Best Credit Cards for Rental Cars of February 2023
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ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2023 || Best travel credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards
Renting a car usually requires a credit card, but the card you use can make a big difference. It might mean you won't have to worry about insurance coverage on the car you rent, you might earn 5X or 10X rewards on the rental, and you might even be eligible for elite status with the rental car company. Whether you're renting for a vacation or just for getting around town, here are some of the best options.
ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2023 || Best travel credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards
Renting a car usually requires a credit card, but the card you use can make a big difference. It might mean you won't have to worry about insurance coverage on the car you rent, you might earn 5X or 10X rewards on the rental, and you might even be eligible for elite status with the rental car company. Whether you're renting for a vacation or just for getting around town, here are some of the best options.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Best Credit Cards for Rental Cars From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for General-purpose travel card | $95 | 1x- Points | 60,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Premium travel card — perks | $550 | 1x- Points | 60,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Premium travel card — value | $395 | 2x- Miles | 75,000 Miles | Apply now on Capital One's website |
United℠ Explorer Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Airline card — core benefits | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 1x- Miles | 50,000 Miles | Apply now on Chase's website |
United Club℠ Infinite Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Airline card — elite benefits | $525 | 1x- Miles | 80,000 Miles | Apply now on Chase's website |
The Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express' website | Best for Elite status + much more | $695 | 1x- Points | 80,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Small business | $95 | 1x- Points | 100,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Our pick for
General-purpose travel card
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$95
1x-5x
Points
60,000
Points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to the cash value of most rental vehicles. Booking a car rental through Chase Ultimate Rewards® earns 5 points per dollar spent. You can also redeem points to book travel through Chase — including renting cars — and get 25% more value per point.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to the cash value of most rental vehicles. Booking a car rental through Chase Ultimate Rewards® earns 5 points per dollar spent. You can also redeem points to book travel through Chase — including renting cars — and get 25% more value per point.
Pros
You earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (including rental cars); 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on travel not purchased through Chase; and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Points are worth 25% more — 1.25 cents apiece — when you redeem for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to a dozen airline and hotel programs. Check the big sign-up bonus, too.
Cons
As a general-purpose travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn't offer airline- or hotel-specific benefits like free checked bags or room upgrades.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Our pick for
Premium travel card — perks
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$550
1x-10x
Points
60,000
Points
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® takes the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and kicks them up a notch. There's primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000. Rental car bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards® earn 10 points per dollar. Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase (including for booking rental cars). And cardholders are eligible for special benefits from Avis, National and Silvercar.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® takes the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and kicks them up a notch. There's primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000. Rental car bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards® earn 10 points per dollar. Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase (including for booking rental cars). And cardholders are eligible for special benefits from Avis, National and Silvercar.
Pros
You get 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases, as well as hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 5 points per dollar on air travel purchased through Chase; 3 points per dollar on travel and dining not booked with Chase; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to a dozen hotel and airline partners. You get $300 a year in credit for travel expenses, Priority Pass airport lounge access and reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. And don't forget the big sign-up bonus.
Cons
The $550 annual fee is a significant upfront investment, although regular travelers can easily get that much value and more out of the card.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Our pick for
Premium travel card — value
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$395
2x-10x
Miles
75,000
Miles
For a relatively low price compared with other premium travel cards, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has plenty to offer in rental car benefits. You get primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000. Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel earn 10 miles per dollar. And cardholders are eligible for complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status.*
For a relatively low price compared with other premium travel cards, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has plenty to offer in rental car benefits. You get primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000. Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel earn 10 miles per dollar. And cardholders are eligible for complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status.*
Pros
You earn 2 miles per dollar on most purchases, but booking travel through Capital One earns 5X miles on flights and 10X on hotels and rental cars. Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense at a value of 1 cent apiece, or you can transfer them to partner programs. You get $300 a year in credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, a 10,000-mile bonus each account anniversary, airport lounge access, reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and a big sign-up bonus.
Cons
The $395 annual fee may be intimidating, although the credits and bonuses offered by this card quickly make up for it.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate your stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for 2 and complimentary WiFi on every booking, plus other premium benefits like room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout when available
Our pick for
Airline card — core benefits
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
1x-2x
Miles
50,000
Miles
The United℠ Explorer Card offers an outstanding suite of benefits for a basic airline card, including primary rental car coverage that reimburses up to the cash value of most rental cars.
The United℠ Explorer Card offers an outstanding suite of benefits for a basic airline card, including primary rental car coverage that reimburses up to the cash value of most rental cars.
Pros
In addition to primary rental car coverage, benefits include a free checked bag for you and a companion; priority boarding; two one-time passes to the United Club lounge each year; and reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS. You earn 2 miles per dollar spent with United, as well as on dining and direct hotel bookings, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
Cons
Other cards provide a free checked bag for more people traveling on your reservation. As with any branded airline card, you're limited in how you can redeem your rewards.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
Get one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Activate by 12/31/24.
Our pick for
Airline card — elite benefits
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$525
1x-4x
Miles
80,000
Miles
The signature benefit on the United Club℠ Infinite Card is membership in United Airlines' lounge network, but you also get primary rental coverage that reimburses up to the cash value of most rental cars.
The signature benefit on the United Club℠ Infinite Card is membership in United Airlines' lounge network, but you also get primary rental coverage that reimburses up to the cash value of most rental cars.
