Do I need rental car insurance if I use Amex Platinum?

[DiChase]

You typically need additional liability protection and should carefully evaluate your need for a damage waiver, even when using your Amex Platinum card. The card's Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance is a secondary policy covering up to $75,000 for theft or damage to the rental vehicle itself. It does not provide third-party liability coverage, which is legally required to drive. For domestic renters with a personal auto policy, the card’s coverage can be valuable for covering your primary insurance deductible. For international trips or renters without personal auto insurance, its protection gaps are significant.

The coverage is automatically secondary to any other applicable insurance you have (like your personal auto or credit card coverage from the card used to pay). It also excludes many common vehicle types and scenarios. Your primary need is for Liability Insurance, which the Amex benefit does not address.

Coverage Breakdown & Key Exclusions:

• What's Covered: Physical damage to or theft of the rental car. Coverage is secondary in the U.S. but becomes primary if you have no other applicable insurance.
• Coverage Limit: Up to $75,000 per rental agreement.
• Critical Gap - No Liability Coverage: Does not cover injury to others or damage to their property. You must rely on your personal insurance, purchase it from the rental company, or have it through a separate premium rental car product.
• Common Exclusions: Luxury, antique, and cargo vans; rentals in certain countries; off-road use; damages from reckless or illegal driving.

When You Might Still Need the Rental Company's Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW):

1. Renting Abroad: Your personal U.S. auto insurance often provides little to no coverage overseas. While the Amex benefit becomes primary, it still lacks liability and has territorial exclusions.
2. No Personal Auto Insurance: If you don’t own a car and lack a non-owner policy, the Amex coverage acts as your primary damage waiver, but again, with no liability.
3. High-Value Vehicles: The $75,000 limit may not fully cover luxury or specialty vehicles, leaving you responsible for the difference.
4. Avoiding Primary Insurance Claims: Using secondary coverage means filing a claim with your personal insurer first, which could lead to increased premiums. Some prefer to buy the rental company's waiver to avoid this risk entirely.

Practical Recommendation: Always decline the rental company's Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW) if you are confident the Amex Platinum coverage applies and is sufficient. However, you must secure Liability Insurance. For domestic rentals, this typically comes from your personal auto policy. For international travel, purchasing the rental company's liability insurance or a stand-alone third-party liability policy is often necessary. A pragmatic approach is to enroll in Amex's standalone Premium Car Rental Protection plan for a flat per-rental fee, which provides higher primary damage waiver limits and includes supplemental liability coverage.

[MirandaRose]

As someone who rents cars 20+ times a year for work, here's my drill. I always charge it to my Amex Platinum and immediately decline the rental company's damage waiver. That saves me about $30 a day. But I never skip on liability. My own car insurance has me covered there in the U.S. When I rent in Europe, it's a different story. I either book through a corporate portal that includes liability or I begrudgingly buy the rental company's liability package. The Amex card is great for the car's dings and dents, but it won't help if I accidentally bump another car. That's the part you absolutely must have covered separately.

[LilaLee]

The financial calculus depends on your existing insurance and travel location. Domestically, a driver with comprehensive personal auto insurance can confidently rely on the Amex benefit as a secondary layer, primarily to cover their deductible. The annual savings from consistently declining the rental company's CDW can be substantial. However, the equation changes for international travel. Most U.S. personal policies offer minimal to no coverage abroad. In this scenario, while the Amex damage waiver becomes primary, you are left completely exposed on the liability side. Purchasing liability from the rental counter becomes a non-negotiable cost, not an optional upsell. Furthermore, rental agencies in many countries are mandated to include a basic level of third-party liability, but it's often at the legal minimum, which may be inadequate. For comprehensive peace of mind overseas, budgeting for enhanced liability coverage is essential.

[DallasMarie]

Think of it as protecting two different things: the rental car itself, and everyone/thing else around you. Your Amex Platinum covers the rental car (mostly). It does NOT cover the other driver's car, their medical bills, or property you might hit. You need a separate solution for that second part—either your own car insurance or a purchased policy. Always check the rental agreement's "Coverage Included" section, especially overseas. Many countries include basic liability by law, but it's often very low.

[VonAbigail]

Let me walk you through a real-world scenario. Last year, I rented a sedan in Italy using my Amex Platinum. At the counter, the agent offered their full insurance package. I declined the CDW, as my Amex covered the car. However, I accepted their supplemental liability insurance upgrade. Why? Because Italian law only requires a minimal liability limit with the rental, and my U.S. auto policy provides no coverage there. A few days later, a scooter scraped the side of my rental while it was parked. The damage to our car was about €1,200. I filed a claim through Amex's process, submitted the required documentation—police report, rental agreement, final invoice—and was reimbursed without involving my personal insurer. The liability coverage I purchased was never needed, but I was glad to have it. The lesson: Amex handled the vehicle damage seamlessly as a primary payer overseas, but it was my purchased add-on that protected me from a potentially catastrophic liability claim. You have to layer your coverage based on the specific risks of your trip.