Credit cards with car rental excess insurance

Get a credit card with car rental insurance and save on costs in Australia and abroad. A perfect road trip companion.

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Amy Bradney-George

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Anne-Marie Emerson

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Product AUCCF Purchase rate p.a. Balance transfer rate p.a. Annual fee
American Express Explorer Credit Card
American Express Explorer Credit Card image
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Annual fee
$395
Get 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
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ANZ Platinum Credit Card
ANZ Platinum Credit Card image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
21.99% with 3% balance transfer fee
Annual fee
$0 first year ($87 after)
Get $100 back on your card when you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months and a $0 first-year annual fee. Plus, complimentary overseas travel insurance.
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American Express Platinum Card
American Express Platinum Card image
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Annual fee
$1,450
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
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Westpac Altitude Qantas Black
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
Annual fee
$370
Up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points (90,000 points in year 1 when you spend $6,000 in the first 120 days & 30,000 points after the first spend in year 2).
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Westpac Altitude Platinum Card
Westpac Altitude Platinum Card image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
Annual fee
$99 first year ($175 after)
Up to 120,000 bonus Altitude Points (90,000 points in year 1 when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days & 30,000 points after the first spend in year 2).
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St.George Amplify Signature
St.George Amplify Signature image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
Annual fee
$199 first year ($295 after)
150,000 bonus Amplify Points (worth $675 in gift cards) when you spend $12,000 in the first 12 months. Plus, a first-year annual fee discount.
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ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card
Finder Award
ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
21.99%
Annual fee
$375
Get 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points (worth $800+ in digital gift cards) and $150 back when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
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Westpac Altitude Rewards Black
Westpac Altitude Rewards Black image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
Annual fee
$200 first year ($295 after)
Earn up to 150,000 bonus Altitude Rewards Points (100,000 points in year 1 when you spend $6,000 in the first 120 days and 50,000 in year 2).
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NAB Rewards Platinum Card
NAB Rewards Platinum Card image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
0% for 12 months with 3% balance transfer fee, then 21.74%
Annual fee
$45 first year ($195 after)
Get up to 100,000 bonus NAB Rewards Points (worth $480 in eGift cards): 80,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 60 days and 20,000 after 12 months.
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NAB Rewards Platinum Card – Velocity Points
NAB Rewards Platinum Card – Velocity Points image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
0% for 12 months with 3% balance transfer fee, then 21.74%
Annual fee
$95 first year ($195 after)
Get up to 80,000 bonus Velocity Points: 60,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 60 days and 20,000 after 12 months.
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ANZ Rewards Platinum
ANZ Rewards Platinum image
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
21.99%
Annual fee
$149
Get 100,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points (worth $440 in eGift cards) and $50 back when you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
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What is credit card car rental excess insurance?

Complimentary credit card car rental excess insurance can help cover costs if a rental vehicle is damaged or stolen and you need to pay an excess amount to the car hire company.

Depending on the credit card and policy, you could get cover when you rent a car overseas, in Australia or both.

What credit cards offer car rental insurance?

Credit cards with complimentary insurance may include some form of car rental insurance. There are 2 main options:

  • Car rental excess insurance in Australia
  • A car rental excess benefit as part of an international travel insurance policy

As with any type of insurance, the cover and details vary. So it's important to check the insurance policy document for any card (or cards) you're looking at. To give you an idea, here is a table with some examples of credit cards and car rental insurance options for trips in Australia and overseas.

How much does car rental excess insurance cost to buy?

Car rental companies typically offer excess insurance (or excess reductions) for about $20 to $30 per day, per car. It can go above $50 per day if you want a $0 excess.

There are also separate car rental excess insurance policies you can buy from as little as $2.83 per day. The cost depends on factors including the insurance provider, type of car and payable excess.

Based on these details, if you got complimentary car rental excess insurance through a credit card and hired a car for 7 days, you could save between $19.81 and $350 compared to paying for a car rental excess insurance policy.

But keep in mind that credit cards may have annual fees and other potential costs that you may want to factor in when you're considering different options. It's also a good idea to check the different policies so you know what's covered, what the limits are and how much you could be out-of-pocket.

