The Platinum Card from American Express is the best card available for cardholders who mainly use the card to travel. Aside from offering top-notch benefits and rewards points from the Platinum Card, cardholders also receive premium rental card benefits, making the high annual fee worth it. The Platinum Card offers cardholders complimentary travel insurance, which covers rental car loss and damage.
Cardholders will not need to pay for primary or secondary coverage for a rental vehicle paid through the card. However, American Express also sells premium car rental protection for additional benefits not found in the complimentary insurance plan.
Also, the Platinum Card offers other rental car benefits, such as complimentary elite status in three major car rental companies. Therefore, cardholders will have access to free rental cars regardless of the time, even in busy periods. Although upgrades come with prior enrollment required from the cardholder, the exclusive perks come with the Amex Card.
Cardholders must meet pre-set requirements to receive the exclusive American Express Platinum Card rental car benefits. Stick around to learn more about the rental car benefits that cardholders can enjoy during travel.
Key Takeaways
· The Platinum Card from American Express carries complimentary travel insurance that covers rental car loss and damage
· Cardholders can also apply for premium car rental protection, which is offered separately from the complimentary rental car insurance coverage
· The complimentary rental car insurance coverage offered by the Platinum Card can offer primary or secondary coverage, depending on the cardholder’s personal auto insurance
Car Rental Elite Status
One of the best benefits of the Platinum Card from American Express is the car rental benefits, including car rental elite status. Earning an elite status for car rentals allows cardholders to access rental cars no matter the situation. Unlike a hotel or flight, rental cars are not guaranteed, usually on a first-come, first-served basis. Having an elite status ensures that the individual will have a waiting rental car during their travel at all times.
Cardholders of the American Express Platinum Card will enjoy elite status benefits from three of the major car rental companies offering premium services.
Avis Preferred Plus
The Avis car rental company offers premium car rental benefits to Amex Platinum cardholders, with prior enrollment required. A card member must have twelve car rental services or spend over $5,000 every calendar year to receive Avis Preferred Plus status. However, the benefits are only available to cardholders in the US or Canada renting cars at a participating location in the countries.
Therefore, cardholders will always have access to a rental car at any time whenever they wish to rent from Avis.
Some exclusive benefits include a 25% discount on all base charges excluding taxes and fees, using an Avis Worldwide Discount code. Also, cardholders can use a coupon code to receive an upgrade if available, although specialty cars are not legible for the discounts. The benefits come as complimentary benefits for cardholders whenever they rent from Avis.
Cardholders can enroll in the Avis Preferred Plus program through their official website or contact 800-331-1212 for further assistance. The exclusive perks may be subject to change at any time; thus, the cardholder must check through the website and see available benefits.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle
Hertz is one of the most exclusive rental car companies available, best suited to match the luxury associated with the Amex Platinum Card. Cardholders will receive free President’s Circle status enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus program. However, cardholders must have prior enrollment required before accessing the exclusive benefits from the Hertz Gold Plus program.
The cardholder must pay for the car rentals in full using their Amex Platinum Card to receive the exclusive perks and benefits.
The complimentary President’s Circle status earns the cardholder guaranteed upgrades or an extra driver at no extra cost to the cardholder. Cardholders will also not have to wait in line to receive a rental car from the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program. Another premium benefit is that cardholders will receive 1.5 bonus points per dollar spent on the rental car through the program.
You can reach the Hertz Gold Plus program online or through their contact at 800-525-3355 for further assistance.
National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive
The National Car Rental Company offers exclusive rental car benefits for cardholders of the Amex Platinum Card. Cardholders can enroll in the Executive status through the National Emerald Club program. The Emerald Executive tier status earns the cardholder a complimentary rental day after six rentals instead of seven rental credits.
Thus, cardholders will enjoy a free rental day without an extra cost to the cardholder’s Platinum Card.
Other benefits include a complimentary car upgrade for renting at least a mid-sized rental car. The Executive status allows cardholders to choose their preferred rental car from the Executive Selection section. Cardholders will receive speedy returns through an online receipt, avoiding lagging and delay while renting a car.
For further assistance, you can contact the National Car Rental Company through their website or through 800-525-3355.
Car Rental Insurance Coverage
The American Express Platinum Card offers not only rental car benefits to its cardholders but also offers complimentary travel insurance. The travel insurance plan is one of the best complimentary insurance coverages offered by any other travel card. Thus, cardholders enjoy car rental loss and damage insurance while traveling, offering an added advantage to unforeseen circumstances.
