No, Discover cards do not provide any rental car insurance. This is a significant difference from many other major credit card issuers. When you rent a car using a Discover card, you are not protected against damage or theft of the rental vehicle. You will need to rely on your personal auto insurance policy or purchase the rental company's collision damage waiver (CDW), also known as loss damage waiver (LDW), to avoid being financially responsible for any damages.
This lack of coverage is a key factor to consider when choosing a card for travel. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and various American Express cards typically offer primary rental car insurance, which means it pays out first before your personal insurance, potentially saving you from a premium increase after a claim. Other cards may offer secondary coverage, which only kicks in after your personal auto insurance and any other applicable policies have been exhausted.
Here’s a quick comparison of rental car insurance benefits across different card networks:
| Credit Card Network/Issuer | Rental Car Insurance Type | Key Requirement (e.g., Decline Rental Company's CDW/LDW) | Key Benefit/Exclusion |
|---|
| Discover | None | Not Applicable | No coverage for damage or theft. |
| Visa Signature (e.g., Chase Sapphire Preferred) | Primary | Yes, you must decline the rental company's waiver. | Covers damage/theft; excludes liability, certain vehicles like trucks. |
| Mastercard World Elite | Secondary | Yes, you must decline the rental company's waiver. | Covers your deductible and expenses after your primary insurance. |
| American Express (via Premium Car Rental Protection) | Primary (optional paid plan) | Yes, for the optional plan. | A flat fee per rental period provides primary coverage. |
| Capital One Venture X | Primary | Yes, you must decline the rental company's waiver. | A top-tier benefit on a premium travel card. |
Because Discover doesn't offer this benefit, your best course of action is to check with your personal auto insurer to understand exactly what is covered when you rent a car. Then, based on that, you can make an informed decision about whether to pay for the rental company's extra coverage for peace of mind.
