Last Updated on November 1, 2022 by Elizabeth
When it comes to paying for a car rental, not all credit cards deliver the same way. Choosing the right credit card can mean saving money and racking up a host of perks and benefits.
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Here’s what to look for in a credit card when you pay for your next rental car.
Signs Your Credit Card is Not a Good Choice for Car Rentals
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Your card does not include car rental insurance.
While most credit cards offer collision damage coverage on rental cars, not all of them do. This is a huge drawback, since over-the-counter car rental insurance can add $10 a day or more to your total cost. For example, Citibank recently dropped many travel rewards, including car rental insurance, for the vast majority of its cards. If car rental insurance is an important perk for you, then most Citi cards are not a good choice.
An exception is the Costco Anywhere Card by Citi, which continues to offer secondary rental car insurance for domestic rentals and primary coverage for international rentals, covering damages or vehicle replacement up to $50,000. Secondary car rental insurance kicks in only after your personal auto insurance coverage has been depleted. If you don’t want to risk your auto insurance company getting involved, you should consider buying over-the-counter insurance at the car rental agency.
Your card does not offer primary car rental coverage.
Most credit cards offer secondary collision damage coverage, which means it kicks in after your personal auto insurance coverage is depleted. Some cards—typically premium cards with higher annual fees—offer primary coverage, which is even better. If you pay for a rental car with one of these cards and have a damage claim, your personal auto insurance never gets involved.
Some credit cards offering primary coverage include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- United MileagePlus Explorer Card
- United MileagePlus Club Card
Your card does not offer any travel rewards.
If you’re not using a card with plenty of travel rewards, you’re leaving money on the table. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card arguably boasts the best all-around value when it comes to travel rewards. You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. That adds up to $750 that you can redeem and put towards travel, whether it be for car rentals, airfare, hotels, cruises, or more. Additionally, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card members also get two times the points on travel costs and dining—even internationally. Overall, the rewards stack up fairly quickly with this card, making it a great option for the average traveler.
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Your card does not let you earn cash back.
If you’re looking for a good all-around travel cash-back credit card, it’s hard to beat Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card, which lets you rack up rewards on a huge gamut of spending categories while paying zero annual fee and (for the first year) zero interest. You’ll earn 3x points on dining out, ordering in, gas purchases, ridesharing, transit services, flights, hotels, vacation rentals and entertainment such as Apple Music, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora and Spotify Premium. Basically, you earn bonus points almost everywhere you go, so this card is a great choice for travelers.
Your card does not offer travel protections.
A great credit card will not leave you high and dry if you run into trouble when you’re traveling. Many cards offer a nice array of travel protections. For example, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card includes 24-hour emergency travel assistance, medical assistance and legal assistance. There’s also roadside assistance and emergency towing. If you’re flying, there’s also insurance for lost and damaged baggage. Cardholders also get Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance coverage up to $150,000.
Related:
- Credit Cards with Primary Car Rental Insurance
- The Best Credit Cards with Travel Rewards
The post 5 Signs You’re Using the Wrong Credit Card for a Car Rental appeared first on AutoSlash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you rent a car in Portugal and drop it off in Spain?
The answer is yes, you can do this. This is called "car rental". There are many companies that offer this service online.
It is enough to verify that they are licensed by the Portuguese and Spanish authorities.
Contact them on their websites for the best way to get this information. You will find all the information they need.
What countries will accept US driver's licences?
The United States does not recognize other countries' driver's permits as valid on their roads. However, Canada, Mexico and District of Columbia recognize them.
Canada recognizes American drivers licenses issued from all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia.
Mexico also recognizes American driver’s licences. However, they are currently only recognized in Chihuahua.
The District of Columbia will accept driver's licenses of all 50 US states, except Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Texas.
Can I rent a car in Italy and drop it off in France?
It is possible to rent an Italian car and drive it all over Europe, but this may not be feasible. Europcar is a rental service that offers cars for rent all across Europe. For more information about renting cars or dropping them off in Italy, contact Europcar directly.
How can I document damage done to my car before it is rented?
Make sure you have all available documentation, including photos of the damage. If you don't know the damage, ask for help from the agent when you are getting the vehicle inspected. If you find any damage, you might need to pay more for an inspection.