The insurance cover will act either as primary or secondary coverage, depending on whether the cardholder has personal auto insurance. The cardholder will not have to pay for the complimentary insurance plan, but they must meet a few conditions to receive reimbursements.
The car rental loss and damage insurance will cover theft and damage with reimbursements of up to $75,000 without liability coverage. However, the cardholder must reserve or pay for the rental car fully using their Amex Platinum Card to receive reimbursements. Also, the cardholder must decline the collision damage waiver usually offered by the rental car company.
The travel insurance plan is available for all Platinum Cards and its various versions since the Platinum Card is famous for travel purchases. However, limitations apply to the car rental insurance coverage that cardholders must be aware of as they travel.
The car rental insurance extends to the cardholder, their domestic partner, and the value of their luggage damaged alongside the rental car. Personal property damaged will receive $1,000 per person, with a maximum of $2,000 per person for reimbursements. Cardholders may receive up to $5,000 per person in case of medical expenses incurred, including a domestic partner traveling with the covered person.
Also, the Amex Platinum cardmembers and their passengers are entitled to reimbursements in case of worst-case scenarios such as dismemberment and accidental death. Therefore, the complimentary rental car insurance is as effective, if not more, as the cardholder’s own car insurance.
Premium Car Rental Protection
American Express offers more comprehensive car rental protection coverage with better features than the complimentary plan. However, cardholders must pay for the special coverage, including all rented vehicles. The premium coverage covers rental cars for 42 consecutive days at a rate of between $12.25 to $24.95, depending on the location. Competing coverage plans, including those from a rental car company, may offer up to $45 per rental car.
Also, the American Express premium protection package will offer primary coverage instead of secondary coverage, as in the complimentary coverage.
Although the coverage does not also cover liability coverage, cardholders will receive reimbursements for accidental death, medical expenses, and personal property. Therefore, cardholders will receive up to $100,000 in reimbursements for dismemberment benefits and accidental death, with up to $250,000 for California residents. There are also $15,000 medical expenses reimbursements per person and $5,000 for property damage, with Florida residents receiving up to $15,000.
Cardholders receive worldwide premium coverage except for rented vehicles in countries such as Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Israel, and Italy.
Amex Platinum Card Rental Car Loss and Damage Insurance
Although the insurance offered by the Platinum Card is complimentary, the cardholder must meet several conditions to be legible for reimbursements. First, cardholders must understand that the insurance plan only covers up to 30 days of renting the car. The coverage provided to the cardholder is secondary unless the cardholder lacks personal auto insurance; the insurance cover becomes primary.
Also, the cardholder must decline the insurance plan offered by the rental car company, usually known as the collision damage waiver (CDW). That way, American Express will undertake the responsibility of the insurance coverage and reimbursements made to the cardholder.
Not all vehicle types are covered under the complimentary American Express Platinum Card insurance plan protection. For example, other vehicles like antique cars, cargo vans, off-road vehicles, limousines, customized vehicles, and commercial mini-vans are not covered. Also, the coverage does not include companies that allow individuals to rent out of their own car.
The coverage does not apply when the cardholder has car rental loss and damage in unauthorized rental areas or off-road areas. The reimbursement is not offered to cardholders involved in drugs and alcohol in case of damage or loss of the rental car.
The plan does not cover residents from other locations like the Marshall Islands, US Minor Outlying Islands, Palau, American Samoa, and the Federate States of Micronesia. Also, the secondary coverage does not cover vehicles rented in some countries, such as Italy, Australia, and New Zealand. Thus, the cardholder must meet the pre-set conditions to file a claim and receive reimbursements as per the insurance policy.
The benefit level varies depending on the type of rental car used by the cardholder.
Amex Platinum Primary vs. Secondary Coverage
The Amex Platinum Card insurance plan can offer both primary and secondary coverage, depending on the circumstances. In case of incidence, the Platinum Card automatically offers secondary coverage on the applicable rental cars. It means that the cardholder must file a claim from the applicable insurance before filing a claim with American Express.
Thus, American Express will cover what the primary insurer cannot cover in case of car rental loss, damage, and theft.
The Platinum Card insurance cover will offer primary coverage if the cardholder has no other insurance plan. Therefore, the claim will be made to American Express as the first option since there is no other option. The premium car protection package from American Express will also offer primary coverage to cardholders while renting cars.
