What are the benefits of renting a car with American Express?

[VanMaggie]

Renting a car with an American Express card provides automatic secondary collision damage waiver coverage and the option for primary insurance for a flat fee. Cardholders can earn bonus points on prepaid bookings, and premium card members enjoy complimentary elite status with major rental agencies, offering valuable perks like upgrades and expedited service.

The primary benefit is automatic secondary coverage for damage or theft when you decline the rental company’s Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and pay with your Amex. This serves as a backup to your personal auto insurance. For more robust protection, you can enroll in the Premium Car Rental Protection plan. This provides primary coverage for a flat fee of $12.95 to $24.95 per rental period (not per day), covering damage, theft, and secondary medical/accidental death benefits. You avoid filing a claim with your personal insurer first.

For rewards, booking a prepaid rental through AmexTravel.com typically earns 2x Membership Rewards points. Holders of cards like The Platinum Card® also receive complimentary elite status. With Hertz, this is President’s Circle, which includes benefits like guaranteed vehicle availability, free one-car-class upgrades, and counter skip. With Avis, benefits include Avis Preferred® status with expedited service.

Benefit Type	Standard Coverage (Most Cards)	Premium Optional Coverage (Enrollment Required)	Elite Status Perks (Premium Cards)
Insurance Core	Secondary CDW/LDW (Damage/Theft)	Primary CDW/LDW (Damage/Theft)	N/A
Cost Structure	Included at no extra cost	Flat fee per rental ($12.95-$24.95)	Complimentary with card
Key Features	Acts after personal insurance	Primary coverage; includes secondary medical	Hertz President’s Circle, Avis Preferred®
Main Use Case	Basic backup protection	Avoiding personal insurance claims	Faster service, free upgrades

Critical limitations exist. Geographically, coverage is often void for rentals in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. Vehicle exclusions apply to expensive luxury models, antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs. A significant gap is that no Amex benefit provides liability insurance for damage you cause to others or their property; the rental company’s supplemental liability insurance is needed for that. To activate any Amex coverage, you must formally decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW at the counter.

For optimal use, assess your existing personal auto insurance. If it has high deductibles, the Premium Protection plan is valuable for its primary coverage. Always book eligible rentals directly with the company or via Amex Travel, and carry proof of your coverage terms when traveling.

[Maureen]

As someone who rents cars monthly for work, my Amex is indispensable for the flat-fee primary insurance. Paying a single $20 fee for a week-long rental is a no-brainer—it means my personal auto insurer never gets involved if a fender bender happens. I’ve used it once for a minor scrape, and the claims process was straightforward. I don’t worry about my deductible. The key is remembering to officially decline the rental company’s own damage waiver at pickup. It feels like having a dedicated shield for each trip without the daily insurance upsell pressure.

[AriannaAnn]

Let’s talk about what’s not covered, because that’s where people get burned. I learned this the hard way. Your Amex coverage, even the premium plan, does not include liability. If you cause an accident and damage another car or injure someone, you’re on the hook unless you bought separate liability coverage from the rental company. Also, reading the fine print on vehicle exclusions saved me. Planning a fancy trip? That sports car or high-end SUV likely isn’t covered. My rule is to always book a standard sedan or mid-size SUV from the major agencies to stay safely within the terms.

[ElisaLee]

The elite status from my Platinum Card is a game-changer. At Hertz, being President’s Circle means I bypass the chaotic rental counter entirely and head straight to the “Gold Choice” lot. I can pick any car from my reserved class or below and drive off. The free upgrade is almost guaranteed. At Avis, the Preferred service lets me skip lines, too. This perk is about time and comfort, not just insurance. For frequent travelers, it transforms a tedious chore into a seamless part of the journey. It’s the primary reason I choose Hertz or Avis over other brands when I travel.

[Bobby]

Maximizing these benefits requires a simple checklist. First, before any trip, check if your destination country is excluded—Australia, Italy, and New Zealand are common blackout zones. Second, enroll your card in the Premium Protection plan online before you travel; it’s not automatic. When you arrive at the counter, be firm: say you are declining the CDW/LDW because you have coverage through American Express. Get a copy of the rental agreement showing the waiver was declined. Finally, use your card for the entire transaction to keep the coverage valid. This system turns the benefits from abstract terms into practical, reliable travel armor.