Does Your Credit Card Insurance REALLY Cover Damage to Your Rental Car?

I actually read the rental car coverage provided with my business American Express Card, and I was somewhat surprised by the exclusions. I wasn’t surprised that off-road use wasn’t covered, but I was surprised that any rental vehicle with an MSRP over $50,000 was excluded. All “exotic” cars were excluded including Toyota Supra.  (How many years has it been since Toyota made the Supra?) All full-sized SUVs are excluded. All trucks are excluded. All cargo vans and passenger vans larger than minivans are excluded.

What that tells me is that you should be careful relying on your credit card coverage to cover damage to your rental car. You should make sure that your regular car insurance has rental coverage, hopefully with fewer exclusions. You should be careful accepting upgrades. If you are offered a free upgrade to a Cadillac, a full-sized SUV or a sporty car, you should be aware that your credit card coverage might not cover it.