Does Chase Sapphire Offer Rental Car Insurance?

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

If you carry the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you may already have built-in protection when you rent a car—similar to what many people call “credit card rental car insurance.” (Here’s a deeper breakdown of what credit cards can cover on a rental car.)

Chase calls this benefit Auto Rental Coverage. It can reimburse you for theft and collision damage to an eligible rental vehicle when you follow the activation steps (and it does not replace the coverage you need for injuries or liability). If you want the big-picture basics first, see our rental car insurance explainer.

1. It’s Real Coverage—But Narrow in Scope: Chase Sapphire Preferred can cover theft and collision damage to an eligible rental car, but it doesn’t replace liability or medical coverage.
2. Activation Happens at the Counter: Pay with the card (or eligible rewards) and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW—otherwise the benefit may be reduced or canceled.
3. Vehicle and Rental Limits Matter: Coverage is capped by benefit terms (including a dollar limit and a 31-day rental limit), and certain vehicles like exotics, cargo vans, and motorcycles are excluded.
4. Documentation Wins Claims: Keep the full rental agreement, proof of payment, photos, and incident paperwork so you can meet the benefit administrator’s requirements and deadlines.

Does Chase Sapphire Preferred Include Rental Car Insurance?

Yes—Chase Sapphire Preferred includes Auto Rental Coverage that can reimburse covered theft and collision damage to most eligible rental vehicles when you pay for the rental with your card (or eligible rewards) and follow the rules in the Guide to Benefits.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Rental Car Coverage At a Glance

How Chase Sapphire Preferred Rental Car Coverage Works

Chase’s Auto Rental Coverage is designed to help pay for covered damage to the rental vehicle (not everything that can happen in an accident). To activate it, the most important steps happen at checkout—before you leave the lot.

How to Activate the Coverage

• Pay for the rental with your Chase Sapphire Preferred (or eligible rewards tied to the account), and make sure the rental is issued in your name as the primary renter.
• Decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW (their collision/loss damage waiver). If you accept it, Chase’s benefit can be canceled—although there can be exceptions abroad where a rental agency won’t let you decline (in that case, Chase’s coverage may apply differently).
• Only authorized drivers should drive—drivers must be permitted by the rental agreement.
• Keep the paperwork: the full rental agreement, proof of payment, photos, incident reports, and any demand letter or invoices from the rental company.

Chase Sapphire Preferred is widely known for offering primary rental car coverage for eligible rentals, which can help you avoid routing a claim through your personal auto policy first. If you want the insurance terminology and real-world scenarios, see our guide to primary vs. secondary coverage.

Important nuance: benefits can vary based on your state and the rental location. For example, if a rental agency outside the U.S. won’t let you decline its CDW/LDW, the credit card benefit may become secondary to the rental agency’s coverage. Always confirm the current rules in your Guide to Benefits for the specific trip.

What Chase Sapphire Preferred Does Not Cover

Chase’s Auto Rental Coverage is strong for the rental car itself, but it’s not “full coverage” for every possible loss. Two big buckets matter: ineligible vehicles and coverage gaps.

Vehicles That Aren’t Eligible

Coverage typically excludes (among others) high-value/exotic vehicles, vehicles above the program’s MSRP cap, antique cars, cargo vans, most trucks, motorcycles/mopeds, limousines, vehicles rented with a driver, RVs, and large passenger vans beyond the seating limit. Always check your Guide to Benefits if you’re unsure whether a specific model qualifies.

Common Coverage Gaps to Plan For

• Liability coverage: Damage you cause to other vehicles or property—and injuries to other people—are not covered by Chase’s Auto Rental Coverage.
• Injuries: Medical bills for you or passengers aren’t covered under this benefit.
• Personal belongings: Theft or loss of items inside the car is generally excluded (learn more about personal effects coverage and where it may apply).
• Policy and contract violations: Driving off-road, violating the rental agreement, or failing to take reasonable steps to protect the vehicle can jeopardize coverage.
• Peer-to-peer car sharing: Rentals through car-sharing platforms where individuals rent out their own vehicles may be excluded under the benefit terms.

Other Things to Know Before You Decline the Rental Company Coverage

At the counter, rental agents often bundle multiple products together. Chase’s Auto Rental Coverage is aimed at damage to the rental vehicle. If you need help closing the gaps, you may want to consider:

• Supplemental liability insurance (SLI) from the rental company, especially if you don’t have a personal auto policy that extends to rentals.
• Personal accident/medical coverage if you don’t have health insurance or adequate PIP/MedPay through your auto policy (availability varies by state).
• Trip length planning: if your rental will exceed 31 consecutive days, you may need another solution for vehicle damage protection.

Also, some rental agencies or countries may ask for a letter of coverage. When needed, you can typically request it through Chase’s benefits portal.

How to File a Chase Sapphire Preferred Rental Car Claim

Chase routes claims through its benefits administrator. In general, you’ll report the incident, receive instructions on required documents, and then submit supporting paperwork (rental agreement, proof of payment, photos, repair estimate, police report if applicable, and any demand letter from the rental company).

Claim Deadlines and Documentation Checklist

Because deadlines and required documents can change, always follow the instructions in the official guide for your specific card. You can view the current Chase Sapphire Preferred Guide to Benefits here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Guide to Benefits (PDF).

Chase Sapphire Preferred Coverage vs. Other Credit Cards

The biggest practical advantage is that Chase Sapphire Preferred is commonly considered a top-tier option for rental car protection because it offers primary coverage for eligible rentals and a 31-day rental period cap—two areas where many cards are more limited. That said, credit card benefits vary widely by issuer, state, and rental location, so comparing the actual benefit guides is the only reliable way to confirm differences.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Roadside Assistance

Chase Sapphire Preferred also includes a pay-per-use roadside help benefit (learn more about credit card roadside assistance). It’s useful for rentals and your personal vehicle, but you’ll generally pay a per-service fee disclosed at the time of dispatch.

What Roadside Assistance Typically Includes

If you’re in a rental car emergency, follow the rental company’s procedures first (many have their own roadside protocol), then use Chase’s benefit line/portal listed in your Guide to Benefits.

Final Word

Chase Sapphire Preferred can be an excellent way to protect an eligible rental vehicle against theft and collision damage—especially if you want primary coverage and don’t want a small rental claim flowing through your personal auto policy.

Just remember the “scope”: this benefit is mainly for damage to the rental car. Liability, injuries, and personal property are separate issues. Before every trip, confirm the rules in your current Guide to Benefits, and keep your rental documents and photos in case you need to file a claim.

FAQs on Chase Sapphire Preferred Rental Car Coverage