Car Rental Insurance: How Does Credit Card Rental Insurance Work?
- Credit Card Insurance

It’s a common occurrence among travellers: standing at the counter of a rental agency and not knowing whether or not you should take out the insurance offered to you.
You should know that the counter agent earns a commission based on a number of factors:
- Paid upgrade to a premium car
- A full tank of gas on the way back
- Accessories (GPS, car seats, etc.)
- Insurance
Quite often, the rental company will play on your ignorance, the laws of the land and the natural fears that people have when they’re far from home.

As for the insurance provided by your credit card, remember that you get what you pay for:
- With a card that has no annual fee from year to year, there’s a good chance that your insurance coverage, including car rental insurance, will be incomplete… or even non-existent.
- If your card has an annual fee, it would be expected that the insurance coverages are more complete. If not, it’s time to change your travel card!
Car Rental Insurance – Definition of Theft and Damage Insurance
Car rental theft and damage insurance offered by credit cards applies only to the vehicle rented by the credit card holder, and covers him/her against theft or damage to that vehicle only.
To benefit from this coverage, the credit card holder must REFUSE the theft and damage insurance offered by the rental company. This insurance is generally known as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and can cost up to $40 per day.
Any damage to other vehicles, goods or people is covered by third-party liability insurance. Liability insurance is never included with credit cards.
Car Rental Insurance – Who Is Covered?
The theft and damage insurance for rental cars offered by credit cards protects:
- The credit card holder
- Other persons(additional drivers) driving the vehicle with the owner’s authorization
To be covered by your credit card’s theft and damage insurance, it is mandatory to have:
- refused the insurance offered by the renter
- paid the car rental in full with your credit card
Car Rental Insurance – Covered by Theft and Damage Insurance
The theft and damage insurance for rental cars offered by credit cards covers:
- the cost of repairing a rented vehicle that has been accidented or vandalized
- the loss of use of the vehicle by the car rental agency during the time of repair
- the total cost of the vehicle in case of theft or total loss
All this will be within a limit corresponding to the price of the vehicle sold new (between $65,000 and $85,000, depending on the credit card).
Car Rental Insurance – Not Covered by Theft and Damage Insurance
Situations Not Covered
Theft and damage insurance for rental cars offered by credit cards WILL NOT COVER:
- Civil liability
- bodily injury or property damage (other than to the rented vehicle)
- Loss or damage to devices used to enter the vehicle (keys, remote controls, etc.)
- Damage intentionally caused to the rental car by the cardholder
- Driving by the cardholder or an eligible person who is under the influence of intoxicating or narcotic substances obtained illegally or by prescription
- Dishonest, fraudulent, or criminal acts committed by any eligible person
- Participation in a race or speed event
- The use of fuel of a type or octane rating other than that recommended by the manufacturer
- Normal wear and tear, gradual deterioration, flat tire, mechanical or electrical breakdown or failure.
- Use of the rental car in violation of the terms and conditions of the rental agreement
- Transportation of contraband or illicit items
- Civil or foreign war, hostile or warlike acts, insurrection, rebellion, revolution
- Transporting goods or passengers for remuneration
Vehicles Not Covered
Also, as a general rule, certain types of rental cars are excluded:
- Cars with a new value of over $65,000 (American Express covers up to $85,000)
- « Exotic » cars such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Porsche.
- Commercial vans
- Trucks and vans
- Limousines
- Off-road vehicles
- Motorcycles, mopeds and motorbikes
- Trailers, camper units, recreational vehicles
- Minibuses or buses
- Older cars (more than 20 years old) or cars that have not been manufactured for at least 10 years.
Countries Not Covered
Finally, some credit cards do not cover specific countries or even certain regions of a country.
In order to know if the country in which the rented vehicle will travel is covered, it is up to you to:
- consult the booklet detailing the coverage provided with your card
- or call the card issuer in case of doubt
Car Rental Insurance – Make a Claim
You had an accident? Your rental car was stolen?
You will need to contact your credit card insurance company as soon as possible to make a claim. Make sure you have all supporting documents on hand:
- Rental agreement indicating that you have declined the insurance offered by the agency (CDW)
- Police reports
- Photos in case of damage
- Repair cost estimates
Afterwards, your credit card insurance will take over from the car rental agency to resolve the situation.

