Which Car Rental Companies Accept Cash or Debit Card Payments? [2023]

Are you thinking about using cash or a debit card to secure or pay for a rental car? Are you aware of all of the different requirements that go into doing this?

The process of renting a car with a debit card or cash payment is not quite as straightforward as you might’ve hoped but it still can be done in some cases.

Below, I have provided the policies for accepting cash or debit card payments for some of the most popular rental car companies including: Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, and Thrifty.

Credit cards for rental car payments

Before I jump into the requirements for paying with a debit card or cash, I wanted to reiterate how much better it is to use a credit card for rental cars.

For one, most rental car companies expect you to pay with a credit card and they may not accept other forms of payments.

And if they do, you may have to jump through extra hoops to make it work.

Credit cards will always be more convenient.

But the biggest reason is that some credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, come with primary rental car coverage which can save you money because you can decline the collision damage waiver and you will not have to file a claim with your rental car insurance company.

So while some rental car companies will accept cash or debit cards, I would highly recommend to just go the credit card route.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Two types of acceptance

As you check out the policies for different rental car companies you will notice that there are often two types of acceptance for debit cards/cash.

The first type of acceptance is credit identification (which allows you to rent the car) and the second is final payment acceptance (which allows you to pay for the rental).

Each rental car company will have its own unique policy for these two different types of acceptance so you really want to make sure you are familiar with the details when you rent a car.

Credit identification

The first type of acceptance is for credit identification in order to pick up your car at a given rental car location.

This is the process that verifies that you have enough funds to cover the cost of the rental, potential deposits, and additional fees.

There’s also a security component to this credit identification as well, which is why your credit report might be checked in conjunction with this identification check.

Cash is often not accepted for the credit identification. There are some exceptions to this rule like Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty which all allow cash rentals but only if you have a cash deposit identification card and agree to certain terms.

However, many rental companies will usually accept debit cards for credit identification.

You will often find certain stipulations for using a debit card. For example, you may have to make your booking at least 24 hours prior to pick up and the debit card must be on a network such as Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.

There may be restrictions on additional drivers, the types of vehicles you can rent, and you may have to prove your address.

A $200 to $300 hold might be placed on your debit card and you might be subject to a credit check.

The policies may differ based on whether or not you are renting from an airport location. Also, some geographical locations may not accept debit cards.

I strongly recommend to inquire with the specific pick up location before renting in order to verify that they will accept a debit card or cash deposit for your credit identification.

If they do accept it, chances are you will have to supply additional documentation as explained below.

Final payment

The second form of acceptance is for the payment which comes at the end of the rental period.

This acceptance is generally more lax since your credit identification has already been made.

Many rental car companies will accept cash payments but others will not due to security reasons.

In some cases, debit cards will be allowed but they will still ask for you to submit a credit card at the time of renting the car.

Prepaid debit cards, money orders, and gift cards can also often be used for your final payments.

When attempting to use a debit card always make sure that the debit card can be used for the type of purpose you need whether it is identification or final payment.

You can do this by contacting the specific pick up location.

Rental car companies that accept cash

Enterprise

Many Enterprise branches will not accept cash payments for initiating a rental.

However, you can find some branches that will accept a cash or money order at the end of the rental for your final payment.

If you are renting from an airport location within the United States, most likely cash will not be accepted. However, you still may be able to use a debit card.

In that case, you will likely need to show a ticketed return travel itinerary that coincides with your rental timeframe.

If you are renting from a non-airport location within the United States debit cards and other forms of payment (possibly cash) will be accepted subject to certain conditions.

In these scenarios, you will need to contact the local rental branch in order to verify that they will accept a non-credit card payment. You can find out contact information here.

You can expect to have to supply documentation which may include the following:

Two current utility bills (water bill, gas bill, or an internet/cable bill)
Your most recent paycheck stub
A minimum deposit plus the entire cost of the rental at the time of pickup.
Proof of insurance
Personal references

You can find out more information here.

Hertz

Hertz will allow cash rentals but they will also require an upfront cash deposit and require customers to have obtained a cash deposit identification card.

To qualify for a rental, Hertz will accept debit cards that have a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover logo and withdraw funds directly from the cardholders account.

However, you will have to provide additional documentation in many cases.

At airport locations, you will need to provide proof of a return airline flight that coincides with the rental and also present to different forms of valid identification.

If you are renting from locations outside of airports you can use a debit card at the start of the rental but you will be required to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance, you must be at least 25 years old, have a corporate discount plan number listed in the reservation or proof of return trip travel ticket to coincide with your rental dates, and present two forms of valid identification.

In certain areas, debit cards may not be accepted at the outset of the rental and these include areas such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut along with Philadelphia, Boston, Manchester, Detroit, Baltimore, and Atlanta.

To use a debit card as a payment for your rental you will have to abide by additional requirements, which could trigger at the outset of your rental.

In some cases, the location will perform a credit check which could be a hard pull on your credit report. You will have to meet the minimum credit criteria which is not officially published.

You will have to have available funds to cover the estimated charges and also an additional authorization of up to $200 depending on the location, length and date of the car rental.

If you are trying to make a debit card payment at airport locations, in addition to a valid drivers license you will need to present one of the following forms:

An additional credit card or debit card embossed with the same name as the driver’s license.
A Government issued ID, in the same name as the driver’s license and debit card:
- Passport – United States or Foreign Country Issued
- United States Military Identification Card
Non-government form of ID, example that may be accepted includes photo store member card (Costco, Sam’s, etc.), a company ID badge with photo. Only acceptable if the photo and name matches the driver’s license and the debit card. Current month Utility statement in the renter’s name and the same address as on the driver’s license (e.g., gas, electric, cable bill).

