Does Apple Card Cover Rental Car Insurance? No — Hertz Perks Only
Apple Card does not cover rental car insurance — Goldman Sachs opted out of Mastercard’s standard Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver package when it issued the card. Declining the rental counter’s damage waiver because you assume Apple Card has you covered can leave you personally liable for the full repair or theft cost. This guide covers what Apple Card actually offers at Hertz, which cards genuinely include CDW, and how to protect yourself on your next rental.
Quick Answer
No, the Apple Card does not include rental car insurance or a Collision Damage Waiver. Goldman Sachs, which issues the card, opted out of Mastercard’s standard World Elite insurance package. Instead, Apple Card holders get a discounted (not free) Hertz loss damage waiver at $16.95/day, free roadside assistance, and 3% Daily Cash on eligible Hertz rentals paid with Apple Pay.
What Apple Card Actually Offers When You Rent a Car
Apple Card doesn’t waive collision or theft costs on its own, but as part of the card’s financing and insurance benefits, Goldman Sachs built in real Hertz-specific perks instead. Book an eligible rental with Apple Card through the Rewards & Offers Hub in the Wallet app and you get free Emergency Roadside Service, one free additional driver at pickup, at least 5% off Pay Later base rates, and — added in November 2025 — 3% Daily Cash back when you pay with Apple Pay.
None of those perks pay for damage to the car itself. For that, Hertz sells Apple Card holders a loss damage waiver at a discounted rate — but it’s still something you buy, not automatic coverage.
How Much Does the Discounted Hertz Loss Damage Waiver Cost?
Apple Card holders can add Hertz’s loss damage waiver (LDW) for $16.95 per day plus tax when booking through the Hertz-Apple Card portal. That’s a real discount off Hertz’s standard counter rate, but it’s still a purchase — skip it and decline the rental company’s own CDW with no other coverage in place, and you’re personally on the hook for the full repair or theft cost if something happens to the car.
📊 Apple Card’s Hertz partnership discounts the loss damage waiver to $16.95 per day plus tax — Source: Apple Card Benefits, learn.applecard.apple
For comparison, a rental company’s own CDW or LDW at the counter typically runs $15 to $30 per day industry-wide, regardless of which credit card you’re holding. The Hertz discount is worth taking if you’re going to buy a waiver anyway — it just isn’t free coverage.
Why Doesn’t Apple Card Include a Collision Damage Waiver?
Apple Card is a Mastercard, and most Mastercard World Elite cards include some level of Auto Rental CDW by default. Goldman Sachs, which issues and underwrites the Apple Card, opted out of that standard package when the card launched in 2019 and has not added it back since. As a no-annual-fee card, Apple Card trims several benefits that fee-charging cards keep, and rental car insurance is one of them.
“No, Apple Card MasterCard does not offer as a benefit or for an extra fee rental car insurance.”
Credit Cards That Actually Include Rental Car Collision Damage Waiver
If rental car protection matters to you, several other cards do include it automatically. Two Bank of America and Chase-issued cards worth comparing against Apple Card:
| Card | Rental Car CDW | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Card | None — $16.95/day Hertz LDW discount only | Hertz Daily Cash and roadside perks |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Primary, up to $60,000, automatic | No enrollment, no fee to use |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Primary, automatic | Frequent renters wanting no deductible hassle |
| American Express Platinum | Secondary by default; primary for $17.95–$24.95/trip | Cardholders who enroll in Premium Car Rental Protection |
Chase’s coverage requires no enrollment — pay with the card and decline the rental company’s waiver, and it activates automatically. American Express Platinum’s built-in coverage is secondary and pays only after your personal insurance, but cardholders can enroll each trip in Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection to make it primary with no deductible, for a flat per-trip fee. Chase documents its own terms directly on its rental car insurance guide.
How to Protect Yourself When Renting a Car With Apple Card
- Call your personal auto insurer first: Ask whether your policy extends to rental cars and what your deductible would be — this is your primary protection since Apple Card doesn’t provide any.
- Decide on the Hertz discounted waiver: Add Hertz’s loss damage waiver for $16.95 per day at checkout if you have no other coverage, or decline it if your personal insurance already protects rentals.
- Consider a third-party policy for non-Hertz rentals: Standalone rental damage insurance from providers like Bonzah starts around $7.99 per day and works at any rental company, not just Hertz.
- Book through the Hertz-Apple Card link: Use the Rewards & Offers Hub in the Wallet app to get 3% Daily Cash, at least 5% off Pay Later rates, a free additional driver, and free roadside assistance.
- Keep your documentation: Save your rental agreement and Apple Card statement showing full payment — you’ll need both if you ever have to file a claim with your personal insurer or a purchased waiver.
One more payment detail worth checking before you book: not every rental counter accepts every payment method the way you’d expect. If you’re comparing options, see whether Dollar accepts non-traditional cards before assuming your payment method will work everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple Card cover rental car insurance internationally?
No. Apple Card has no Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver anywhere, domestic or international. The only rental-specific benefit tied to the card is the discounted Hertz loss damage waiver and Daily Cash rewards, and those apply only at Hertz locations that accept Apple Card portal booking, not universally abroad.
If I have my own car insurance, do I still need extra coverage when renting with Apple Card?
Yes, in most cases. Since Apple Card provides no CDW, your protection comes entirely from your personal auto policy (if it extends to rental cars), the rental company’s own waiver, or a third-party policy like Bonzah. Check with your insurer before you decline the counter’s coverage.
What is the difference between a CDW and liability insurance?
A Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covers damage to the rental car itself from an accident or theft. Liability insurance covers injuries or property damage you cause to other people. Apple Card offers neither automatically — you’d need your personal policy, a purchased waiver, or a card like Chase Sapphire Preferred for CDW.
How do I get the discounted Hertz loss damage waiver with Apple Card?
Book your rental through the Hertz link in the Rewards & Offers Hub of the Wallet app, or directly through Hertz.com or the Hertz app while paying with Apple Card. Add the loss damage waiver at checkout for $16.95 per day plus tax.
Which credit cards actually include rental car collision damage waiver?
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve include automatic primary CDW up to $60,000, with no enrollment needed. American Express Platinum includes secondary CDW by default, upgradeable to primary coverage for $17.95 to $24.95 per trip through Amex’s optional Premium Car Rental Protection enrollment.
Why did Apple Card skip rental car insurance?
Apple Card is a Mastercard, and most Mastercard World Elite cards include some rental CDW by default. Goldman Sachs, which issues the Apple Card, opted out of that standard package to keep the card fee-free — rental insurance is one of the benefits a no-annual-fee card commonly trims.
Bottom Line
Apple Card won’t cover damage or theft on a rental car — plan around that instead of assuming it. Use your personal auto policy, a purchased waiver, or a card that actually includes CDW, and take the Hertz Daily Cash and roadside perks as a bonus, not a safety net.
