4 ms·

Yup, I recently rented a car with an American Express Platinum card, which includes secondary coverage. I don't own a car, so I don't have auto insurance, and a

Yup, I recently rented a car with an American Express Platinum card, which includes secondary coverage. I don't own a car, so I don't have auto insurance, and assumed vehicle to the damage would still be covered, I just wouldn't have liability coverage. But in order for the policy to pay out anything at all, you're required to have primary coverage. So I ended up paying $300 or so for a scratched fender. Not the end of the world, and their estimate seemed fair, but I might buy the rental car insurance next time.

ciabattabread 5y ago
Next time, get the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection add-on as your primary? [1] [1] https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-coverage/home.do https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-i...
- skuhn 5y ago
  Paying for the AMEX primary coverage is usually much cheaper than rental car coverage (since it's one-time instead of daily). Some Chase cards also offer primary coverage without a fee (but they are generally cards with significant annual fees).
- listenallyall 5y ago
  This is a fantastic service. AmEx used to promote it reasonably heavily, but in the past few years I've rarely seen them mention it at all.
argonaut 5y ago
Wait, this is definitely news to me. I'm pretty sure secondary coverage becomes primary if you don't have personal insurance. I re-read the Amex terms and conditions and it says nothing about requiring primary coverage (https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/policies/car-rental-loss-and-damage-insurance-terms.html https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-ben...).
- cromka 5y ago
  That was exactly my understanding and, I think, a general consensus on how secondary insurance works for Amex Platinum.
- jlund-molfese 5y ago
  Hmm, maybe I should resubmit the claim! Would be great if I'm wrong–the form required a primary insurance declaration and I gave up at that point. EDIT: Thanks argonaut, that worked and the claim was able to go through! Proof of Cunningham's Law.

ciabattabread 5y ago

Next time, get the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection add-on as your primary? [1] [1] https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-coverage/home.do https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-i...

skuhn 5y ago
Paying for the AMEX primary coverage is usually much cheaper than rental car coverage (since it's one-time instead of daily). Some Chase cards also offer primary coverage without a fee (but they are generally cards with significant annual fees).
listenallyall 5y ago
This is a fantastic service. AmEx used to promote it reasonably heavily, but in the past few years I've rarely seen them mention it at all.

argonaut 5y ago

Wait, this is definitely news to me. I'm pretty sure secondary coverage becomes primary if you don't have personal insurance. I re-read the Amex terms and conditions and it says nothing about requiring primary coverage (https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/policies/car-rental-loss-and-damage-insurance-terms.html https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-ben...).

cromka 5y ago
That was exactly my understanding and, I think, a general consensus on how secondary insurance works for Amex Platinum.
jlund-molfese 5y ago
Hmm, maybe I should resubmit the claim! Would be great if I'm wrong–the form required a primary insurance declaration and I gave up at that point. EDIT: Thanks argonaut, that worked and the claim was able to go through! Proof of Cunningham's Law.