To find out more about paying for your rentals with cash or debit cards click here.

Avis

You likely will not be able to rent a car with cash but you might be able to pay for your rental with cash depending on the rental location.

Most US Avis locations will accept debit cards as long as you meet their minimum criteria to rent.

This means that you need to be at least 25 years old, have a valid drivers license, and an acceptable driving record.

It’s possible that they might ask you for additional documentation which could include an additional form of ID, an international drivers permit, or an electronic DMV check.

You can find out more about these requirements here.

A hold will usually be placed on your account for at least the estimated cost of the rental. During this time these funds will not be made available to you.

Avis does NOT require a deposit to reserve a car.

Some vehicle types cannot be rented with debit cards.Typically, these would be premium car rentals.

Also, in certain locations debit cards will not be accepted at the time of rental for any vehicles. These include locations in the New York tri-state area, Philadelphia, Mississippi and Louisiana as well as some other locations across the country.

You should be allowed to make your final payment with a debit card at the end of your rental car period.

In addition, they will likely even accept prepaid debit and gift cards as a form of final payment.

You can find out more about their payment policy here.

National

Cash is not accepted as a deposit at the beginning of a rental for any location. Many locations may not accept cash at any time due to security reasons.

Debit cards are accepted for rentals if they have a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover logo.

If you are renting from an airport location, the debit card deposit may only be accepted at the time of rental if it is accompanied by a ticket and return travel itinerary.

If you do not have a return travel itinerary you will need to provide a credit card with sufficient funds to cover the cost of the rental in addition to a $200 holding fee.

When it comes to payments, National will accept many different forms of payments.

In the US, you will often be able to make a final payment with a gift card or a prepaid card. In addition, money orders will be excepted as a form of payment.

Cash may not be accepted even for a final payment.

Alamo

Cash is not accepted as a deposit at the beginning of a rental for any location. In addition, due to security reasons, many locations will not accept cash at any time.

For car rentals, debit cards with a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover logo will be accepted.

At airport locations, debit card deposits will only be accepted at the time of the rental if they are also accompanied by a ticket in return travel itinerary.

If you do not have a return travel itinerary you will need to provide a credit card with sufficient funds to cover the cost of the rental in addition to a $200 holding fee.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Budget

You may not use cash for a rental deposit at the time of renting. However, when you return your vehicle you may pay for the final rental costs with cash.

You are allowed to rent a car with a debit card at many different Budget locations across the US.

You will need to be at least 25 years old and be prepared to have an authorized hold placed on your account for the duration of your rental car reservation.

If you are renting from an airport location, there’s a good chance that you need to show a boarding pass as well as a proof of return flight at that airport location.

Because some budget rental car branches will not accept a debit card at the time of reservation, you should always call ahead to make sure that they will except it.

The type of cards excepted include:

American Express
Budget Charge Card
Budget International
Discover
JCB/Japan Card
MasterCard
Optima
PHH
Visa

Just like with cash, you should be able to pay for your rental car with a debit card. In fact, you may even have the option to pre-pay for your rental online with a debit card.

Just note that some locations may still require a credit card at the time of pick up even though you will be allowed to pay for the rental car with your debit card.

Dollar

If you want to rent a car with cash, it is possible with Dollar.

You will have to make an up front deposit that is only acceptable from rental car customers who have obtained a cash deposit identification card.

You can find the application for a cash deposit ID card here. Applicants must be at least 20 years old in most states and the process can take up to 30 days.

There is also a $15 nonrefundable processing fee which helps to offset the cost of having a credit check performed.

You should be able to use a debit card to rent a car at US locations.

They will not perform a credit check but you will need to make sure you have available funds on your debit card and that you can cover and authorization of $200.

As long as your debit card is issued under a Visa, MasterCard, Discover logo and draws funds directly from your linked bank account and the rental was made 24 hours prior to vehicle pick up you should be good.

If the reservation was not made 24 hours prior to pick up or you are renting a premium or luxury vehicle, you can still use a debit card but you will have to meet additional requirements such as: showing two forms of identification and showing a proof of return travel ticket that coincides with your rental. This could be either an airline or cruise ticket for example.

Debit cards will be accepted for Dollar express rewards members as a form of payment.

Thrifty

Thrifty will also allow cash rentals but they will also require an upfront cash deposit and require customers to have obtained a cash deposit identification card.

Debit cards are excepted for rentals but the rental must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. If the rental is not booked that far in advance, additional policies apply.

You should be able to use a debit card with a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover logo.

Thrifty will also allow you to pay with a debit card or even a prepaid card when you return the vehicle.

Keep in mind that at the time of the rental, there likely will be a hold on your debit card to cover the estimated rental charges and any additional fees that might be incurred. There may also be an additional $200 hold put on your card as well.

Final word

As you can see there are different policies for using cash or debit cards for car rentals.

For most companies, a debit card can be used for a car rental but may require you to submit additional documentation. Debit cards and other forms of payment are often allowed for the final payment of your car rental as well.

A minority of rental car companies will accept cash payments but they will likely require you to submit a cash deposit identification card and subject yourself to a credit check.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.

Unlimited Miles For Rental Cars? Here’s Which Companies Offer No Limits [2022]

Are you thinking about renting a car for an epic road trip but worried about limits on your mileage? You might be surprised to find out that rental car companies are a lot more flexible than you imagined when it comes to unlimited miles.

Our research team reviewed data points in various locations around the country for the major rental car companies to find out what the mileage limit policies were like. Keep reading below to find out what the results show and to see some real-life data points of mileage limits.

Do rental car companies offer unlimited miles?