Can you rent a car from one European country to return it to another?
A way to make travel more convenient is to rent cars in multiple countries, but have them returned from the country they were rented.
However, this idea might not be very practical because people don't want to pay for extra mileage. Most rental agencies charge much more to return a car if it is returned to the same location as when it was first rented.
If you don't plan to travel often, it might be better not to choose one country.
What is the most reputable car rental company?
The customer service at Hertz is second to none. They are always ready to help you find the right vehicle for any occasion. They have a large selection of vehicles available in all major cities and offer excellent deals. You can rent a vehicle for as little as $10 per hour.
Hertz also provides free airport pickup and drop-off, 24 hour roadside assistance, and even an extensive line of accessories and gear to help ensure your safety while driving in the town.
The Hertz website is a great place to start if you want a good experience with car rentals.
What is the best way to rent car in Europe
A variety of websites can help you find affordable European rental cars. These include Alamo and Sixt, Europcar or Hertz. Book online to save money.
You must ensure that you have all of the necessary information before renting a vehicle, and this includes but is not limited to:
- Your complete name, including any middle names (if relevant)
- The address at which you are staying
- Date, time & place of pickup
- Make & model of vehicle rented
- Name of insurance company and policy number
- Any special requests for additional equipment
- Details of the rental agreement (e.g., duration and rate, deposit, balance due by end of trip, excess fees, limits of liability, cancellation penalties etc.
- Payment method(s), such as credit card, debit, cash, or personal check
Once you have all of the information above, you can book your vehicle at one of these companies.
Statistics
- In 2019, the most crucial factor is the cost and fees of the rental (accounting for 28% of overall satisfaction with the rental experience), followed by the rental car itself at 25% and the pick-up process at 23%. (cnet.com)
- For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day's trip cost. (insider.com)
- For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 3 percent cash back on purchases at U.S. gas stations (terms apply), and the Citi Premier® Card earns three points per dollar at gas stations, too. (afar.com)
- Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)
- You can rent an automatic but these cars can cost as much as 50% more than a manual vehicle. (earthtrekkers.com)
External Links
sixt.com
avis.com
alamo.com
- Alamo Rent a Car - Cheap Car Rentals in the U.S.A, Latin America & More
- Get Low Car Rental Rates with Alamo Insiders - Alamo Rent a Car
kayak.com
How To
How to report a rental vehicle accident
You can get into an accident while driving in a rental vehicle. You may get in an accident or your luggage could be stolen. Or worse, you might get injured. This is why you need to be able to file a complaint against your insurance company to make sure you don't lose money.
If you are involved in an accident involving a vehicle, you must report it immediately to the police. By reporting the accident immediately, police can record the details and notify you of their findings. They will then either issue you a ticket or make a note of the incident at the scene. Then, they'll file a lawsuit against your driver’s license.
After getting in an accident, dial 911 immediately. A dispatcher will ask the basic questions and determine if anyone was injured. After asking basic questions about the situation, and whether anyone was hurt, the dispatcher will give you directions and contact information. In most cases, the first thing you'll do when dealing with an accident is to exchange contact information with the other party. Most likely, the other person will give you their name and telephone number. Next, you'll make sure everyone involved is okay. If someone is hurt or unable to move on their own, you'll try to help them out.
If no one was hurt, you'll want to document everything. You should record the time, place, weather conditions, road conditions and type of collision. Also, make sure to note names of those involved. If anyone was injured, it is your responsibility to ensure that they receive medical attention. Keep track of all damages to your vehicle as well as the vehicle of the other person.
You will want to follow-up with your insurer. You will first need to fill out an online claim form. Most insurance providers will offer to pay the amount of the deductible before paying the rest. Once the claim is paid, you and the other driver must sign a release agreement. Finally, you'll receive a check from the insurer.
Once you have filed your claim, it's important that you follow all guidelines set forth by your insurer. You should adhere to these guidelines if your insurance policy permits you to use another vehicle or allow someone to drive your rental car.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://rentacar24.org/car-rental-news/right-heres-what-to-do-if-you-get-a-speeding-up-ticket-in-ohio/
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