Do Capital One Credit Cards Have Rental Car Insurance?

Last Updated on September 30, 2023

Your Capital One credit card may have rental car insurance.

Depending on your Capital One credit card, you could avoid buying car insurance from the rental car company. Capital One, like many credit card providers, offers rental car insurance on many of its credit cards.

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about Capital One rental car insurance and how it works.

Table of Contents:

• Capital One Includes Rental Car Insurance on Most Cards
• Capital One Visa Rental Car Insurance
• Capital One’s Visa Rental Car Insurance Is Secondary Coverage
• Coverage Varies Depending on Your Personal Auto Insurance Policy
• How Capital One Mastercard Car Insurance Works
• How to Make a Claim for Capital One Car Rental Insurance

Capital One Includes Rental Car Insurance on Most Cards

Capital One offers rental car insurance on the majority of its credit cards. However, the company does not offer rental car insurance on all cards.

If you have a Visa credit card through Capital One, then you have rental car insurance. All Capital One Visa credit cards come with rental car insurance.

If you have a Mastercard credit card through Capital One, then you may or may not have rental car insurance. Only three Capital One Mastercard credit cards offer rental car insurance, including the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, and Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.

Your Capital One rental car benefits vary depending on whether you have a Visa or Mastercard credit card. We’ll cover both benefits in detail below.

Capital One Visa Rental Car Insurance

Capital One offers rental car insurance on all Visa credit cards.

If you have a Visa credit card from Capital One, then you receive free rental car insurance when paying for your booking in full using that credit card.

Your Capital One Visa card comes with collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage that is valid in the United States and most other countries.

With a Capital One Visa credit card, you can make a claim if your rental car is damaged or stolen. You can also make a claim if the rental car company charges you certain loss-of-use charges or administrative fees.

Here’s how the Capital One Visa rental car insurance works:

• You must pay for the car rental in full using your Capital One Visa credit card
• You must decline the rental car company’s collision damage waiver (CDW)
• You will receive reimbursement from Capital One if your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen
• You will also receive reimbursement for eligible loss-of-use charges, administrative fees, or towing fees
• Coverage applies for 15 consecutive days when renting a car in the United States or 31 consecutive days internationally
• Coverage applies up to the actual cash value of your rental car, which is the cost of replacing the rental car minus depreciation

There are certain exceptions to this coverage. It doesn’t cover certain larger rental vans or trucks, for example, nor does it cover exotic vehicle rentals, motorcycle rentals, limousine rentals, or RV rentals.

Capital One will also not reimburse you if your vehicle is stolen or damaged as part of a violation of your rental agreement. If you crashed the car while off-roading in violation of your rental agreement, for example, then Capital One may deny your claim.

Certain countries have laws prohibiting credit card insurance coverage. Capital One’s Visa rental car insurance does not apply when renting a car in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, or Northern Ireland.

Coverage also does not apply when it conflicts with the rental car agreement of specific merchants – like if a rental car company does not allow for credit card-based rental car insurance coverage to apply.

Capital One’s Visa Rental Car Insurance Is Secondary Coverage

There’s a difference between primary and secondary coverage. Primary coverage applies first, and secondary coverage covers any remaining fees.

Depending on where you rent your vehicle, your Capital One Visa rental car insurance could be primary or secondary:

Secondary When Renting in the United States: If you are renting a car in the United States using your Capital One Visa credit card, then this coverage is secondary coverage. That means your Capital One insurance only covers any expenses not covered by your primary insurance. Most drivers’ ordinary car insurance policy functions as primary insurance on a rental car.

Primary When Renting Internationally: When renting a car outside of the United States, your Capital One Visa rental car insurance functions as primary coverage. That means you make a claim through Capital One first, and Capital One covers all eligible charges up to the limits of your policy.

Coverage Varies Depending on Your Personal Auto Insurance Policy

Capital One’s coverage also varies based on whether or not you have personal auto insurance.