Car Rental Insurance – Recommended Credit Cards
Not all credit cards are created equal when it comes to rental car theft and damage insurance.
As a general rule, credit cards offering theft and damage insurance for rental cars will differ in 4 aspects:
- The coverages offered (theft and damage, towing costs, loss or theft of personal effects, accidental death or dismemberment…)
- The amount covered (maximum amount of the vehicle, personal effects, or compensation for death or dismemberment)
- The coverage period (up to 48 days for the best cards)
- The rental conditions (total or partial amount on the card)
Here are 5 credit cards we recommend for car rental theft or damage insurance, based on different income levels. Please note that it is your responsibility to read your credit card’s certificate of insurance carefully, as these conditions may change at any time:
National Bank World Elite Mastercard
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard offers a wide range of attractive travel and purchase insurances, which we have detailed here.
In terms of rental car theft and damage insurance, this card includes personal belongings and covers rentals lasting up to 48 consecutive days:
| Specificities | Details |
| Coverages offered | |
| Theft or damage | up to $65,000 |
| Personal belongings | up to $1,000 per insured (2,000 $ per account) |
| Period of Coverage | up to 48 consecutive days |
| Rental Conditions | Eligible vehicle rental made by the holder and paid in full with the card or using the card’s reward points |
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card was the first card from a major Canadian bank, Scotiabank, to charge no conversion fees for foreign currency transactions. So you can charge your car rental to this card and save 2.5% in fees charged by most credit cards!
Plus, it offers 6 VIP airport lounges and earns Scene+ points.
| Specificities | Details |
| Coverages offered | |
| Theft or damage | up to $65,000 |
| Period of Coverage | up to 48 consecutive days |
| Rental Conditions |
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
The BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* offers excellent car rental theft and damage insurance coverage for rentals of up to 48 consecutive days:
| Specificities | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverages offered | |
| Theft or damage | up to $65,000 |
| Period of Coverage | up to 48 consecutive days |
| Rental Conditions | The total cost (…) must be charged to the cardholder’s credit card. An eligible rental car included in a prepaid travel package is covered if the total cost of the travel package has been charged to the account. You must decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental agency (where not prohibited by law). If the car rental contract does not provide space to decline this coverage, you must write on the contract « I decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental agency. » The insured person who is authorized to drive and whose name appears on the rental contract must be driving the rental car at the time of the loss. |
American Express Cobalt® Card
The American Express Cobalt® Card is one of Canada’s preferred credit cards.
In addition to its exceptional accumulation of points, it also has very good insurance, notably for theft and damage to rental cars, covering up to $85,000 (compared with $65,000 for most credit cards) and for a period of 48 consecutive days!
What’s more, unlike the other cards, the American Express Cobalt® Card requires no minimum income. This is an American Express Membership Rewards credit card.
| Specificities | Details |
| Coverages offered | |
| Theft or damage | up to $85,000 |
| Period of Coverage | up to 48 consecutive days |
| Rental Conditions | The total cost of the rental (…) must be charged to the eligible card account (…). If the Cardholder uses points from the Rewards Points program to pay for the rental fees and the taxes are charged to their Card, they are covered. However, if only part of the rental fees is paid using points obtained from the Rewards Points program, they must, to be covered, charge the entire balance of the rental, including taxes, to their Card account. Note: The rental of a car will not be covered against theft and damage if it is paid for with points from a rewards program other than the Rewards Points program. The Cardholder must decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver or loss or damage waiver, or their equivalent, offered to them in the rental contract. |
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card offers car rental theft and damage insurance. It is a Scene+ credit card.
A card that saves you the 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee when you travel.
| Specificities | Details |
| Coverages offered | |
| Theft or damage | up to $65,000 |
| Period of Coverage | up to 48 consecutive days |
| Rental Conditions |
Conclusion
By choosing the right credit card, you could avoid paying dozens of unnecessary dollars for car rental theft or damage insurance! As you’ve seen, there are plenty choices!
In any case, remember to consult the insurance booklet supplied with your credit card BEFORE renting a car. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call your financial institution and get something in writing to validate your understanding.
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