However, the premium package is purchased by the cardholder, and the fees charged on the rental car change depending on the location.
Which Amex Platinum Rental Car Perk is Most Valuable?
The Amex Platinum Card offers the most comprehensive and extensive rental car benefits available in premium cards of its kind. From exclusive elite status in car rental companies to complimentary rental car insurance, the rental car benefits remain unmatched. The most valuable rental car perk is the elite status partnering car rental companies offer cardholders.
The Platinum Card from American Express is a luxurious card; thus, it is associated with exclusive and luxurious partnering companies. Therefore, the Platinum Card is associated with rental car companies such as Avis, Hertz, and National Car Rental Company.
The best benefit of having elite status in a rental car company is the availability of rental cars at any time. Also, cardholders will receive car upgrades, with some offering exclusive benefits, such as the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle status. Avis Preferred Plus has discounts and special reservations for exclusive benefits to cardholders. The National’s Emerald Club program allows cardholders to choose their preferred car from the Executive Selection section.
Thus, the cardholder will have added advantages over other individuals renting from the specific rental car companies.
How to File a Claim
The cardholder must file a claim in case of an incident regarding the rental car to receive reimbursements. Cardholders must submit a few documents online through the American Express Claims Center to file a valid claim. The documents needed include proof of renting through an eligible card credit statement and a rental company counter rental agreement.
Also, additional information concerning the cardholder’s personal auto insurance is needed since the Amex Platinum Card insurance offers secondary coverage. A police report is necessary, especially in case of theft or an accident while using the rented vehicle.
The cardholder must submit a Notice of Claim within 30 days of incidence or as soon as the incidence occurs to be legible for reimbursements. Then, the cardholder must ensure they fill out the claim documents within 15 days of receiving the Notice of Claim. If the cardholder does not receive claim forms, they must contact American Express in order to receive the claim forms and complete their application. If the cardholder fills out the forms online, they can save them for later, but they must complete the forms within 72 hours.
It may take up to 45 days for the final verdict on your claim to be processed by American Express or 90 days for international claims.
Although claims are made to the Amex Assurance Company, the policies are underwritten by the New Hampshire Insurance Company. The policies will cover car rentals and the claim will be followed up by the Amex Assurance Company.
Conclusion
The American Express Platinum Card is a premium credit card that offers a wide variety of benefits and rewards to cardholders, especially for travel benefits. Car rentals are the best options for travelers as they move around in different destinations from one area to another. Thus, the American Express Platinum Card has partnered with three main exclusive rental car companies, offering cardholders elite status.
The three rental car companies include Hertz, Avis, and Nation car rental companies. Cardholders will have complimentary car upgrades, exclusive benefits, and ready availability of rental cars even during rush hours.
Aside from car rental benefits, cardholders will enjoy complimentary travel insurance that also covers rental car theft, damage, and loss. The complimentary insurance plan comes free with the Platinum Card, and cardholders will receive up to $75,000 in reimbursements. However, cardholders can purchase a premium cover from American Express that will offer even more benefits to the cardholder.
For example, the premium rental car protection plan offers coverage on all entire rental vehicles without exception, as seen in the complimentary plan. Cardholders must show documents such as proof of incidence, a valid driver’s license, and a credit statement to receive reimbursements after making a valid claim.
FAQs
How much does an Amex premium car rental cost?
The premium car rental package costs between $12.25 to $24.95 for each rental, depending on the location of the rented vehicle. Competing insurance plans offer between $11 to $45 per day, making them more expensive than Amex premium coverage. The premium coverage plan includes all types of rented cars for 42 consecutive days of renting the vehicle.
Premium coverage will offer primary coverage to cardholders, meaning that cardholders will file a claim to American Express first.
Does American Express give rental car discounts?
American Express will only give rental car discounts when cardholders receive elite status on the rental car company. Usually, American Express partners with Avis, Hertz, and National rental car companies to offer elite status for Platinum cardholders. Aside from discounts, cardholders will also receive car upgrades and unlimited access to rental cars.
Depending on the rental car company, you must use a discount code to receive the discount.
What is the difference between Amex Platinum and Amex Gold car rental?
There is not much difference between the car rental benefits offered by the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold Card. Therefore, cardholders will enjoy discounts and car upgrades from Avis, Hertz, and National car rental companies. However, elite status from rental car companies is only available to cardholders of the Amex Platinum Card.
Also, cardholders will receive secondary coverage from the complimentary insurance plan offered by both cards.
