Amex credit cards and car rental

[pt415999]

Hi everyone, is it true that some amex cards cover your car rental insurance in Florida? If so what type, blue, gold etc and what exactly does it cover?
Also if you pay for your flights with amex, does this give you personal protection holiday cover?
Thanks in advance.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I'm not sure about the really top end Amex cards (the ones which are by invitation only) but the other types of Amex card do not provide cover for car hire in North America. You may be getting confused with an American Express travel insurance policy which does provide cover for car hire.

The Amex Premium Annual Travel policy includes cover for CDW and SLI (you will still have to pay local taxes and surcharges) for car hire in North America. Although the travel policy is quite expensive (approx £280 for a family) it can work out cheaper than buying insurance through your tour operator. You do not need to have have an Amex card to buy this travel policy, so it is available to everybody who wants it. Most car rental companies will charge a deposit of $1,500 if your decline their approved insurance (you use a credit card for this deposit - you don't need to leave cash!).

I think that people who have a (gold?) Natwest visa card may be able to buy an additional insurance policy which also covers car hire in the US, but others will have to post details about that.

Regards

Rob

 

[hunty]

Amex Platinum covers Car Insurance I believe

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

That's interesting. The Platinum card costs £275, so it's slightly cheaper than the Premium Annual Travel Insurance offered by Amex. So if the Platinum card comes with the same level of travel cover as Amex's Premium policy it might work out slightly cheaper to get this card (plus you get all the other benefits). I wonder how much you woul dhave to earn to be invited by Amex to take out a Platinum card?

Regards

Rob

 

[hunty]

I don't think there is an earnings limit (There is for the Centurion I think)

The platinum gives lots of benefits, the main ones for me are lounge access at most airports - I travel at least once a week, the lost luggage insurance (mine has been delayed 9 times this year), you don't pay to be in their points system (approx £30 per annum)........ and you get 5 supplimentay cards for family .. My Mum loves using her Gold Amex

However I forgot it cost so much Maybe I need to reconsider!!

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks for that. A couple more questions:

How does the Priority Pass airport longe system work? What level of Priority Pass is included with the Platinum card - for example, do you still have to pay to get longe access?

What travel insurance is offered? Is it the same as their Premium policy?

Thanks

Rob

 

[hunty]

I need to check on the level of insurance when I get home, I know I get £100 each time my bag is delayed for 24 hours or More

The priority pass is the top level, i.e you don't pay to go in any lounge (guests pay £10 I think).

 

[rich1231]

Amex Centurion does not I believe have an earnings limit. If it does its well hidden.

Each year/month etc the accounts of Platinum cardholders are looked at to see who has
a) spent on average a considerable amount each month
b) paid on time with no problems.

I was also told that preference is given to those that spend more on travel.

Rich

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by hunty
I need to check on the level of insurance when I get home, I know I get £100 each time my bag is delayed for 24 hours or More

The priority pass is the top level, i.e you don't pay to go in any lounge (guests pay £10 I think).

Thanks. I'll be interested in the insurance details when you are able to dig them out. This sounds like it might be a good package for me.

Regards

Rob

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Hope you don't mind me butting in, Prority Pass charge £15 for each additional guest with the cardholder (even if they are supp.card holders)The "free" car hire insurance is only SLI and NOT CDW which you have to pay extra for.It cost me £100.85 per year to cover me and The Dragon for CDW and excess waiver and enhanced travel cover.Main points are:

Medical Cover: £5 miliion.

Cancellation: £12,500

Personal Accident: £30,000

Baggage and Money: £2,500 p/p (£300 any one article,£750 for Laptops and phones)

Personal Liability: £2million

You also get a gold Hilton Honors card with the Platinium card which gets you an upgrade to the executive floor at their hotels.

Until recently it also got you access to Virgin's lounge but sadly they have withdrawn this.
Also the car hire cover applies to everyone on the rental agreement wether they are supp. card holders or not.

Hope this helps.

Mick.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Don't think my reply got recorded so

"bump"

Mick.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks Mick. It's a shame about CDW not being included. If it was the platinum card might have worth the extra cost for me, but the additional £100 for CDW makes it just a little bit too expensive. Do you know if the SLI and CDW cover is only applicable to the USA, or does it cover car hire in other countries?

Regards

Rob

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi Rob,
To the best of my knowledge it only applies to the USA (They refer to it as North American Car Hire)I agree the Amex Platinum card is expensive but the "perks" make it worthile for me as I usually go to Florida twice a year so the car hire/travel insurance (albeit with the extra cost) virtually pays for it.

Mick.