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No one ever wants to experience an auto collision or a stolen car, least of all when driving a rental while on vacation. Thankfully, having good auto rental insurance coverage can help take some of the sting out of any vehicular adversity you might have on the road.
While many credit cards offer car rental insurance to varying degrees, having Chase Sapphire Reserve® car rental insurance often negates the need to purchase additional coverage entirely.
That said, it’s important to know how the insurance policy works, what it does and doesn’t cover, and how to file a claim if necessary.
What does Chase Sapphire Reserve® car rental insurance cover?
Unlike coverage offered by some other travel credit cards, the car rental insurance that’s offered with your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is primary coverage, not secondary. That means you don’t have to report the incident to your personal auto insurance company.
Most cards with secondary coverage require you to file a claim with your personal auto insurance first; you can then file with card benefit services to cover whatever is left. Not so with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®: If the damage is covered, you can leave your personal coverage out of it. The only exception to this is New York residents renting within the United States. If that’s you, coverage is secondary if you have existing car insurance.
As for what your Chase Sapphire Reserve® does cover: up to $75,000 in reimbursement for theft and collision damage, as well as applicable loss-of-use charges, administrative fees and towing charges. The policy covers most rental vehicles booked and paid for in full with your Chase Sapphire Reserve®, whether you’re renting in the U.S. or abroad.
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Who is covered?
If you need to file a claim, keep in mind that only you, as the primary driver, are covered, plus any other drivers authorized by the rental car agreement.
So if there’s any chance a spouse, friend or family member might get behind the wheel, add their names to the rental agreement to ensure they’re also covered if anything happens.
» Learn more: Reasons why you need a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card
What’s not covered?
Not all rental vehicles are covered by your Chase Sapphire Reserve®’s auto rental coverage. Here are a few vehicles that are not covered by the policy:
- Antique cars.
- Cargo vans.
- Trucks other than pickups.
- Motorcycles and mopeds.
- Limousines.
- Vehicles that are rented with a driver.
- Recreational vehicles.
- Passenger vans seating more than 12 people, including the driver.
Chase’s car rental insurance also doesn’t offer coverage of the following:
- Damage to other drivers’ vehicles.
- Medical bills for injuries sustained by you or other passengers.
- Damage to any goods inside the vehicle, whether due to damage or theft.
- Incidents or damage caused by off-road adventures.
- Rental periods that are longer than 31 days.
- Any incident where the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or participating in illegal activities.
» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance
How to file a claim for car rental insurance
If you must file a claim at some point, it’s important to know how to proceed, starting at the check-in counter. First, when you review and sign the rental car agreement, make sure to decline the car rental company’s collision damage waiver. If you opt in, it will cancel out your credit card’s auto rental collision benefit.
Then, if theft or damage occurs during your trip, call your card’s benefit administrator as soon as possible after the event to report it (the number is on the back of your card).
You’ll also need to gather copies of several documents to support your claim:
- The accident report.
- The rental agreement.
- The repair estimate and itemized bill.
- Two photos of the damage, if applicable.
- A police report if at all possible.
- A demand letter listing the costs you’re responsible for and any amounts you’ve already paid toward the claim.
- Account statement showing that you paid for the rental with your card.
Send all of these documents to the benefit administrator. Chase recommends filing your claim online at chasecardbenefits.com to make the process as fast and easy as possible. You can also call 1-800-350-1697 to file a claim.
You’ll have 100 days to report any theft or damage after the incident and 365 days to submit all necessary documentation. But the sooner you file and send everything, the sooner you’ll be reimbursed for any covered expenses.
Chase car rental insurance, recapped
Using a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to pay for your car rental is a savvy way to not only earn valuable Ultimate Rewards® points, but also score coverage for auto rentals.
It can cover costs for damage to or theft of the car without getting your personal car insurance involved.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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