Bank of America Rental Car Insurance: Which Cards Qualify
Bank of America rental car insurance coverage depends entirely on which card you carry. The Premium Rewards Elite and Atmos Rewards Summit cards include primary auto rental coverage worth up to $75,000, so the benefit pays out first without a claim against your personal auto policy. Most other eligible cards, including Premium Rewards and Travel Rewards, only carry secondary coverage that kicks in after your own insurance has paid its share. The Unlimited Cash Rewards card does not include the benefit at all.
Because the fine print differs so much from card to card, the safest move before any rental is to pull up your specific card’s Guide to Benefits or call the number on the back. Below is what that guide actually says, card by card, and how to make sure the coverage applies when you need it.
How Bank of America Rental Car Insurance Works
The benefit itself is called an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and on eligible Bank of America cards it’s administered through a third-party benefits provider, Allianz Global Assistance (formerly known as Travel Guard), not through the bank’s own claims department. It reimburses you for theft of or collision damage to a rental vehicle, up to that vehicle’s actual cash value.
Two conditions have to be met for the coverage to apply. First, you must decline the rental counter’s own collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver when you sign the rental agreement. Second, you must pay for the entire rental transaction with the eligible card, either the physical card or the cash back/points redemption tied to that account. Coverage generally applies to rentals of up to 31 consecutive days, primarily within the United States; longer rentals and most international pickups fall outside the benefit, so it’s worth checking your card’s guide before booking an extended or overseas trip.
Which Bank of America Cards Offer Rental Car Insurance
Coverage tiers vary by card, and Bank of America has changed which cards qualify over time, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee for your exact account:
| Card | Coverage Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Rewards Elite | Primary, up to $75,000 | Pays first, no personal auto claim required |
| Atmos Rewards Summit | Primary, up to $75,000 | Pays first, no personal auto claim required |
| Premium Rewards | Secondary | Pays after your personal auto or homeowners policy |
| Travel Rewards | Secondary (Visa Signature benefit) | Not guaranteed on every account; confirm in your Guide to Benefits |
| Unlimited Cash Rewards | None | No auto rental waiver included |
If your card isn’t listed here, that’s not an automatic “no.” Sign in to your account, open the card’s Guide to Benefits PDF, and search for “Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.” If it’s not mentioned, call the number on the back of your card and ask directly, since benefit lineups get revised with little notice.
Primary vs. Secondary Coverage: What Is the Real Difference
Primary coverage pays out directly, without you having to file a claim with your own auto insurer first. That matters because a claim on your personal policy, even one your insurer eventually reimburses in full, can still show up as a claim history and nudge your premium at renewal. Secondary coverage only reimburses what’s left over after your personal auto policy (or, if you don’t own a car, a renters or homeowners policy) has paid its share, which usually means a deductible and a claim on file either way.
This is the single biggest reason the “does Bank of America cover rental cars” question doesn’t have one answer. A Premium Rewards Elite cardholder and a Travel Rewards cardholder can rent the identical car from the identical counter and walk away with two very different claims experiences if something goes wrong.
What Is Covered and What Is Not
When the benefit applies, it typically reimburses theft of the vehicle, collision damage up to the car’s actual cash value, reasonable towing charges, and any valid loss-of-use charges the rental company bills you while the car is out of service for repairs, plus related administrative fees.
It does not extend to liability for injuries or damage you cause to other people or their property, injury to you or your passengers, or theft of personal belongings left inside the car. Certain vehicle types are excluded outright on most cards, including cargo vans, trucks, exotic or luxury models, and some larger SUVs, so check the vehicle class restrictions in your Guide to Benefits before you book anything unusual.
How to Activate and Use the Coverage
- Decline the rental counter’s own collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver at the time of signing.
- Pay for the full rental cost with the eligible Bank of America card, not a mix of payment methods.
- Rent the car in your own name as it appears on the card; the primary renter must be a cardholder.
- Keep the rental agreement, final receipt, and any accident or theft documentation together.
- Confirm the rental period stays within the card’s maximum covered days, generally 31 consecutive days in the U.S.
Payment timing can trip people up with some rental companies, since a few run an authorization hold before the final charge posts. If you’re booking through National Car Rental specifically, it helps to know when National Car Rental charges your credit card so the eligible card is the one actually on file when the transaction settles.
How to File a Rental Car Insurance Claim
Report the damage or theft to the benefits administrator as soon as possible, ideally within the reporting window listed in your Guide to Benefits, and before you return the car if it’s safe to do so. Gather the signed rental agreement, the final rental receipt showing the eligible card as the payment method, a copy of the police report if one was filed, and the rental company’s repair estimate or invoice.
Submit the claim form the administrator provides along with those documents, and keep copies of everything you send. The administrator may follow up for additional information; respond promptly, since delays on your end can slow down or jeopardize the claim.
Other Ways to Cover a Rental Car
A credit card benefit isn’t the only option, and it isn’t always the best one. If you’re weighing whether to add the rental counter’s own protection instead, our breakdown of whether Hotwire’s rental car insurance is worth it walks through what that add-on actually buys you. Your personal auto policy may already extend to a rental in some cases too, which is the question we answer in does Alfa Insurance cover rental cars. And if you do end up in a fender-bender while driving a rental, it’s worth understanding whether an accident in a rental car affects your own insurance before you decide which coverage to lean on first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Bank of America credit card cover rental car insurance?
It depends on the card. Premium Rewards Elite and Atmos Rewards Summit include primary coverage up to $75,000; Premium Rewards and Travel Rewards include secondary coverage; Unlimited Cash Rewards does not include the benefit at all.
What is the difference between primary and secondary rental car insurance?
Primary coverage pays out directly without requiring you to file a claim with your personal auto insurer first. Secondary coverage only reimburses costs left over after your own insurance, or a homeowners or renters policy, has already paid its share.
How do I activate my Bank of America rental car insurance benefit?
Decline the rental counter’s own collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver, then pay for the entire rental with your eligible Bank of America card. Coverage generally applies for up to 31 consecutive days on U.S. rentals.
What does Bank of America rental car insurance not cover?
It typically excludes liability for injuries or damage to other people or vehicles, theft of personal belongings left in the car, and rentals of certain vehicle types such as trucks, cargo vans, or exotic and luxury cars. Always confirm the exclusions listed in your card’s Guide to Benefits.
Who administers Bank of America’s rental car insurance claims?
Bank of America’s auto rental coverage is administered by a third-party benefits provider, Allianz Global Assistance, formerly known as Travel Guard. Claims are typically filed through that administrator rather than directly with the bank.
Does the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card include rental car insurance?
No. Unlimited Cash Rewards is one of the Bank of America cards that does not include an auto rental collision damage waiver benefit.
Conclusion
Whether your Bank of America card protects a rental car comes down to which product is in your wallet, not the bank as a whole. Check your card’s Guide to Benefits before your next trip, decline the counter’s waiver, and pay with the eligible card so the coverage that’s actually there is the one you can count on.