Yes, many rental car companies will offer you unlimited miles for your rental but there are some exceptions for certain types of vehicles. Generally speaking, a standard rental will have unlimited miles but if you are trying to rent exotic vehicles or certain types of premium automobiles, you might be subject to mileage limits.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What are the mileage limits like?

The mileage limits are going to vary based on the location and vehicle but often for exotic vehicles it will be limited to something like 200 or 300 miles.

If you go beyond the mileage limits then you will be subject to a charge that is based on your mileage. For example, you could be charged $.50 per mile for every mile that you went joyriding over the limit.

Sometimes these charges can be even higher and you might find yourself paying around one dollar per mile that you go above the limit, so things can get pretty pricey.

So exactly what type of vehicles qualify as exotic or premium?

Exotic vehicles, also referred to as “dream cars,” may include any of the following:

Jaguar F-TYPE R
Maserati GranTurismo
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Porsche Boxster
Tesla Model S
Aston Martin Vantage
Audi A5 Coupe
Chevrolet Corvette

Basically if the vehicle is rare, expensive, or just fancy there is a good chance it will be considered an exotic vehicle.

Meanwhile, when you are talking about premium vehicles subject to mileage limits you are usually dealing with large SUVs. Sometimes only premium SUVs such as a Cadillac Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon Denali XL, Lincoln Navigator L, or Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class are included but other times the limitations may apply to standard SUVs.

One major exception to the unlimited mileage custom is when booking through Turo.

Turo is a marketplace that allows you to book vehicles owned by other people. It is sort of the Airbnb of rental cars. You can expect many users to set mileage limits on the rental vehicles on that platform for almost every rental but on occasion you will see an option for unlimited miles.

And this makes sense. Would you want a stranger running up thousands of miles on your vehicle?

We found that the mileage limits were actually higher than those set by rental car companies for exotic vehicles. So instead of a 200 mile limit you might see something like a 400 or 500 mile limit.

The other difference with Turo is that the charges per mile beyond the set limit are usually much lower than rental car companies. For example, you may only have to pay $.15 per mile versus $1 per mile.

So if you are thinking about booking a vehicle that will be subject to mileage limitations, you might want to seriously consider Turo.

Taking rental cars across state lines

In addition to a lack of mileage requirements, you can also usually travel to different states with your rental car. So if you are planning an epic road trip to the Southwest and hitting up states like Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, there may be no problem.

A few things to note though.

Some locations will impose limitations on interstate travel.

For example, if you are renting from Las Vegas you may only be able to visit neighboring states.

Also, note that some states like Hawaii may have rental car companies that restrict you from going from island to island. And if you are renting from a state like Alaska you might have to remain in the state.

The thing you need to be on the lookout for is drop off fees. If you are not doing a loop and plan on just doing a one-way trip there is a good chance you’ll get hit with a hefty drop off fee.

If you were planning to drive to Canada you probably will be allowed to do that but you should obviously check with your rental car company first. Sometimes certain types of vehicles won’t be allowed to travel into Canada such as exotic vehicles.

Now that you have an overview of how the mileage limits work, check out some of the data points below from different rental car companies and various locations in the United States.

Enterprise

New York, NY

Manhattan Greenwich Village: Unlimited miles included
New York JFK International Airport: Unlimited miles included
JFK International Airport Exotics: 200 miles included, over 200 miles @ $ 0.99 / Mile
Midtown Manhattan Times Square: Unlimited miles included

Austin, TX

Downtown Austin: Unlimited miles included
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: Unlimited miles included
Austin Ben White & I-35: Unlimited miles included
Austin Exotics: 300 miles included, over 300 miles @ $ 0.50 / Mile

Nashville, TN

Downtown Nashville: Unlimited miles included except premium SUV
Nashville International Airport: Unlimited miles included
Nashville West End: Unlimited miles included except premium SUV

National

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles International Airport: Unlimited miles included
Burbank Bob Hope Airport: Unlimited miles included
Long Beach Airport: Unlimited miles included
Anaheim Resort District: Unlimited miles included except elite vehicles, 200 included, over 200 miles @ $ 0.99 / Mile

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City Will Rogers Airport: Unlimited miles included

Alamo

Chicago, IL

Chicago Loop W. LaSalle St.: Unlimited miles except full SUV, 500 miles, over 500 miles @ $ 0.25 / Mile
Chicago Midway International Airport: Unlimited miles included
Chicago O’Hare International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Fort Worth, TX

Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Boston, MA

Downtown Boston: Unlimited miles included
Boston Logan International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Hertz

Houston, TX

Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport: Unlimited miles included except dream cars, 150 miles, over 150 @ $ 0.75 / Mile
Houston Hobby Airport: Unlimited miles included
Houston – Galleria Houston: Unlimited miles included
Houston – Gulf Freeway: Unlimited miles included

Columbus, OH

John Glenn Columbus International Airport: Unlimited miles included
Columbus – Billingsley: Unlimited miles included
Columbus – Columbus West: Unlimited miles included
Columbus – Easton: Unlimited miles included

Portland, OR

Portland Oregon International Airport: Unlimited miles included
Portland – South East Stark: Unlimited miles included
Portland – Southwest Pine: Unlimited miles included

Avis

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport: Unlimited miles included
Central Phoenix: Unlimited miles included except standard SUV 300 miles, over 300 @ $ 0.22 / Mile
Tempe: Unlimited miles included except standard SUV 300 miles, over 300 @ $ 0.22 / Mile
Pavilions at Talking Stick Shopping Ctr: Unlimited miles included except standard SUV 300 miles, over 300 @ $ 0.22 / Mile

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Downtown: Unlimited miles included
Indianapolis Intl Airport: Unlimited miles included
Indianapolis – Keystone Avenue: Unlimited miles included except standard elite SUV 300 miles, over 300 @ $ 0.26 / Mile
East Indianapolis: Unlimited miles included except standard elite SUV 300 miles, over 300 @ $ 0.26

