Amex Rental Car Insurance: Coverage In Belize?

American Express offers rental car insurance as a benefit on many of its cards, including premium options like the Platinum Card, as well as no-fee cards like the Hilton Honors Card. This insurance covers theft, damage, accidental death or dismemberment, and personal property coverage. However, it's important to note that this coverage is secondary, meaning it only applies after your primary insurance has paid out. Additionally, certain exclusions and restrictions apply, and coverage levels differ depending on the card you hold. In Belize, auto liability insurance is mandatory, and while basic liability coverage is often included in rental rates, it's important to understand what your specific insurance covers in the event of an accident or damage to the rental car.

Amex rental car insurance pricing

Amex rental car insurance is complimentary for cardholders, but the level of coverage depends on the type of card you have. For example, the Platinum Card from American Express provides secondary coverage of up to $75,000 for theft or damage to the rental vehicle, while the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card offers $50,000 in coverage.

If you want primary rental car insurance coverage, you can purchase it separately from American Express. This paid product covers car rentals of up to 42 consecutive days and includes luxury cars and other premium vehicles. The cost of this coverage ranges from $12.25 to $24.95 per rental, depending on your state of residence and coverage level.

In addition to the rental vehicle, primary rental car insurance from American Express provides:

• Up to $100,000 of accidental death or dismemberment coverage ($250,000 for California residents).
• Up to $15,000 for secondary medical expenses per person.
• Up to $5,000 for secondary personal property coverage ($15,000 for Florida residents).

To be eligible for complimentary secondary rental car insurance coverage from Amex, you must:

• Pay for the full rental using your eligible Amex card.
• Decline the optional insurance coverages offered by the rental company.

Note that you can still receive insurance if you’ve used your American Express Membership Rewards to pay for the car, but not if you used any other reward programs.

Rental car insurance is valid for rentals of up to 30 consecutive days only.

Amex rental car insurance coverage levels

Amex offers rental car insurance as a benefit on many of its cards, including premium options like The Platinum Card from American Express, as well as no-fee cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Card. The coverage level varies depending on the specific card you hold.

• American Express Gold Card
• Amex EveryDay Credit Card
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
• The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
• The Platinum Card from American Express

If you have The Platinum Card from American Express, Amex will reimburse up to $75,000 for damage or theft after a qualifying incident. On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card provides $50,000 in coverage. It's important to note that Amex rental car insurance is secondary coverage, meaning it will reimburse you only after all other insurance has paid out, including your personal insurance. However, if you don't have any other car insurance, Amex's secondary insurance becomes primary coverage.

In addition to the standard coverage, Amex also offers a Premium Car Rental Protection plan with two coverage levels:

• $75,000 coverage level for $19.95 premium ($15.95 for California residents)
• $100,000 coverage level for $24.95 premium ($15.25 for Florida residents and $17.95 for California residents)

The premium plan includes primary coverage for damage and theft, accidental death and dismemberment, medical expenses, and personal property coverage. However, it does not include liability coverage.

To receive complimentary rental car insurance from Amex, you must pay for the full rental with your eligible card and decline any insurance offered by the rental agency.

Which Amex cards include car rental insurance?

American Express offers a wide range of cards with rental car insurance benefits. The type of coverage, however, depends on the specific card.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express offers secondary car rental loss and damage insurance at no additional charge. This means that you will need to file a claim with your auto insurance provider before the Amex rental coverage kicks in. This coverage provides theft or damage protection for eligible rental cars when you pay for the rental with your Amex card and decline the insurance coverage offered by the rental company.

The Platinum Card has some exclusions. It does not cover certain vehicle types, including cargo vans, antique vehicles, or customised vehicles. It also does not cover rentals in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand.

If you need primary coverage, you can purchase it for an extra fee through Amex's Premium Car Rental Protection. This coverage does not include liability insurance but can save you money compared to buying insurance from the rental company.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers similar benefits to the personal Platinum Card. It provides secondary car rental insurance when you pay for the rental with your Amex card and decline the rental company's insurance.

