American Express® - Premium Car Rental Protection
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the Sample of Insurance for terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations.
Enrollment and Billing
Premium Car Rental Protection is available to eligible Basic and Additional Card Members with a U.S. Consumer or Small Business Card issued by American Express® National Bank. Premium Car Rental Protection is not available for residents of New Hampshire and the U.S. Territories.
You can enroll each of your eligible American Express® Cards into Premium Car Rental Protection through the online process located here or by calling the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-228-6855. When you enroll, you can select which of your eligible Cards to enroll into Premium Car Rental Protection. When the Basic Card Member enrolls their Card, all Additional Cards under that account will automatically be enrolled into Premium Car Rental Protection.
Basic Card Members are encouraged to inform all Additional Card Members that their Cards are enrolled in Premium Car Rental Protection. When an Additional Card Member uses their Card for an eligible Car Rental, the premium will be charged, and they will receive the coverage benefits.
When the Basic Card Member enrolls their Card, all Additional Cards under that account will automatically be enrolled into Premium Car Rental Protection. Additional Card Members can also enroll their Card directly by calling 1-800-228-6855.
No, if you have multiple Cards, each eligible Card must be enrolled separately into Premium Car Rental Protection. However, when the Basic Card Member enrolls their Card, all Additional Cards under that account will also be enrolled into Premium Car Rental Protection.
The insurance premium will automatically be charged to your Enrolled Card when you pay for an eligible car rental with your enrolled American Express® Card.
Premium Car Rental Protection has two plans of coverage. You will be charged a flat fee depending on the plan you select and your state of residence.
You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with duplicate (primary and/or secondary) coverage or similar benefits, but it may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of Premium Car Rental Protection with your existing renter’s, personal liability, life, health, home, and (primary) automobile insurance policies as well as other sources of (primary and/or secondary) coverage. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer or insurance agent or broker.
Card Members are encouraged to make their own informed decision about their insurance needs.
Premium Car Rental Protection provides Primary coverage for Damage to or Theft of the Rental Car as well as coverage for Accidental Death or Dismemberment. Premium Car Rental Protection provides Secondary coverage for Damage to or Theft of Personal Property and Accidental Injury. Coverage limits vary depending upon the enrollment option you select and your state of residence. For a breakdown of coverage amounts, please see the Premium Car Rental Protection landing page.
Yes, coverage includes cars rented in countries outside of the United States except for vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica and New Zealand.
Coverage is for up to 42 consecutive days (up to 30 consecutive days for residents of Washington State).
Yes, Premium Car Rental Protection offers coverage for medical expenses due to an Accidental Injury. Coverage is limited, and the plan will pay a secondary Accidental Injury benefit for treatment and supplies that are Medically Necessary. Coverage limits are based on the plan you select. For more coverage details, please see the Premium Car Rental Protection landing page.
Covered vehicles include four-wheeled, two-axle passenger motor vehicles, designed for and sold to accommodate private passenger transport on public roads, including a pick-up truck, cargo or passenger van and sport utility vehicle (SUV).
The following vehicles are not considered a Rental Car and no benefit under the Plan will be paid for a loss if such a vehicle is rented:
- any truck other than a pick-up truck
- a cube van or box truck
- leased or mini-leased motor vehicles
- vehicles that, after manufactured by the maker, have had any part customized or modified,except for driver's assistance equipment for the physically challenged driver
- any vehicle more than 20 years old or that has not been manufactured for 10 or more years
- limousines, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, motor bikes, mopeds, recreational vehicles, anyor motorized cart including a golf cart, campers and trailers
Vehicles you share, rent, hire, lease or use from any person, company or business that is not a licensed commercial car rental agency are also not covered.
Please check the Sample of Insurance for all exclusions.
You can see the Premium Car Rental Protection coverage limits you enrolled in at any time by logging into your account. The Plan Documents sent to you after enrollment will also contain the specific coverage limits based on the plan you selected.
A claim is your request for an insurance payment and how we determine if coverage is available for the unique facts and circumstances of your loss. If you have had a loss, and you believe it is covered, please file a claim as soon as possible. If you are unsure whether your loss is covered, please file a claim. We will review your facts and circumstances to determine coverage and if so, how much coverage is available.
The initial notification of a loss must be reported as soon as reasonably possible after the loss. You can file a claim online by visiting the Digital Claims Center at americanexpress.com/protectionbenefits. If in doubt about whether to file a claim, please file a claim with us.
You may also provide first notice of loss by calling the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-228-6855. If required, a claim form will be sent to the Covered Person after the Company receives notice of loss.
You will need to submit timely written proof of loss which may include, but is not limited to:
- Itemized bill for repair or replacement of the rental car or item
- Report from law enforcement agency (e.g., police report)
- Photos of the damaged vehicle
- Copy of all claim documents and correspondence, provided by the rental company
- Copy of the written rental agreement with the rental company
- Death certificate and/or itemized medical bills and records
- Signed authorization to obtain medical records
- Completed claim form
- Documentation from the rental company indicating that the covered person was responsible for the damages or loss
- Receipts or proof of ownership for stolen or damaged item
General Questions
Once enrolled, if you cannot find your Plan Documents, you can request a reprint by calling the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-228-6855.
If you applied for a new American Express® Card, once you receive your Card, you can choose to enroll your new Card by visiting the enrollment link here.
Typically, you only need to enroll each eligible American Express® Card one time. Once enrolled, your Premium Car Rental Protection will remain active on each eligible Enrolled Card even if you receive a replacement card. However, if you receive a Card where the entire Card number changes, you must re-enroll this replacement Card to maintain Premium Car Rental Protection coverage.
You can always check if your Card is enrolled on the enrollment page, if you’re ever in doubt about your Card enrollment.
If you believe you’ve been charged in error, please contact us at 1-800-228-6855.
Basic American Express® Card Members can unenroll their Card online and in most cases will unenroll all Additional Card(s) under that account by completing the unenrollment process located here. If an Additional Card Member has enrolled directly into Premium Car Rental Protection, they may still have an active enrollment and should call us to confirm their enrollment status at 1-800-228-6855. Basic Card Members are encouraged to inform all Additional Card Members that they may have been unenrolled from Premium Car Rental Protection and will no longer receive the benefits if they rent a car.
If the Additional Card Member wants to continue to be enrolled in Premium Car Rental Protection, please have the Additional Card Member call 1-800-228-6855 to re-enroll.
Additional Card Members who enrolled in Premium Car Rental Protection directly and were not automatically enrolled by the Basic Card Member can unenroll their Card by calling 1-800-228-6855.