How Capital One Rental Car Insurance Works

Whether you get primary or secondary coverage will depend on which Capital One card you use.
Carissa Rawson
By Carissa Rawson 
Updated

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Capital One offers a variety of credit cards for all types of consumers. This includes cash-back cards, cards targeted toward students and travel rewards cards. While not all cards feature the same benefits, there are a few that provide extra protections.

One such protection is rental car insurance. When renting a vehicle, you can drive with extra peace of mind when paying with select Capital One credit cards and being protected with Capital One rental car insurance.

Let’s take a look at Capital One's car rental insurance offerings, what it covers and how to file a claim when you’ve had an accident.

What does Capital One rental car insurance cover?

Rental car insurance offered by Capital One is distinct from other types of car insurance, especially personal policies. In order to be eligible for this complimentary insurance, you’ll need to decline the collision damage waiver, or CDW, insurance offered by the rental car company. You’ll also need to pay for the entire rental with your Capital One card.

As a rule, Capital One car insurance will protect you in the event that these types of damage occur:

  • Physical damage to the car.

  • Theft of a covered rental vehicle.

  • Valid loss-of-use charges charged by the rental car agency.

  • Reasonable towing charges.

Note that Capital One’s insurance only covers your rental car — not other vehicles, which means if you’re in an at-fault accident you won’t have coverage. This includes costs for damage to other vehicles as well as medical payments for which you may be liable.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Capital One’s rental car insurance specifically excludes coverage in Irish Republic, Israel, Jamaica and Northern Ireland.

And there are a couple of other limitations that travelers should be aware of: Your rental cannot exceed 15 consecutive days in your residence country or 31 consecutive days in other countries.

Which Capital One travel cards include rental car insurance?

Here are a few of Capital One’s credit cards that provide rental car insurance:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
Annual fee

$395.

$95.

$0.

Welcome offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

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The coverage you’ll receive will depend on what type of Capital One credit card you hold. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example, is a Visa Infinite card and its coverage is primary. This means the insurance will pay out before other types of insurance policies you may have.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, meanwhile, is a Visa Signature card with benefits that are secondary to other types of insurance when within your country of residence. It still acts as primary insurance when you’re traveling and renting a car abroad.

Note that only those who are approved for the Visa Signature version of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card will receive rental car insurance. Those who qualify for the Visa Platinum version of the card are not entitled to this benefit.

Who is covered?

Capital One’s rental car insurance coverage is fairly standard. As the cardholder and primary renter of the vehicle, you are covered. Any additional drivers as specified on the rental car policy are also covered.

🤓Nerdy Tip

The rental car insurance provided by Chase credit cards includes coverage for the countries Capital One’s insurance excludes: Irish Republic, Israel, Jamaica and Northern Ireland.

Be aware that other drivers who aren’t explicitly listed on your agreement will not have coverage in the event of an accident.

How to file a Capital One rental car insurance claim

If an incident does occur and you need to file a claim, there are two methods that you can use.

  1. Contact your benefits administrator by phone. Check your individual guide to benefits for the appropriate phone number as they differ depending on the card that you hold. Or,

  2. Navigate to the online claim website and file your claim from there.

Regardless of the method that you choose, you’ll want to file your claim as quickly as possible. Reporting your incident more than 45 days after it occurred renders it invalid.

You’ll then need to fill out and send in the auto rental CDW form. This must be postmarked no more than 90 days after the date of the accident.

Finally, you’ll have up to 365 days to send in the remaining documentation that the claim will require. This includes:

  • A copy of your billing receipt or credit card statement showing that you paid for the rental using your eligible card.

  • A copy of the accident report form.

  • A copy of the repair estimate and itemized bill.

  • At least two photographs of the damage (if possible).

  • A police report (if possible).

  • A copy of the demand letter indicating any costs for which you are liable and any payments already made.

Note that the documentation requirements will differ based on which card you hold. Those with a Visa Signature card (like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card) will need to provide information regarding their existing insurance policy or a notarized document stating that they have no personal insurance.

After you’ve finished submitting documentation, the benefit administrator will begin finalizing your claim. Claims are generally resolved within 15 days after you’ve turned in all your information.

Capital One car rental coverage, recapped

Even if you don’t rent cars often while traveling, Capital One’s rental car insurance coverage can save you big bucks at the rental company’s counter. Declining coverage and using your eligible card to pay for the vehicle can entitle you to complimentary insurance while you’re on the road.

Be sure to double-check which card you hold and its appropriate guide to benefits. Not all coverage is the same. Some cards, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, will only provide secondary insurance for your vehicle. While others, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, feature primary coverage, which will handle your claim without affecting any personal policies that you may hold.

Travelers to certain countries should be aware that Capital One travel credit cards may not provide coverage.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Capital One Cards from our Partners
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-5x

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

Miles

Intro offer

75,000

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Miles
Capital One® SavorOneSM Cash Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1%-10%

Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024. Terms apply.

Cashback

Intro offer

$200

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
4.9
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-10x

Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

Miles

Intro offer

75,000

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Miles
See more capital one cards
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