El Paso, TX

El Paso Intl Airport: Unlimited miles included
Desert Passage Center – East El Paso: Unlimited miles included except premium SUV 300 miles, over 300 @ $ 0.22 / Mile

Budget

Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Intl Airport: Unlimited miles included
Amtrak 30th St Train Station: Unlimited miles included
Northeast Philadelphia: Unlimited miles included

Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque – Pan American Fwy: Unlimited miles included
Albuquerque Intl Sunport: Unlimited miles included
Fiesta Crossing Shopping Ctr: Unlimited miles included

Las Vegas, NV

Gold Key Shops Center Strip: Unlimited miles included
Mccarran Intl Airport: Unlimited miles included
Las Vegas Across From Orleans: Unlimited miles included

Dollar

San Antonio, TX

San Antonio International Airport: Unlimited miles included

San Francisco, CA

Oakland International Airport: Unlimited miles included
San Francisco International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Detroit, MI

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport: Unlimited miles included

Thrifty

San Diego, CA

San Diego International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Seattle, WA

Seattle Downtown: Unlimited miles included

Memphis, TN

Memphis International Airport: Unlimited miles included

Turo

Dallas, TX

Tesla Model S 2018: 400 miles included, $ 0.42 / Mile
Toyota Camry 2016: 400 miles included, $ 0.16 / Mile
Ford Mustang 2016: 500 miles included, $ 0.18 / Mile
Chevrolet Corvette 2017: 400 miles included, $ 0.80 / Mile

Denver, CO

Tesla Model X 2020: 400 miles include, $ 0.95 / Mile
Subaru Outback 2011: 500 miles included, $ 0.15 / Mile
BMW 3 Series 2013: Unlimited miles included
Jeep Wrangler 2016: 400 miles included, $ 0.37 / Mile

Lewisville, KY

Maserati Ghibli 2018: 400 miles included, $ 0.65 / Mile
Cadillac Escalade 2017: 400 miles included, $ 0.64 / Mile
Honda Accord 2018: 600 miles included, $ 0.15 / Mile
Ford F-150 2020: 400 miles included, $ 0.42 / Mile

Silver Car

San Jose, CA

Unlimited miles included

Highland Park, IL

Unlimited miles included

Charlotte, NC

Unlimited miles included

Final word

As you can tell by all of the data points that we found, it is extremely common for standard rental vehicles to have unlimited miles. The only time where you usually get hit with mileage limits is when you are renting an exotic vehicle or some type of large SUV. The other exception is when you are booking through some type of market place where users can set mileage limits.

Daniel Gillaspia

How to Get an International Driving Permit (AAA/AATA Application) [2020]

Are you preparing for an international trip where you want to hit the road and explore? Taking road trips through foreign countries is one of the best ways to explore and is simply exhilarating at times. However, before anyone ever hands you over keys to your rental car, you might need to have an international driving permit.

In this article, I will explain the process for obtaining an international driving permit and give you some details about my own personal experience with getting an international driving permit. I’ll go over the requirements for getting a driving permit with AAA and AATA, and I’ll also show you a list of countries that honor these international driving permits along with some tips for renting cars in foreign countries.

What is an international driving permit?

An international driving permit is a special permit that allows you to legally drive and rent vehicles in many different countries around the world — it is most often used in conjunction with your US license.

It is also a recognizable form of identification which can help you communicate with foreign authorities. Personally, I like to have my passport on hand at all times. However, some people don’t like to carry their passports around and an international driving permit could be a great alternative form of identification.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Why do I need an international driving permit?

The reasons for needing an international driving permit could vary.

For example, some countries require you to have a local translation of your license in which case an international driving permit will provide them with that — it translates your identification information into 10 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, Arabic, Italian, Swedish and Portuguese).

Other countries require you to have an international driving permit if you want to rent a vehicle. And some countries will only acknowledge an international driving permit and will not allow your US driver’s license to carry any weight.

By getting an international driving permit, you have a solution to avoid all of these issues if and when they arise.

Does it provide rental car insurance?

Getting an international driving permit will not provide you with any type of car insurance. For those looking to get coverage for rental car accidents, I highly recommend going with a credit card that offers primary rental car coverage.

One of the best cards for rental car coverage is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. You can read about the rental car coverage details here.

If you don’t go the credit card route, then you should look into signing up for rental car coverage whenever you rent a vehicle. Your auto insurance may also have options for coverage when renting vehicles at home and abroad so you should also look into those.

How to get an international driving permit

If you have a US driver’s license, there are two ways for you to get an international driving permit.

You can get them issued by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) — these are the only two entities authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue international driving permits.

In this article, I will focus mostly on the AAA route because that is what I have experience with and I think a lot of people are more familiar with AAA. Also, with AAA you can get your international driving permit much quicker because you can visit an AAA office and walk out with it that same day.

Note that it is currently not possible to process your application online for any of these organizations.

AAA international driving permit application form

To get an AAA international driving permit this is all you will need to do:

Download and fill out an application and bring it (or mail it) to your nearest AAA branch office.
Provide two original passport-type pictures.
Provide a valid U.S. driver’s license.
Pay the $20 USD permit fee

If you are looking for AAA branch offices you can find locations here. If you would like to mail in your application you can mail your application to your nearest AAA branch office or to headquarters at this address:

AAA/IDP
1000 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746
Attn: Mail Stop #28

AAA application

You can find the application for an AAA international driving permit here. In order to qualify for an application you will need to have a US driver’s license and to be at least 18 years of age.

On the application, you will just need to provide some basic information, such as your name, address, email address, and phone number. You will also need to select the type of permit that you are applying for, which is the international driving permit.