Your personal auto insurance policy covers your ordinary, daily vehicle. For example, if you have car insurance through GEICO for your Ford F-150 at home, then this coverage generally extends to a rental vehicle.

If you have personal car insurance, then this personal car insurance functions as primary coverage, although Capital One may pay your deductible. If you do not have personal car insurance, then Capital One may cover certain eligible charges regardless.

You Have Personal Car Insurance: If you have personal car insurance, then this personal car insurance functions as primary coverage when renting within the United States. However, your Capital One policy covers your deductible. If you pay a $1,000 collision coverage deductible after damage or theft of a rental car, for example, then Capital One will cover your deductible, your primary insurance provider will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, and Capital One will cover any remaining expenses. Capital One may also cover additional loss-of-use charges, towing fees, and administrative fees charged by the rental car company.

You Do Not Have Personal Car Insurance: If you do not have personal car insurance, then Capital One will cover certain eligible theft or damage costs related to the rental car, along with any administrative fees or towing charges.

How Capital One Mastercard Car Insurance Works

Capital One also offers car rental coverage on three Mastercard credit cards, including:

• Capital One Platinum Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

If you have one of the cards listed above, then you have rental car insurance similar to other Mastercard credit cards. You get similar rental car coverage to Visa, although there are small differences.

Your Capital One Mastercard credit card coverage works like this:

• You must use your Capital One Mastercard to pay for the entire rental, and you must decline the rental company’s coverage
• Mastercard car rental insurance covers whatever amount is lowest: $50,000; the actual repair amount; the wholesale market value of the vehicle; the purchase invoice from the rental agency
• Mastercard covers a maximum of $500 of loss-of-use charges
• Mastercard’s rental car insurance does not cover certain trucks (including pickups), cargo vans, off-road vehicles, sport utility trucks, and other large or unique vehicles, nor does it cover trailers, motorcycles RVs, antique vehicles, limousines, or vehicles with an MSRP over $50,000
• Your Mastercard rental car coverage should cover your deductible; if you make a claim through your primary insurance, then Mastercard should cover any deductible you pay

Your Capital One Mastercard insurance is secondary coverage. You can only make a claim through Mastercard after you’ve used up your primary insurance. Typically, your ordinary auto insurance policy would function as primary insurance on a standard rental car. Alternatively, you may buy coverage from the rental agency or another provider.

How to Make a Claim for Capital One Car Rental Insurance

If your rental car has been damaged or stolen, or if you’re facing other charges from the rental car company, then you could make a claim through Capital One.

You must have paid for the entire rental car using your Capital One Visa credit card or an eligible Capital One Mastercard credit card. You must also have declined the rental car company’s collision damage waiver (CDW).

Here are the steps to take to make a claim for your Capital One rental car insurance:

• Call the Capital One benefits administrator at 800-397-9010 if traveling in the United States or call collect at 303-967-1093 if traveling internationally
• If you can’t call immediately, report the theft or damage within 45 days of the incident; ideally, you report the theft or damage as soon as possible after the incident
• Submit all required documentation to Capital One, including a copy of the accident report form and claim document (showing the costs of the incident and any fees you have already paid), a copy of the auto rental agreement, an itemized repair bill and estimate, photos of the damaged vehicle, and a police report, if applicable
• Submit additional documentation to prove coverage applies, including the claim form for the auto rental CDW proving you declined coverage, evidence you paid for the entire rental transaction using your Capital One credit card, a copy of your primary insurance declarations page proving you have primary coverage, and any other required forms

You must report the incident within 45 days. However, Capital One gives you up to 365 days to submit all required information and documentation.

Final Word

Your Capital One credit card could come with rental car insurance.

All Capital One Visa credit cards have rental car insurance, while three Capital One Mastercard credit cards have rental car insurance (including the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, and Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card).

To learn more about Capital One’s rental car insurance and how it works, read your Capital One credit card documentation today or contact Capital One directly.