Do Visa Credit Cards Come With Rental Car Coverage?

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

Many Visa credit cards include rental car coverage, but it is not guaranteed on every Visa card. When it is included, the benefit is usually called an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and it can help pay for damage to the rental vehicle or theft of the rental vehicle when you pay with an eligible Visa card and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW.

The most important thing to know up front: Visa CDW is typically designed to cover the rental car itself. It usually does not replace liability insurance, medical coverage, or protection for personal belongings.

Visa CDW Is Common, Not Universal: Many Visa cards include rental car collision damage coverage, but benefits vary by card and issuing bank, so you must verify your specific card.
It Protects the Rental Car, Not Everyone Else: CDW typically covers damage to or theft of the rental vehicle, but it usually does not include liability coverage for injuries or property damage you cause.
Rules and Exclusions Matter: Vehicle type restrictions, rental location rules, rental length limits, and rental contract violations can all determine whether coverage applies.
How You Pay and What You Decline Is Critical: To use Visa CDW, you usually need to pay with the eligible Visa card and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW, then follow the claim steps if there is damage or theft.

Table Of Contents

Many Visa Cards Include Rental Car Coverage (But It Depends on Your Card)
How Visa's Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver Works
How Visa CDW Works With Other Insurance
What Is Not Covered by Visa's Auto Rental CDW?
How to Make Sure Visa CDW Applies to Your Rental
Visa vs. Mastercard vs. Discover vs. American Express
Final Word on Visa Rental Car Insurance
FAQs on Visa Rental Car Insurance

Many Visa Cards Include Rental Car Coverage (But It Depends on Your Card)

Visa cards may include a rental car damage benefit, but the details vary by the specific card and the issuing bank. Some cards offer broader coverage than others, and certain card products may not include the benefit at all.

If you want a broader overview of how credit card rental coverage works (and what it typically does and does not replace), see what your credit card covers when renting a car.

Quick tip: The fastest way to verify your exact benefit is to look up your card’s “Guide to Benefits” and search for “Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver” or “Auto Rental CDW.” If you cannot find it, call the number on the back of your card and ask whether your card includes rental car CDW and whether it is primary or secondary.

How Visa’s Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver Works

Visa’s rental car CDW is generally meant to reimburse covered losses related to the rental vehicle itself after a covered incident (such as damage or theft). Coverage varies by card, but the items below are the most common inclusions and exclusions.

Category	What It Usually Means
Typically covered	Damage to the rental vehicle, theft of the rental vehicle, and certain related fees (for example, some towing charges and certain loss-of-use charges, depending on the benefit terms).
Typically not covered	Liability for injuries or property damage you cause to others, medical bills for you/passengers, and personal belongings stolen from inside the rental vehicle.
Restrictions apply	Coverage often depends on vehicle type, rental location, rental length, how the vehicle is used, and whether you followed the rental contract.

Because benefit terms vary, treat Visa CDW as a helpful layer of protection, not a complete replacement for a well-built rental car insurance plan.

How Visa CDW Works With Other Insurance

Visa rental CDW can interact with your other coverage in different ways depending on whether you have personal auto insurance and whether your Visa benefit is primary or secondary.

If you have your own personal auto insurance policy, that policy may extend to a rental car for liability and (in many cases) for damage to the rental vehicle, depending on your coverages and the rental type. In that situation, a Visa benefit may act as secondary coverage or supplemental reimbursement, depending on your card’s terms.

When credit card CDW applies, it may help with things that surprise renters, such as certain administrative fees and loss-of-use charges assessed by the rental company (if those charges qualify under your benefit terms). Some benefits may also help with towing directly related to a covered incident.

If you do not have personal auto insurance, Visa CDW may still help with damage/theft of the rental vehicle (if your card includes the benefit), but you may still have a major gap: liability coverage. The rental company’s liability options (or another liability policy) are what typically address injuries and property damage you cause to others.

What Is Not Covered by Visa’s Auto Rental CDW?