And then you will need to check the box for the type of vehicle that you are registering. This is the same type of vehicle that you have a current US driver’s license for.

Here are some other things to note:

Your U.S. driver’s license must be valid for at least 6 months past the issuance date of the ID.
You will need to attach two passport-type photographs with your signature on the back.
If mailing in your application, you’ll need to send in a photocopy of both sides of your U.S. Driver’s License along with your completed signed application, and check or money order only.
The international driving permit must come into effect within six months of your application.

If you are paying in branch the acceptable forms of payment could be check, cash, or credit card. Not every branch will accept all of those payment methods though so my advice would be to call ahead and verify what forms of payment are excepted at that particular branch. Some branches might even be able to take your passport photo for you so you can inquire about that as well.

Expiration

The permit will be valid for one year and will only be valid in conjunction with a current US driver’s license. So if your driver’s license expires in eight months then your international driving permit will no longer be valid after eight months.

This is why I recommend not getting an international driving permit until you have firm travel plans.

Some rental car companies can be very strict about the expiration requirement so don’t assume that you will be able to get by if your US driver’s license expired. We once had a rental car company try to refuse us our rental car because he stated that our driver’s license was expired. It turns out that he was just reading the date wrong because he was not accustomed to US dates with the month-date-year format.

AAA international driving permit application form.

How long does it take to process?

If you’re going into an AAA office to get your international driving permit, then you can walk out that same day with your permit. This is why I recommend going the AAA route because it is just simply much quicker and convenient.

If you mailed your application, then it could take a few weeks to get your international drivers permit. If you are in a time crunch, then you might want to consider expediting your shipping which is possible but you will have to pay the expediting fees.

American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

If you would like to process your international driving permit with American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) this is what you will need:

Completed and signed application form
Two color passport-type photos
Signed photocopy of the front and back of your valid US driver’s license
Payment which can be check or money order (the fee is $20)

Mail your completed IDP application package to:

American Automobile Touring Alliance

P.O. Box 24980

San Jose, CA 95154

Since you cannot visit an office branch you will need to pay the shipping costs as well. Shipping for a normal domestic application is $11 and $35 for an expedited shipping. If you need your application shipped internationally that will cost you $85. Another thing I like about the AAA application is that you don’t have to pay for shipping to get your license unless you want it expedited.

American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) form.

What countries honor international driving permits?

Here is the list of countries that will likely honor the international driving permit. Note that these are subject to change and these are not necessarily countries that will require a permit.

(To find out which countries require a permit, I recommend you doing up-to-date online research since things are always changing and when in doubt just get the permit).

Afghanistan
Albania Algeria Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia
Botswana
Brazil (Inter-American Driving Permit only)
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina
Faso (was upper Volta)
Cambodia (was Kampuchea)
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde Islands
Cayman Islands
Central African Rep. Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Rep. of (Brazzaville) Congo
Dem. Rep. of (Kinshasa)
Costa Rica
Cote d´Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Rep. Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Domincan Rep.
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France (including French overseas territories)
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Herzegovina
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea (Rep.)
Kuwait
Kyrgystan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
San Marino
Sao Tome & Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay (Inter-American Driving Permit only)
Uzbekistan
Vatican City (Holy See)
Venezuela
Vietnam
Western Samoa
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Some countries may require registration fees and be subject to other limitations. Always do research to make sure that you’re getting the most up-to-date information.

Rental car in Norway under the northern lights.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What if I am already overseas?

If you are already overseas you can still obtain an international driving permit. You can mail your completed application to the following office and address:

AAA/IDP
1000 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746
Attn: Mail Stop #28

Note that it will likely take longer for this type of permit to process. AAA states to allow 4-6 weeks for return mail unless additional postage for express mail service is included with the application. You can read more here.

Scams

Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers out there who are trying to sell international driving permits. Some of these are outright scams where you will not receive any kind of valid license or permit.

Others out there will charge exorbitant fees for processing your application. That’s why I would stick with just trying to get your permit through AAA or AATA because I think that is the easiest route to go.

9 Tips for renting cars in foreign countries

We really like to go for drives whenever we travel and we have rented cars in a lot of different countries. Along the way we have learned a few things and I’ll share some of those tips here.

Research the level of madness to expect

I would never rent a vehicle in another country without first researching what the “road experience” might entail. Some countries like Jamaica for example are unexpectedly pretty wild on the road.

The last thing you want to do is be in over your head with a rental vehicle so try do so some research and ask around in forums to determine the level madness that you might expect in the streets. If you want to check out what countries have the most dangerous roads due to traffic accidents, check out this map here.

Try to avoid driving in small historic towns

There are a lots of beautiful historic villages in the world and many of them are best explored on foot. Some places that we have explored that would fall in this category are Toledo, Spain or Old Town Lisbon, Portugal.

These type of places can be very stressful to try to drive through with their super narrow and winding roads. Thus, I would try to avoid driving in these type of historic places and just explore them on your feet.

Have multiple GPS systems

When you are driving through a foreign country in a new city I recommend that you have multiple GPS systems. Typically, we get a rental car with GPS in the car but we also rely on phones/apps. One of my favorite apps is called Maps.me and of course Waze.

Sometimes one of the GPS systems goes haywire and we have to rely on the other one to navigate. Having both of them running at the same time often makes it much less stressful to get where we need to go when one fails.

Research parking (before you head out)

Parking can be a major issue when traveling abroad. In fact, a lot of times finding a parking spot can be 10 times more stressful than actually driving in the country. Thus, before you go to any heavily visited spot or even a secluded beach, you should do research on what the parking experience would be like.