Pros
A standalone United Club membership usually costs $650 a year, so you start out ahead with this card, even considering the annual fee. You and a companion can each get two free checked bags; other benefits include priority boarding and reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS. You earn 4 miles per dollar spent with United; 2 miles per dollar on all other travel and on dining; and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
Cons
Although it's a bargain compared with the sticker price of a United Club membership, the $525 annual fee can still sting.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles.
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services
Earn 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12K you spend on purchases, up to 8,000 PQP in a calendar year.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Our pick for
Elite status + much more
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
$695
1x-5x
Points
80,000
Points
Although it offers only secondary rental car coverage rather than primary (meaning you have to go through your own insurance company first), The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a laundry list of perks and benefits that includes elite status at Avis, Hertz or National. (Terms apply.)
Although it offers only secondary rental car coverage rather than primary (meaning you have to go through your own insurance company first), The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a laundry list of perks and benefits that includes elite status at Avis, Hertz or National. (Terms apply.)
Pros
Cardholders can receive a complimentary membership in Avis Preferred, Hertz President's Circle and/or National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive, which entitles them to upgrades and discounts. Other benefits on the card include extensive airport lounge access; hundreds of dollars a year in available credits for travel, shopping and entertainment; elite status with Marriott and Hilton hotels; and much more. (See our review for a full rundown.) The card earns 5 points per dollar on select travel bookings and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. Terms apply.
Cons
The $695 annual fee is among the highest on any card from a major issuer. Although the perks are lavish, you might find that many of them go unused, while the rewards you earn on spending are pretty pedestrian for the price. And unlike with the other cards on this page, the rental car coverage is not primary.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
Breeze through security with CLEAR® lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Learn more.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Small business
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$95
1x-3x
Points
100,000
Points
All of Chase's Ink-branded cards for business operators offer primary coverage on cars rented for business purposes. In addition to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, coverage is available on the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card.
All of Chase's Ink-branded cards for business operators offer primary coverage on cars rented for business purposes. In addition to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, coverage is available on the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card.
Pros
Sign-up bonuses on Ink-branded cards are among the best on the market — even for the no-annual-fee cash-back cards — and the points you earn with your spending can be extremely flexible, depending on which cards you carry. See individual card reviews for the specific rewards and perks of each card.
Cons
Rental car coverage applies only to rentals for business purposes.
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR RENTAL CARS
Before applying, confirm details on issuer's website.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: General-purpose travel card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our pick for: Premium travel card — perks
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Premium travel card — value
* Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status: Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through Dec. 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
A limited-time partnership with carshare app Turo through May 16, 2023, will get Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders 10x miles for Turo cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal.
United℠ Explorer Card
Our pick for: Airline card — core benefits
The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Our pick for: Airline card — elite benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Elite status + much more
Chase's Ink cards
Our picks for: Small business
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Read our review.
New Business Card! Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card. Read our review.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. Read our review.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. Read our review.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® are worth 1.25 cents on award travel bookings with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, but you could transfer them between cards to get higher value. If you’ve got the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll want to transfer your points to that card to get the 1.5 cents redemption rate.
• • •
OTHER RESOURCES
By Gregory Karp and Meghan Coyle, NerdWallet
How credit card rental car coverage works
The rental car coverage offered by credit cards isn't technically "insurance." The rental car agency already has insurance on its vehicles. But if you crash a car you've rented, or if it gets stolen while you have it, the agency's insurance company will probably try to recover the cost from you.
When you rent a car, the agency typically offers to sell you a collision and damage waiver, or CDW, which people often just refer to as "insurance." If you pay for the CDW, then you're off the hook if the car gets damaged or stolen. Credit card rental car coverage essentially takes the place of the CDW offered by the agency.
To make use of your credit card's rental car coverage, use your card to book the reservation and pay for the rental, then decline the CDW when offered.
In fact, most people can decline the CDW when they rent a car, regardless of whether their credit card has any coverage. That's because most people's existing auto insurance already covers them when they are in a rented car. However, if you crash a rental car and have to go through your own insurance, you'll probably have to pay a deductible, and the claim could well cause your insurance premiums to increase. That's why it's so valuable to have a credit card with "primary" rental car coverage.
Don't automatically assume your credit card has rental car coverage. At one time, coverage was a common perk on cards from major issuers, but many cards have removed it. Check your card's benefits to be sure.
» LEARN MORE: Smart rental car alternatives you might not know about
Primary vs. secondary coverage
If you're relying on your credit card to provide coverage for a rental car, it's important to understand whether the coverage is "primary" or "secondary":
With primary coverage, your credit card covers the cost directly (up to the coverage limits in your card agreement). There's no deductible to pay and no need to go through your own insurance.
With secondary coverage, you start by going through your own insurance company, and then the credit card covers any remaining costs. Secondary coverage would reimburse your deductible, for example.
What your credit card doesn't cover
Rental car coverage from credit cards doesn't cover everything. Like the CDW, it applies only to damage or theft involving the rental vehicle. It doesn't cover damage to other property or injuries. Nor does it cover theft of personal belongings from inside the rental car.
Should you book a rental car with airline miles?
With airline credit cards, be cautious about redeeming your miles for rental cars because these types of redemptions don’t usually offer the best value when you compare them with booking award flights.
For example, NerdWallet values United miles at 1.2 cents each for award flight redemption. So, if the cash value of the car rental is less than the value of the miles it would take to get an award rental, you might want to pay in cash instead.
If you choose to book with cash, don’t forget to include your frequent flyer account to earn bonus miles for your car reservation.
• • •
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Last updated on February 24, 2023
