also need to decline the insurance offered by the rental car company. If you don't follow these requirements, your credit card car rental insurance won't take effect, which can be bad news if you run into a problem.
There are two types of car rental insurance available on select credit cards: primary and secondary. Primary insurance applies before any other type of insurance, while secondary insurance only kicks in after other types of insurance, such as travel insurance or your personal car insurance, have been used.
With primary insurance, you'd file one claim, whereas with secondary insurance, you'll likely need to file claims with multiple insurance companies. Both types of insurance usually have maximum coverage amounts, so make sure these meet or exceed the total value of the car you're renting.
Citi car rental insurance protects you up to $50,000, which is used to cover the cash value of the car or the cost of any repairs, whichever is less. This amount is used to cover damage or theft, as well as towing costs to the collision repair facility.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card Rental Car Coverage
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card rental car coverage is a valuable benefit, but it's essential to understand the terms and conditions to get the most out of it.
You need to use the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card to pay for your rental car in full, and decline the insurance offered by the rental car company.
To be eligible for coverage, you must rent a four-wheel vehicle designed for paved roads for a period of less than 31 days.
The coverage provides reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft, up to $50,000, which is used to cover the cash value of the car or the cost of any repairs, whichever is less.
If your rental car is damaged in an accident or by theft, or if it's a victim of vandalism or a natural disaster, the protection would apply.
You'll also be covered for any towing costs to the collision repair facility.
To file a claim, call 1-866-918-4670 or download the form online at cardbenefits.citi.com, and be sure to have the car rental agreement, photos of the damage or coverage request, and any other documents the company requests.
You have 180 days to provide these details to the insurer.
Filing a Claim
Filing a claim is a straightforward process with the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card rental car coverage. To get started, call 1-866-918-4670 to reach the claims hotline.
You'll need to have some documents ready to provide the necessary details. These include the car rental agreement, photos of the damage or coverage request, and any other documents the company requests.
Be sure to gather all the required documents within the 180-day timeframe to avoid any potential issues with your claim.
Benefits and Features
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card rental car coverage is a valuable benefit that provides protection up to $50,000 for car rentals.
This coverage is available worldwide, with no geographic limits, as long as you use your Citi card to pay for the rental. If the car is damaged in an accident or by theft, a natural disaster, or vandalism, the protection would apply, including any towing costs to the collision repair facility.
For car rentals of less than 31 days, this insurance will protect the eligible cardholder when renting a four-wheel vehicle designed for paved roads.
Primary vs Secondary Insurance
Primary insurance is a type of coverage that kicks in before any other type of insurance, such as travel insurance or your personal car insurance. This means you'll only need to file one claim in the event of an accident.
Secondary insurance, on the other hand, only covers expenses remaining to be paid after other types of insurance have been used, such as deductibles on those other policies. This can lead to a more complicated claims process.
In the U.S., credit card car rental insurance is usually secondary, meaning you'll need to rely on any other insurance policy you have first. Any deductibles would be your responsibility as the renter.
However, if you're renting a car outside the U.S., your credit card's insurance may become primary, covering you in case of an accident. This is especially important if you don't own a car or carry a car insurance policy.
Most credit card car rental insurance policies have maximum coverage amounts, so be sure to check these before renting a car.
What's Covered
Up to $50,000 of protection is provided by Citi car rental insurance to cover the cash value of the car or the cost of any repairs, whichever is less.
You can rent a car anywhere in the world and be protected as long as you use a Citi card with car rental coverage to pay for the rental.
The protection applies to car rentals of less than 31 days, and it covers four-wheel vehicles designed for paved roads.
If the car is damaged in an accident, by theft, or due to a natural disaster or vandalism, the protection would apply, including any towing costs to the collision repair facility.
This insurance will also reimburse for damage due to collision or theft, up to the actual cash value of most vehicles.
Some credit cards only cover physical damage or theft of the rental vehicle, so be sure to check your card's policy carefully.
In the U.S., the insurance is secondary, meaning you would need to rely on any other insurance policy you have first, but any deductibles would be the renter's responsibility.
If renting outside of the country, the insurance is primary, meaning it would be the first insurance plan for any coverage needs.
Be sure to read your card's policy carefully to understand what isn't covered, and if you have any doubts, call the customer service number on your card for more information.
Precautions and Considerations
Before you rent a car with your Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card, make sure you understand the rental car coverage details.
The rental car must be rented for a minimum of 30 consecutive days to be eligible for the primary collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage.
Be aware that some rental car companies may not allow you to decline their insurance, so it's essential to check with the rental company beforehand.
If you decline the rental car company's insurance, you'll need to use your Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card to pay for the rental to be eligible for the primary CDW coverage.
Keep in mind that the primary CDW coverage is secondary to any other applicable insurance, which means you'll need to file a claim with your personal insurance company first.
The rental car must be rented for a minimum of 30 consecutive days to be eligible for the primary CDW coverage.
In the event of a loss or damage, you'll need to pay for the rental car up to the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle, and then submit a claim to Citi for reimbursement.
If you have any existing coverage on your personal auto policy, it may be affected by the primary CDW coverage, so be sure to review your policy before renting a car.
You can file a claim with Citi online, by phone, or by mail, and you'll need to provide documentation such as the rental agreement, police report, and repair estimates.
Sources
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/credit-card-car-rental-insurance-how-it-works-cards-that-have-it/
- https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/cards-rental-car-coverage/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/citi-card-car-rental-insurance
- https://millionmilesecrets.com/guides/is-the-citi-american-airlines-aadvantage-platinum-select-mastercard-worth-it/
- https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/insights/citi-aadvantage-platinum-select-world-elite-mastercard
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