If you can’t find any reviews in blogs or forums, then try to take a look at Google Maps and see if you can visualize potential parking spots. The more open you are to walking a little bit of distance, the easier it will usually be to find a reliable parking spot.

Also, don’t assume the parking machines/meters will be in English!

Which side of the road? (Don’t under-estimate)

Obviously, you need to know which side of the road to drive on before you embark on your road trip. I have to be honest, I have tried to drive on the other side of the road but it is very difficult for me especially when it comes to things like busy roundabouts. My brain starts to play tricks on me and it is just a really uncomfortable experience.

Luckily, my husband is a fantastic driver and we lived abroad in the UK for a while and driving on the other side of the road became second nature for him. In fact, it was never really difficult for him at all.

I bring this up only to say that if you have never driven on the other side of the road don’t under-estimate how difficult it might be. You might be like my husband and not have issues or it might be very difficult — just have a back up plan and try to rent an automatic vehicle to make things easier.

Here is a map of which side of the road people drive on.

Tolls

You need to be aware of whether or not you’re going to hit any tolls. Some countries will allow you to rent a car with a transponder in the car that registers each time you pass through a tollbooth. This allows your credit card to be automatically charged or for a bill to be sent to you.

I recommend always trying to go this route because it is just much easier as some countries have some very tedious processes for toll charges. Try to do your best research to make sure that you’re not getting overcharged, though.

Don’t get caught on camera

Some countries use cameras to catch perpetrators in the act of speeding or violating other traffic laws. Don’t assume that you would not be caught just because you are on a highway with nobody around. Always act as if you might be getting monitored by some sort of camera system and just drive extra cautious.

Checkpoints

Some countries have checkpoints located at or near borders for just throughout their country. Try to remain calm when making your way to these checkpoints and always have your passport and license and international driving permit easily retrievable so that you can breeze through these checkpoints. It also helps if you have a sheet printed out with the name and address of where you are staying and your departure and arrival dates.

Scour your vehicle before you return it

On a recent trip to New Zealand, I left my wallet in a rental car, and it did not occur to me that my wallet was still in the car until it was close for our departure time and so I was not able to run back and retrieve it. I ended up having to wait many many weeks for my wallet to arrive in the mail, so leaving things in your vehicle can take a long time to get back.

Thus, I recommend that you do a complete sweep of the vehicle before you return it. Double and triple check that you have all of your necessary documents like your passport, international driving permit, and wallet. And check things like the middle console and the glove compartment so that you do not leave anything behind.

Final word

I hope that the advice in this article will help you to easily obtain your international driving permit. It really is a pretty straightforward process to get the permit, and it just makes things much easier whenever you are trying to rent vehicles abroad. Also consider the tips that I have offered at the end of this article to make your next rental car experience much smoother.

Daniel Gillaspia

Guide to Rental Car Age Requirements (Under 25 & 21) [2020]

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to rent a car under the age of 25? Well, you might be surprised to find out that it is possible to rent vehicles at the age of 21 and even at the age of 18 in some states.

What exactly is the catch?

Well, for starters you will have to pay additional fees for being a “young renter” and you also will have certain restrictions for different vehicles that you’re not able to rent. In this article, I will walk you through everything you need to know as a young renter, which is usually considered to anybody under 25.

The policies are a little bit different for each rental car company but I’ll highlight the policies for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Silvercar. I will also provide some examples of the fees you can expect to pay for each rental car company.

How old do you need to be to rent a car?

Generally speaking you will need to be 20 or 21 years old to rent a car in the US. If you are between the ages of 20 to 24, you will likely be subject to the additional young renter’s fee.

There are some exceptions for those in New York and Michigan and in those states some rental car companies will rent to 18 year olds but you will have to pay even higher young renter’s fees. There are also exceptions for government employees who can rent at 18 years of age and avoid fees.

Below, I will discuss the age requirements for different rental companies here in the US and show you how much you might expect to pay in fees if you are considered a young driver.

You usually need to be 21 years old to hit the road.

How much are the young renter fees?

The young renter fees vary based on the rental car company that you go through. They also might depend on your specific age range and location. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 per day.

If you are driving with someone 25 years or older, you might be able to get around these if you have them become the primary driver with the vehicle, so always keep that in mind. Also, you might be able to avoid these fees if you are an AAA member.

Tip: Use WalletFlo to help show you which credit cards to use to maximize your points for purchases like rental cars. WalletFlo will also help you track and manage annual fees, credits, etc. It’s free and very user-friendly so you should definitely check it out.

Why do younger renters have to pay more?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers who are younger than 25 are significantly more likely to get into accidents than older drivers. After age 25, the per-driver crash rate declines dramatically.

By forcing young renters to pay more, there will be fewer young renters on the road and they will be able to contribute to covering these losses more by paying the extra fees.

Documents needed

Young renters will be subject to the same requirements for documents that other renters have to comply with.

Renters must present a valid, acceptable credit card (debit cards are usually not permitted) and a valid driver’s license both in the renter’s name. Some rental car companies might also require your license to have been in good standing for at least one year.

Note: If you want to secure a rental with cash or a debit card there may be extra stringent age requirements. Read more about those here.

Alamo

Alamo will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24 and fees will vary but should be comparable to the rates below for other rental car companies. In one sample booking, I found the young renter fees to be $20 per day.

Michigan

The minimum age is 18 years of age.
A $40.00 per day additional charge applies to 18-20 aged renters.
A $25.00 per day additional charge applies to 21-24 aged renters.

New York

The minimum age is 18 years of age.
A $57.00 per day additional charge applies to 18-20 aged renters.
A $20.00 per day additional charge applies to 21-24 aged renters.

Government personnel

U.S. military personnel and government employers ages 18 or older will not incur a young driver surcharge when renting for authorized government travel.

