One of the best hacks for saving on rental cars is using your credit card for primary insurance coverage instead of ponying up for the rental car company’s collision damage waiver (CDW) or relying on your personal auto policy. But does your credit card rental car insurance cover EVs?
The short answer is that it depends on the car you rent.
Here’s a primer on how credit cards cover you while renting cars. We’ll also run down what some popular credit cards’ policies say about EVs.
How Credit Card Rental Benefits Work
Most credit cards provide secondary rental car insurance. That kicks in after your personal auto insurance or the rental car company’s CDW have paid out.
But some premium credit cards offer primary insurance, which means it covers damages to a rental car even if you don’t have another insurance source.
Even primary insurance has limits and might not cover all electric vehicles. These limitations typically have to do with the value of the vehicle rather than the fact that the car is electric-powered.
Because EVs tend to be more expensive than regular cars, your credit card rental benefit may not cover such cars.
Chase Credit Card Primary Coverage and Electric Cars
Chase is known for its credit cards that offer primary insurance on car rentals. Some of the most popular Chase cards providing primary rental insurance include:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- United Explorer MileagePlus Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has no limitations on covering EV rentals — including Teslas.
While the Sapphire Preferred and the United Explorer cards might not cover all high-value electric vehicles and exotic cars, certain Tesla models are covered.
Capital One Card Primary Coverage and Electric Cars
Another popular card offering primary coverage on car rentals is the Capital One Venture X Credit Card.
Electric cars are included in the primary coverage benefit, but there are limitations on the value of the vehicle. Specifically, the benefit does not cover “expensive” cars, which it defines as any vehicle with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of more than $75,000. In this case, primary rental car insurance would cover a Tesla Model 3, but not a Tesla Model S.
When in Doubt, Make a Call
If you’re not sure whether your card will cover an EV, make a quick call to your card’s benefits administrator and pose your questions. The administrator will be able to advise if specific models are covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can drive a rental car from one country to another in Europe.
Hertz is the best place to rent a car if you’re planning on driving all over Europe. It is much less expensive than hiring a private driver. And they have great coverage.
You also get unlimited mileage. If you need to rent a car for more than one trip, you have the option of renting multiple cars.
What is the best way to rent a car for Portugal?
An international driving licence is required to rent a car in Portugal. You should also have proof of insurance and valid credit cards for payment purposes.
A rental company may ask for your passport/national ID card to confirm your booking.
Portugal may ask you to provide two forms of identification when renting a vehicle.
These are required by law to comply with the European Union regulations on road traffic safety. You may not be allowed to drive the vehicle if you are unsure of your identity.
A translation of your driver’s license from your home country is required if the International Driving License you do not have is required.
This document must be translated into Portuguese, and all documentation required to support it must also be included. Although the cost of this document will vary depending on where it is located, it generally runs between $20-30 USD.
If you don’t provide a copy or official translation, you could be denied access.
How old are you to rent a vehicle in Europe?
You must be 21 to drive legally in most European countries. Although you can rent a car legally from someone older than you, you might still be allowed to drive if you are less than 18. The age limit for renting cars is different depending on the country. You may be allowed to rent a car in some countries without having to be older than 15.
What is the average daily price of a European rental car?
We are not sure, but it seems to be somewhere between $100-200 daily.
We recommend renting for at least 2 days, as there are so many activities and sights to see.
If you intend to stay longer, you might be interested in a vehicle that costs around $2000-$3000.
This will allow you to travel freely around Europe.
It’s also worth looking into whether your credit card company offers any rental discounts.
Can I rent a car in the US if I am from another country?
Without permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you can’t rent a vehicle in America if you’re not an American citizen. Some countries may have a visa waiver program. Also, you need to meet certain requirements such as having valid documentation (e.g. passport) and proof of your insurance. The DHS website provides additional information on this topic.
Can you rent a car in one European country and return it to another?
It would make travelling easier if you could rent cars across multiple countries and have them return to the place they were rented.
This might not be feasible because most people don’t want extra mileage. Rental agencies often charge more to return a car to an area other than the one it was originally rented.
It is better to stay in one country unless you are planning on frequent travel.
Can you rent a car in Portugal and drop it off in Spain?
It is possible. This is called “car rental”“. You can find many companies online that offer this service.
Only check to make sure they are licensed by Spanish and Portuguese authorities.
You can contact them directly via their websites. They should have all of the information that you require.
Statistics
- I’d say 70% of the time, we have a hassle-free encounter, but there have been certain companies that we prefer not to use anymore. (theworldpursuit.com)
- Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)
- For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day’s trip cost. (insider.com)
- If you’re a member of AAA, you might also be able to snag discounts of 10 percent at Thrifty, and 8 percent at Dollar. (afar.com)
- You can rent an automatic but these cars can cost as much as 50% more than a manual vehicle. (earthtrekkers.com)
External Links
kayak.com
autoslash.com
alamo.com
jdpower.com
How To
How can I make sure that I don’t get charged for damage done to my car before it is rented?
How does the vehicle get returned if it is rented for less than 24 hours? Do you get charged for any damage that is caused by a scratch to the rental car? This is a common issue, especially among people renting vehicles from different companies. Customers may be charged even though they didn’t cause any damage when renting their cars. Avoid these charges by asking whether you will be charged for scratches or dents on the vehicle. These are some of the ways to ensure you won’t be charged for damages that were already done to your car before renting it.
- Ask for a duplicate of the agreement.
- Check the description of the car thoroughly;
- Carefully read the fine print.
- Get a complimentary cleaning service
- Careful about the car’s condition.
- You should not leave anything in your car.
- You should always bring cash when renting a vehicle.
- Keep receipts for all payments.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that no one touches the car without you permission.
- Never accept a gift of the company.
- Use only a reputable rental agency;
- You should always bring the contract.
- The car must be returned in good condition.
- Your contact information should be given to the agent
- Avoid using the same company as often as possible;
- Note important information about your car such as its mileage, model, engine size and color. ;
- Take photos to show the extent of the damage.
- Clean the car yourself;
- Ask a third party to inspect the vehicle.
- Never accept additional fees.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://rentacar24.org/car-rental-news/entry-is-free-at-national-parks-on-august-4-2023/
