When I wrote about which credit cards offer primary rental car coverage, a few readers asked, “What about American Express?” It’s a fair question—and one I initially didn’t explore in detail, because AMEX’s included rental protection is typically secondary. But those questions got me curious:
- Just how good is the built-in coverage from the American Express Platinum Card?
- And what about the optional Premium Car Rental Protection AMEX offers for a flat fee?
Let’s take a look.
Built-In Coverage From the AMEX Platinum Card
The Platinum Card automatically provides car rental loss and damage insurance when you:
- Pay for the entire rental with your AMEX Platinum Card, and
- Decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) and other optional coverages offered by the rental agency.
While this coverage is secondary—meaning it only kicks in after your personal car insurance—it’s actually more robust than I expected. In fact, one portion of the benefit is even primary.
Here’s what’s included:
| Coverage Type | Per Person Limit | Per Accident Limit | Primary or Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental Vehicle Damage or Theft | Up to $75,000 | Per rental agreement | Secondary |
| Accidental Death (Card Member) | $200,000 | $300,000 total cap | Primary |
| Accidental Death (Passenger/Driver) | $20,000 | Included in $300K cap | Primary |
| Accidental Injury | $5,000 per claimant | Included in $300K cap | Secondary |
| Personal Property Loss | $1,000 per person | $2,000 total per accident | Secondary |
So while the Platinum’s car rental coverage isn’t fully primary, it does include primary Accidental Death and Dismemberment protection—which is not something you’ll find with most other cards.
Optional Premium Car Rental Protection (PCRP)
If you’d rather skip dealing with your personal auto insurance entirely, AMEX also offers a paid upgrade: Premium Car Rental Protection.
Once you enroll in the program, AMEX will automatically charge you a flat-rate premium when you use the enrolled card for a rental. The fee covers the entire rental period, not just a daily rate.
What It Covers
- Primary coverage for damage or theft of the rental vehicle
- Primary Accidental Death & Dismemberment protection (higher limits than standard benefit)
- Secondary coverage for accidental injury and loss/theft of personal property
- Coverage for up to 42 days (30 days in Washington State)
What It Costs
You can choose between two coverage levels:
| Tier | Premium Cost | Vehicle Coverage | AD&D Coverage (Card Member) | Personal Property Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | ~$12.25–$19.95 per rental | Up to $75,000 | $75,000 | Up to $5,000 total |
| Plus | ~$15.25–$24.95 per rental | Up to $100,000 | $100,000 | Up to $10,000 total |
The exact price and coverage limits vary slightly depending on your state of residence.
Restrictions to Note
- Not available for rentals originating in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, or New Zealand
- Doesn’t cover certain types of vehicles (e.g. motorcycles, antique cars, large vans, off-road vehicles)
- You must enroll before your rental for coverage to be active
Final Thought
If you’re using your AMEX Platinum Card for a rental car, you’ll get decent secondary protection, and primary Accidental Death benefits that might come in handy—though hopefully never needed.
But if you want to avoid involving your personal insurance at all, or you just like having higher coverage limits, the Premium Car Rental Protection plan is a solid and reasonably priced upgrade.
Whether you go with the built-in benefit or the paid plan, just be sure to read the fine print, know the country and vehicle exclusions, and decline the rental agency’s CDW for the coverage to apply.
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