Restrictions

Certain specialty and larger sized vehicles may not be rented to drivers under the age of 25.

Avis

Avis will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24. For Avis, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 is an additional $27-per-day in the U.S. and $35 per day in Canada for drivers 21-24. You can find the fee by looking for the underage surcharge on the breakdown of your price.

Michigan

Michigan, will continue its minimum rental age of 18 with a $41-per-day surcharge for customers between the ages of 18-20 and a $28-per-day surcharge for customers between the ages of 21-24.

New York

In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 with a $52-per-day surcharge for renters age 18-20 and a $35-per-day underage surcharge for renters age 21-24.

Canada

In Quebec, the minimum age to rent car groups A, B, C, D & E is 21 with an under age fee of $20 per day for renters age 21-24. For all other car groups, the minimum age is 25.
In Saskatchewan, the minimum age is 18. No underage fee applies.

Government personnel

Government Personnel (civilian or military) minimum age policy is as follows:

For Personnel (FEMA, U.S. Postal Dept., Navy and Army) not using the Government Leisure Pass, minimum age is
* 18 years (No underage surcharge will apply) with Government Travel or Purchase order
* 21 years (No underage surcharge will apply) without Travel or Purchase order

When using the Government Leisure Pass the renter is subject to underage fees as specified by the renting location.

Restrictions

Renters between the ages of 21-24 may not rent vehicles in the following car classes:

Full-Size SUVs
Luxury
Minivans
Passenger Vans
Premium SUVs
Signature Series

Budget

Budget will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24. For Budget, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 is an additional $27 per day in the U.S. and $35 per day in Canada for drivers 21-24. Once again, you can find the fee in the price breakdown under fees and taxes.

Restrictions

Drivers between the ages of 21-24 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs.

If a renter wishes to add an additional driver to the rental policy, the second driver must be 25 or older and present their valid driver’s license and credit card or, at some locations, a debit card is acceptable.
If you plan to pre-pay your rental and are under 25 years of age, underage charges will be added at the counter and will need to be paid at car return. Your prepayment amount will be used as a credit toward the final costs of the rental.

Michigan

In Michigan at corporate-operated locations, the minimum rental age is 18 with a valid, acceptable credit card and driver’s license, and an additional $41-per-day underage surcharge for drivers 18-20; $28-per-day for drivers 21-24 years old will be applied.

New York

In New York State at corporate-operated locations, the minimum rental age is 18 with a valid, acceptable credit card and driver’s license, and an additional $52-per-day underage surcharge for drivers 18-20; $35-per-day for drivers 21-24 years old will be applied. Drivers under the age 25 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs.

Enterprise

Enterprise will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24. For Enterprise, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 the average cost for the fee is approximately $20.00 per day but can be higher or lower based on the rental location.

Government personnel

A United States Government Employee can rent at 18 years of age, but must show the rental location his or her official orders.

Michigan

In Michigan, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $40.00 per day
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $25.00 per day

New York

In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $57.00 per day
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $20.00 per day

Hertz

Hertz will rent to young renters between the ages of 20-24. For Hertz, the young renter fee for ages 20 to 24 is approximately $29. Hertz is one of the only major rental car companies that rents to those who are only 20. (Thrifty is another rental car company that will rent to 20-year-olds.) The fee will show up in your price breakdown as the “age differential.”

They do require for you to have a valid driver’s license in good standing for over a year so if you just received your license, there could be some issues there.

Government personnel

Some United States Government Employees or military personnel can rent at 18 years of age, but must show the rental location official orders.

Michigan and New York

In both the states of Michigan and New York, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state government.

How can you avoid an Under 25 Car Rental Fee?

A popular way to avoid an Under 25 Car Rental Fee is to join certain membership programs. For example, at Hertz, they have a partnership with AAA. As an AAA member between the age of 20 and 24, the young driver fee is not applied if you meet standard rental qualifications. The AAA membership application can be found here.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Restrictions

Hertz renters under the age of 25 may rent any car except those from the Dream Cars, Prestige, and Adrenaline collections, and certain specialty vehicles.

Thrifty

As mentioned above, Thrifty is another rental car company that will rent to 20-year-olds. The young renter fee for ages 20 to 24 is approximately $25 to $35 depending on the location.

In order to rent, you will need a valid drivers license that has been in good standing for over a year. You also need to have a valid debit card or credit card and the name on the card will need to match your license.

Michigan and New York

In both the states of Michigan and New York, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state government.

National Car Rental

National car rental will rent to customers between the ages of 20-24. For National, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 is approximately $20. You can click on the price breakdown to see the exact fee.

If you wish to know the cost of the ‘Young Renter Fee’ you may begin the reservation process to determine the exact amount of the fee for the location (please remember you will have the option to confirm or cancel the reservation).

Michigan

In Michigan, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $40.00 per day.
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Driver Fee’ of $25.00 per day.

New York

In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $57.00 per day.
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Driver Fee’ of $20.00 per day.

Government personnel

– A US Government Employee can rent at 18 years of age, but must show the renting office his or her official orders. For more information on government travel, click here

Restrictions

Renters 21 through 24 years of age may be restricted to specific car classes.

Silvercar

Silvercar states that “drivers must be 22 years old (18 years old in New York with a $75 a day surcharge) by the time of their rental. Silvercar will validate the driver’s license of all customers on their first rental. This is a one time step you will not have to complete on subsequent rentals unless your driver’s license has expired or changed (i.e. name change, issuing state, etc.).”

Silvercar offers more luxurious vehicles for their rentals so it is no surprise that they have one of the higher age limits of 22.

Can 17 year olds rent vehicles?

I am not aware of any rental car company that allows for 17 year olds to rent cars.