Credit card providerCredit cardsInsurance details
American Express
  • Eligible trips in Australia and overseas: Cover for loss or damage to rental vehicles for hire periods of up to 31 days.
ANZ
  • Australia: Rental vehicle excess insurance in Australia up to a maximum of $5,000 if you use an eligible ANZ credit card to pay for the vehicle hire. A $100 excess applies.
  • Overseas: Rental vehicle excess cover up to $5,000 is a benefit in the ANZ complimentary international travel insurance policy for eligible credit cards.
BankSA
  • Australia: Rental vehicle excess insurance cover up to $5,500 for eligible rentals in Australia. A $300 excess applies per claim.
  • Overseas: Rental vehicle excess cover up to $5,500 is also a benefit in the BankSA complimentary international travel insurance policy for eligible credit cards. A $300 excess applies.
Bank of Melbourne
CitiLevel 1 cards:

Level 2 cards:

  • Australia: Rental vehicle excess insurance in Australia up to $10,000 (Level 1 cards) or up to $5,000 (Level 2 cards). A $100 excess applies per claim
  • Overseas: Rental vehicle excess cover up to a maximum of $10,000 (Level 1 cards) or up to $5,000 (Level 2 cards) is offered for overseas rentals as a benefit in the Citi credit card complimentary international travel insurance policy. A $400 excess applies.
CommBank
  • Overseas: Offers overseas rental vehicle excess insurance of up to $2,250. You may also be given the option of increasing the value of this cover for specific trips.
HSBC
  • Australia: Offers rental vehicle excess in Australia insurance up to $6,000. A $200 excess applies.
  • Overseas: Offers rental vehicle excess cover up to a maximum of $3,000 as part of the international travel insurance policy.
NABLevel 1 cards:

Level 2 cards:

  • Australia: Rental vehicle excess insurance cover up to $10,000 (Level 1 cards) or $5,000 (Level 2 cards) for eligible rentals in Australia. A $100 excess applies.
  • Overseas: Rental vehicle excess cover up to $10,000 (Level 1 cards) or $5,000 (Level 2 cards) is also a benefit in the NAB complimentary international travel insurance policy for eligible credit cards. A $400 excess applies.
Qantas Money
  • Australia: Rental vehicle excess insurance in Australia up to $3,000. A $500 excess (Qantas Premier Everyday and Qantas Premier Platinum) or $250 excess (Qantas Premier Titanium) applies per claim.
  • Overseas: Offers rental vehicle excess cover up to a maximum of $4,000 (Qantas Premier Everyday and Qantas Premier Platinum) or up to $5,000 (Qantas Premier Titanium) as part of the international travel insurance policy. A $500 excess (Qantas Premier Everyday and Qantas Premier Platinum) or $250 excess (Qantas Premier Titanium) applies per claim.
St.George
Westpac
  • Australia: Rental vehicle excess insurance cover up to $5,500 for eligible rentals in Australia. A $300 excess applies per claim.
  • Overseas: Rental vehicle excess cover up to $5,500 is also a benefit in the Westpac complimentary international travel insurance policy for eligible credit cards. A $300 excess applies.

Pros and cons of credit card car rental excess insurance

Pros

  • Peace of mind. Car rental excess insurance means you're not on the hook for potentially thousands of dollars as it reduces the excess payable if you have a covered accident.
  • Saving money. Instead of paying the rental company for additional car rental excess insurance, get it through your credit card, which saves you the cost of that extra premium.

Cons

  • Lots of terms and conditions. Each policy has different requirements to activate the cover as well as what type of accident will be covered.
  • You may still pay an excess. Many complimentary car rental excess policies charge an excess of between $200 and $500 per claim. While that's better than the thousands of dollars you could potentially pay without excess insurance, it's still a cost you need to consider.

How do I use my credit card's car rental excess insurance?

To activate your rental car insurance cover, you usually need to do the following:

  • Use your eligible credit card to pay for the rental car or other travel spending.
  • Follow the policy's terms and conditions, such as not driving while under the influence of alcohol.

How to make a claim

The process can be slightly different depending on the insurance provider, so it's important to check the insurance policy document for full details. But as a general guide, you'll need to take the following steps:

  1. Contact the insurance provider
    As soon as you think you'll need to make a claim, let the insurance provider know. The contact details will be in your credit card complimentary insurance policy booklet.
  2. Fill in a claim form
    Depending on the insurer, you may be able to submit a claim online, over the phone or through a printed form.
  3. Include supporting documents and submit your application
    This could include the rental vehicle hire agreement, any relevant police reports, photo evidence or receipts that relate to your claim. In general, the more details you can include, the better.

Things to watch out for

If you're thinking of getting a credit card that offers complimentary car rental excess cover – or if your existing card offers this cover – make sure you keep the following details in mind before hiring a rental vehicle.

