Does Chase Freedom Unlimited Have Rental Car Insurance?
Last Updated on February 5, 2026
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a popular no-annual-fee cash back card, but one of its most practical perks is the Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver benefit. If you rent cars often, this coverage can help pay for damage or theft of the rental vehicle when you follow the rules.
This guide explains how Chase Freedom Unlimited rental coverage works, what it does (and doesn’t) pay for, and how to use it correctly. If you want a broader overview first, read our rental car insurance explainer.
- It’s CDW Coverage, Not Full Insurance: Chase Freedom Unlimited typically helps with damage/theft to the rental car—not liability or injuries.
- Eligibility Depends on Three Steps: Pay with the card (or eligible rewards), be the primary renter, and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW.
- Primary vs. Secondary Changes the Process: Coverage is usually secondary in your country of residence and often primary when renting abroad.
- Exclusions and Deadlines Matter: Specialty vehicles, non-qualifying rentals, and late paperwork are common reasons claims get denied.
- How Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance Works
- Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Requirements
- Primary Versus Secondary Coverage
- Vehicle Restrictions and Rental Limitations
- How to Make a Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance Claim
- When You Might Still Buy Coverage at the Rental Counter
- Final Word on Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance
- FAQs on Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance
How Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance Works
Chase’s “Freedom” family cards generally include an auto rental collision damage waiver (CDW). This is not the same as a full auto insurance policy—it’s a benefit designed to reimburse certain costs if a covered rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
The Freedom family includes:
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Freedom® (legacy accounts; not typically available to new applicants)
In plain English: if you rent an eligible vehicle, pay for the rental with your card (or eligible rewards), and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW, Chase’s benefit may reimburse covered damage/theft costs—often including certain fees the rental company adds after an incident.
What It Covers vs. What It Doesn’t
| Typically Covered | Typically Not Covered |
|---|---|
| Collision damage to the rental car | Injuries (you, passengers, or others) |
| Theft of the rental car | Liability for damage/injuries you cause to others |
| Eligible loss-of-use charges (when properly documented by the rental company) | Damage to other vehicles or property |
| Towing to the nearest qualified repair facility (after a covered loss) | Personal items stolen from the car |
| Some administrative fees charged by the rental company | Wear and tear, mechanical breakdown, or prohibited use (like off-roading) |
Quick tip: Credit card rental coverage usually helps with the rental car (damage/theft). It usually does not include liability coverage. If you don’t have personal auto insurance, consider whether you need liability protection through the rental company.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Requirements
Most denials happen because renters don’t meet the eligibility rules. These are the core requirements to trigger coverage:
- Pay for the entire rental transaction with your Chase Freedom Unlimited card (or an eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards® redemption tied to your account).
- Your name must be on the card/account, and you must be listed as the primary renter on the rental agreement.
- Decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW (collision/loss damage waiver). Accepting it generally voids the credit card benefit.
Coverage typically extends to authorized drivers permitted by the rental agreement. When in doubt, add drivers the right way—don’t assume someone is covered if they aren’t listed.
Primary Versus Secondary Coverage
Primary vs. secondary determines which coverage pays first. With Chase Freedom Unlimited, coverage is generally secondary in your country of residence and primary outside your country of residence (rules can vary by situation, rental agency, and location).
| Where You Rent | How It Usually Works | What You May Still Need |
|---|---|---|
| In your country of residence | Typically secondary—your personal auto policy may respond first, and the card benefit may reimburse eligible remaining costs (often including your deductible and certain fees). | Liability and medical coverage (if not included in your personal policy) |
| Outside your country of residence | Often primary for covered damage/theft to the rental car (you may be able to avoid a claim on your personal auto policy for the rental car damage portion). | Local required coverages, liability coverage, and any non-covered fees |
| If you have no personal auto insurance | The card benefit may act like primary for covered damage/theft to the rental vehicle. | Liability coverage is still a common gap |
If you prefer primary coverage even when renting at home, some premium travel cards are known for primary rental coverage. For context, see our guide to Chase Sapphire rental car insurance.
Vehicle Restrictions and Rental Limitations
Chase’s CDW benefit is designed for standard rental cars. It generally excludes specialty vehicles and rentals that don’t meet the program definition of a “rental agency” transaction.
Commonly Excluded Vehicles and Scenarios
- Exotic, antique, or certain high-value vehicles
- Motorcycles, mopeds, and motorbikes
- Limousines and recreational vehicles (RVs)
- Cargo vans, moving trucks, and certain trucks/vehicles with open cargo beds
- Passenger vans above certain seating capacities (varies by benefit guide)
- Rentals intended to exceed the program’s maximum rental period (often 31 consecutive days)
- Peer-to-peer rentals or vehicles not rented through a qualifying rental agency (always verify before booking)
Always confirm your specific card’s “Guide to Benefits” before renting anything unusual. Chase also publishes a consumer-friendly overview of its Freedom auto rental coverage here: https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/chase-cards/what-to-know-about-chase-freedom-car-rental-insurance.
How to Make a Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance Claim
If your rental car is damaged or stolen, start the claims process as soon as possible. Claims are handled by a third-party benefits administrator (not the same department as your Chase card customer service).
How to Start a Claim
- Call the benefit administrator (commonly listed as 1-888-320-9656 in the U.S. and collect 1-804-673-1691 from abroad). Always confirm the current number in your benefits guide.
- Or start online via the claims portal: https://www.eclaimsline.com/
Documents You’ll Usually Need
- Initial and final rental agreements (front and back)
- Accident/incident report (and a police report if applicable/obtainable)
- Repair estimate and itemized repair bill (or the rental company’s demand letter)
- Photos of the damage (if available)
- Your credit card statement showing the rental charge
- If applicable, proof of your primary auto insurance and what it paid (when coverage is secondary)
Quick tip: Benefits guides often include strict timeframes (for example, reporting theft/damage within a set number of days and submitting a claim form by a deadline). File early—even if you’re still waiting on repair invoices.
When You Might Still Buy Coverage at the Rental Counter
Even with credit card coverage, buying the rental company’s protection can make sense in some situations, such as:
- You don’t have personal auto insurance and want liability coverage
- You’re renting a vehicle type that your benefit excludes
- You’re renting longer than the benefit’s maximum covered rental period
- The rental agency won’t let you decline their CDW/LDW in that country/location
If you want to understand how credit card benefits fit into the bigger rental insurance picture, see what your credit card can cover when renting a car.
Final Word on Chase Freedom Unlimited Rental Car Insurance
Chase Freedom Unlimited includes an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver that may reimburse covered damage or theft costs for eligible rentals when you pay with the card (or eligible rewards) and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW. Coverage is typically secondary in your country of residence and often primary abroad, but exclusions and requirements apply.
Before your next rental, skim your card’s Guide to Benefits, confirm your vehicle is eligible, and make sure you have a plan for liability coverage (through your personal auto policy or the rental company).