Exclusions vary by card, but most Visa CDW benefits have a similar set of limitations. Common examples include:

Liability coverage: Visa CDW generally does not pay for injuries or property damage you cause to other people.
Personal belongings: Theft from inside the vehicle is usually not covered by CDW. If you are looking for coverage that applies to items in the vehicle, see personal effects coverage.
Prohibited vehicle types: Many benefits exclude moving trucks, cargo vans, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and certain large passenger vans. Always verify the vehicle type you are renting is eligible.
Exotic, high-value, or specialty vehicles: Many CDW benefits exclude exotic or specialty rentals. Examples of vehicles that often fall into “exotic/high-value” categories include Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Bugatti, and Lamborghini.
Violations of the rental agreement: Driving under the influence, unauthorized drivers, prohibited use (like off-roading), and other contract violations can void coverage.
Long rentals or certain countries/locations: Many benefits have maximum rental length rules and location-based exclusions. Your card’s Guide to Benefits is the source of truth.

In practice, the biggest gap for many renters is liability coverage. CDW is about the rental car, not third-party injuries and damage.

How to Make Sure Visa CDW Applies to Your Rental

Visa CDW benefits usually require you to follow specific steps. While the exact requirements vary by card, these are the most common conditions:

Pay with the eligible Visa card: Initiate and complete the rental transaction with the Visa card that provides the benefit.
Be the primary renter: Your name must be on the rental agreement as the primary renter, and drivers must be permitted by the rental contract.
Decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW: If you accept the rental company’s collision/loss damage waiver, your credit card benefit may not apply (or may be reduced) depending on the terms.
Rent an eligible vehicle in an eligible place: Confirm the vehicle type and rental location are not excluded by your card’s benefit rules.
Document the vehicle condition: Take photos at pickup and return and keep the rental agreement and final receipt.
Report incidents quickly: If there is damage or theft, notify the rental company and the benefits administrator promptly. Deadlines and required paperwork vary by benefit.

Visa vs. Mastercard vs. Discover vs. American Express

Visa is not the only network that offers rental car damage benefits. Coverage structure and rules vary by card, and the issuing bank matters, too. If you want to compare how other networks typically approach rental coverage, see:

Final Word on Visa Rental Car Insurance

Many Visa credit cards offer an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver benefit that can help cover damage to (or theft of) a rental vehicle, but coverage is not identical across all Visa cards. The benefit also typically does not include liability insurance, medical coverage, or protection for personal belongings.

Before you rely on Visa CDW, confirm your card’s Guide to Benefits, make sure your rental vehicle type is eligible, and decide whether you still need liability coverage through your personal auto policy or the rental company.

FAQs on Visa Rental Car Insurance

Does every Visa card include rental car coverage?

No. Many Visa cards include an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but benefits vary by card and issuing bank. Check your card’s Guide to Benefits or call the number on the back of your card to confirm.

Is Visa rental car coverage primary or secondary?

It depends on the specific Visa card benefit terms. Some benefits are secondary (they pay after other coverage), while others may be primary in certain situations. Your Guide to Benefits will state how your coverage applies.

Does Visa CDW cover liability insurance for a rental car?

Usually not. CDW is typically designed to cover damage to or theft of the rental vehicle. It generally does not cover injuries or property damage you cause to other people, so you may still need liability coverage through your auto policy or the rental company.

Does Visa CDW cover loss-of-use fees charged by the rental company?

Sometimes. Some Visa CDW benefits may cover qualifying loss-of-use charges and certain administrative fees, but coverage depends on the specific benefit terms and documentation requirements.

What vehicles are commonly excluded from Visa rental car coverage?

Exclusions vary, but many benefits do not cover moving trucks, cargo vans, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and certain high-value or exotic vehicles. Always confirm the rental vehicle type is eligible under your card’s Guide to Benefits.

What do I have to do to make Visa CDW apply?

In most cases you must pay for the rental with the eligible Visa card, be listed as the primary renter, decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW, rent an eligible vehicle, and follow the rental agreement terms. Keep your paperwork and report damage/theft promptly.

Should I still buy the rental company’s insurance?

It depends on your gaps. If you need liability coverage, are renting an excluded vehicle, are unsure your card benefit applies, or want fewer claim hassles, the rental company’s options may be worth considering. Compare the cost to your risk and your existing insurance.

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