  • Eligibility. Most credit cards only provide this cover if you have used the card to pay for the rental vehicle or for the entire trip. Make sure you check these details in the insurance policy booklet before assuming you're covered.
  • Coverage limitations. While complimentary car rental excess cover typically applies for vehicle damage or theft, exclusions could apply for damage to the tyres, windscreen or underbody of the car. Most policies also exclude claims that relate to off-road driving.
  • Location requirements. Credit card car rental insurance could cover you for domestic trips, overseas trips or both, but there may be restrictions related to location or distance travelled.
  • Other card costs. If you're looking for a new credit card that offers car rental excess insurance, make sure you also consider the card's other costs (including the annual fee), interest rates and any overseas transaction fees that may apply.

Do I need car rental excess insurance?

This type of cover is usually optional. But excess payments to a car rental company can be as much as $8,000 without this cover, compared to around $0 to $400 with cover.

Frequently asked questions

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Anne-Marie Emerson as part of our fact-checking process.
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Editor

Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio

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14 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    BonnieDecember 11, 2017

    Hi I would like a card that ticks the following boxes:
    – Reward points (preferably velocity)
    – international + domestic travel insurance (includes car rental excess)
    – I will also be doing a Balance transfer

      AvatarFinder
      MayDecember 12, 2017Finder

      Hi Bonnie,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      The frequent flyer credit cards that earn Velocity points are listed here. As not all cards have the same benefits, you may need to go over each card featured on that page and see if they have complimentary travel insurance and Balance transfer features. Please also note that domestic travel insurance are not usually covered under the travel insurance benefit. The car rental excess are typically included in the overseas complimentary travel insurance though.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      May

    Default Gravatar
    JohnMay 25, 2017

    I am a platinum ANZ credit card holder and I want to hire a car in NZ do I get the same access cover as I do in Australia?

      AvatarFinder
      HaroldMay 29, 2017Finder

      Hi John,

      ANZ Platinum credit cardholders are covered under QBE complimentary overseas medical and travel insurance. There’s comprehensive cover for a range of events, including an unlimited benefit payable for overseas medical and dental. If you already have an ANZ Platinum credit card, you’re eligible for the insurance when you hold a return ticket to Australia and have purchased at least $250 of your prepaid travel expenses using the ANZ Platinum credit card. See the insurance terms and conditions to confirm what you’re covered by.

      I hope this information has helped.

      Cheers,
      Harold

    Default Gravatar
    AlokaFebruary 5, 2017

    Hi I’m about to rent a car using my ANZ platinum card. Do I need to purchase additional insurance from the Rent a car company ?
    If event of accident without additional insurance what does the car cover?
    Thanks

      AvatarFinder
      MauriceFebruary 6, 2017Finder

      Hi Aloka,

      While it’s not compulsory to purchase rental vehicle excess insurance from a car rental company (if you already have cover with your credit card) you might need to purchase damage insurance from the rental car company. Car rental excess insurance included in your credit card covers the excess payable on damage insurance.

      It’s a good idea to clarify with your rental company what type of insurance you are buying from them.

      According to the product disclosure statement (PDS) of ANZ, the maximum amount you are covered for is $2,400 in rental excess cover.

      I hope this helps,

      Maurice

    Default Gravatar
    JpJJuly 22, 2016

    I am the cardholder of an HSBC Australia Visa Platinum card. If I hire a car in Australia and have an accident, am I automatically covered for rental vehicle insurance excess? Many thanks.

      AvatarFinder
      MayAugust 2, 2016Finder

      Hi JpJ,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      As the complimentary travel insurance is applicable for international trips, I’m afraid that the rental vehicle excess cover is only applicable for trips overseas as well. Please feel free to check our HSBC credit card guide for more information about the HSBC complimentary travel insurance cover.

      Cheers,
      May

    Default Gravatar
    PamDecember 24, 2015

    I am the holder of an anz visa platinum card. When I hire a rent a car in Australia, am I automatically covered for accidents and to what extent.

      AvatarFinder
      SallyDecember 24, 2015Finder

      Hi Pam,

      Thanks for your question. Yes, the ANZ Visa Platinum Card does offer cover for domestic car rentals in Australia. You’ll need to meet QBE and ANZ’s eligibility requirements before you can access the rental cover. I’ve emailed you a copy of the insurance policy so you can confirm that you meet those requirements.

      QBE will reimburse you for the amount of any collision excess that you have paid under any vehicle rental agreement that you enter into with a car rental company to hire a vehicle registered in Australia and its offshore territories, where:
      • you are the hirer, or
      • you are a joint hirer and you were driving the hire car when the accident occurred.

      The process for how you can make a claim is also included in the document I have emailed to you.

      I hope this has helped.

      Cheers,

      Sally

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