American Express Green Card

The American Express Green Card offers rental car insurance, placing fourth in a WalletHub study of the best cards for rental car coverage. While specific details of the coverage are not provided, the Green Card is noted for its excellent coverage and the option to purchase Premium Car Rental Protection for a small fee.

American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card provides secondary car rental loss and damage insurance as a standard benefit. You can also purchase primary coverage for a flat fee per rental period through the Amex Premium Protection package.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

While not an Amex card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is worth mentioning as it offers the best rental car insurance coverage among all cards, according to WalletHub. It provides primary coverage for rentals globally, including countries like Italy and Ireland, which are often excluded by other cards. The coverage amount is up to $75,000, and it extends up to 31 days for international rentals.

Wells Fargo Cards

Wells Fargo cards, such as the Wells Fargo Active Cash, Wells Fargo Autograph, and the BILT Mastercard, are also noted by WalletHub for their rental car insurance benefits. These cards typically offer coverage for up to 31 days outside the US and 15 days within the US. The maximum coverage amount is up to $50,000, and rentals in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland are excluded.

In summary, several Amex cards provide rental car insurance, with the Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card offering the most comprehensive benefits. The Gold Card and the Green Card also provide coverage, with the option to purchase primary coverage for a fee. When choosing a card, be sure to review the specific terms and conditions of the rental car insurance coverage to understand any exclusions or limitations.

How do I file a claim?

To file a claim for an incident with American Express rental car insurance, you can either head to AmEx’s online site and start your claim or call 800-338-1670 to report your claim. If you’re outside of the country, you can call 303-273-6497 collect. It is recommended that you report the incident within 30 days of the loss or as soon as reasonably possible.

After reporting the incident, you will need to submit proof of loss within 60 days. The documentation you will need to provide includes:

• An itemized repair estimate and itemized bill.
• A copy of the rental agreement.
• A copy of the charge slip for the vehicle.
• A copy of your personal insurance or a notarized letter stating that you don’t have any.
• A police report (if there is one).
• A copy of your driver’s license.

Once American Express has all your information and has processed your claim, they will pay out your benefits within 30 days.

Amex rental car insurance options

Amex offers rental car insurance as a complimentary benefit with many of its credit cards. This coverage serves as a backup to your primary insurance coverage when you use your card to rent a car and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. This means that if you already have insurance, Amex's coverage will only kick in after your primary insurance has paid out.

The amount of coverage you get depends on the type of card you have. For example, The Platinum Card from American Express provides up to $75,000 in coverage for damage or theft of a rental car, while the American Express Green Card has $50,000 worth of theft and damage coverage.

In addition to the complimentary coverage, Amex also offers optional premium rental car coverage for a flat rate. This coverage serves as primary insurance, meaning you would file a claim with Amex before contacting your personal insurance company. While Amex's premium coverage comes at a cost, you won't have to pay a deductible before it kicks in.

To file a claim with Amex rental car insurance, you can start the process online or by calling their customer service line. You will need to provide documentation such as an itemized repair bill, the rental agreement, and a copy of your insurance coverage information.

It's important to note that Amex's rental car insurance may not cover you in all countries, so be sure to read the fine print and understand the exclusions before relying on this coverage.

When renting a car in Belize, it's mandatory to have auto liability insurance. While basic liability coverage is typically included in the rental rate, it doesn't cover damage to the car from things like hitting a tree or theft. If you have personal auto insurance, it may cover your rental to some degree, but not all policies protect you abroad, so it's important to check.

If you don't have auto insurance, you can purchase the collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW) from the rental company, which will reduce your responsibility for damage to the car. Many credit cards, including Amex, offer CDW coverage, but it's usually supplemental to your own insurance and may not cover certain types of vehicles. Amex and some other credit card companies also offer a premium CDW plan for a flat fee, which can provide more comprehensive coverage.

In summary, Amex offers rental car insurance as a benefit on many of its cards, with coverage amounts and exclusions varying by card type. This coverage can provide added protection and save you money on rental car insurance costs, but it's important to understand the limitations and exclusions before relying solely on this coverage.

Frequently asked questions