Are there maximum age limits for rental cars?

Since there are minimum age requirements for rental cars you might be wondering if there are ever maximum age limits. In the US, it seems very uncommon or rare to find rental car companies that will prohibit you from renting a vehicle when you have reached a maximum age.

However, in countries around the world there might be age restrictions for rental vehicles — usually beginning around 70 to 75 years of age.

What about Europe?

In Europe, things are pretty similar. You will find quite a few countries that allow you to rent vehicles at the age of 21 and some even allow you to rent at the age of 18.

Just like in the USA, in some of those countries you will also have to pay a young renter’s fee if you are under the age of 25. You can read more about the age restrictions for rental cars here.

If you are planning on renting a car for an international trip, then you should consider applying for an international driving permit. To learn more a bout how to get an international driving permit, click here.

Final word

If you are under the age of 25, and you can expect to pay an additional young renter’s fee whenever you rent a vehicle. This fee will typically range from $20-$50 depending on your age and the location of the rental.

If you are an AAA member or if you are renting with someone 25 years or older, you might be able to get around the fees. And if you live in a special state like New York or Michigan you can get away with renting a vehicle at the age of 18.

Daniel Gillaspia

Amex Platinum Car Rental Benefits (Insurance & Elite Status) [2020]

The Amex Platinum is loaded with a host of benefits like lounge access, hotel elite status, and travel credits as well as a host of rental car benefits.

But what exactly are the Amex Platinum car rental benefits and how valuable are they?

This article will explain all of the different elite status benefits you should receive with your American Express Platinum Card as well as the car rental insurance policy that the card comes with.

Interested in finding out the top travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out!

What is the Amex Platinum car rental insurance policy?

The Amex Platinum comes with rental car insurance, also known as collision damage waiver (CDW), that will cover you up to $75,000 for 30 consecutive days. The coverage offered is secondary, which means that it covers what your insurance provider does not cover.

So if you were to get into a car accident, the Amex Platinum car rental insurance would still require you to file a claim with your car insurance provider. That’s a bad deal because it means that your monthly premium could go up and it’s just never fun to have to deal with insurance companies.

Compare the Platinum’s policy to the Chase Sapphire Reserve which offers primary rental car insurance for claims up to $75,000 for periods of 31 consecutive days.

Even the Chase Sapphire Preferred, with its low $95 annual fee, offers primary rental car coverage.

So the rental car coverage offered by the Platinum Card isn’t exactly its strongest selling point.

Who is covered by the Amex Platinum rental car insurance?

The following people will be provided with coverage:

You are a Basic Card Member or Additional Card Member
You were the person who signed the Rental Agreement
You maintain your Permanent Residence within the 50 United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands; and
You have fully activated coverage

This means that if you have a spouse or travel partner who is added as a driver who signed the rental agreement and you paid for the contract with your Platinum Card, they will be entitled to coverage just like you would be.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

How to activate coverage

Rental Vehicle is activated when:

1. You decline the full collision damage waiver (CDW) or similar option, or pay for a partial collision damage waiver, offered by the Rental Company;

2. You or the Authorized Driver is named on the Rental Agreement as the person renting and take control and possession of the Rental Vehicle; and

3. You use Your Account, American Express Membership Reward Points and/or American Express Pay with Points to hold or place a deposit at the time the rental is checked out and to pay for the entire rental from the rental company.

Coverage will not be activated if you pay for any portion of the Rental Vehicle by some other means.

So if you want the coverage offered by the Amex Platinum, make sure that you don’t split up the payment between multiple credit cards.

Amex Platinum rental car exclusions

There are certain types of vehicles not covered by the Platinum Card’s rental car policy.

Many of these exclusions are pretty standard but pay special attention to the bolded below — many people don’t realize that their rental coverage does not cover rentals in places Australia and Italy.

Vehicle exclusions

Cargo vans, custom vans, vans with a seating capacity over 8 passengers, cube van or box truck, or any truck that has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 lbs or more;
Rental Vehicles which have been customized or modified from the manufacturer’s factory specifications except for driver’s assistance equipment for the physically challenged
Any Rental Vehicles used by an Authorized Driver for commercial or hire purposes;
Leased or mini-leased vehicles
“Antique cars” which means cars that are 20 years old or have not been manufactured for 10 or more years;
Limousines;
Off-road vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, recreational vehicles, golf or motorized carts, campers, trailers and any other vehicle which is not a Rental Vehicle; and
Rental Vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and any country on the OFAC sanctioned country list.

Losses that are not covered

You also need to be aware that some types of losses that will NOT be covered.

Intentional Damage by an Authorized Driver of the Rental Vehicle
Damage that occurred prior to the Rental Period
Manufacturing defects in the Rental Vehicle
Confiscation by authority
Wear and tear, including gradual deterioration
Damage which is due and confined to freezing, mechanical or electrical breakdown or failure unless such Damage results from a Theft covered by the Plan
Theft or Damage to Rental Vehicles that are unlocked or not Secured at the time of Theft or Damage
Theft of or Damage to tires (flats or blowouts), unless Damaged by fire, malicious mischief, vandalism, or stolen, unless the loss is coincident with and from the same cause as other loss covered by the Plan
Damage to any vehicle other than the Rental Vehicle

How to file a claim

When it comes to filing your rental car insurance claim, you need to make sure that you keep all the documentation needed to support your claim and that you file your claim within 30 days.

Report and file your claim

If your claim involves any type of criminal activity (theft, damage, vandalism, etc.) then the incident must be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency as soon as reasonably possible.

This requirement applies regardless of whether the Rental Vehicle is involved with other vehicles. Failure to notify may result in denial of benefits.

You also need to file your notice of claim within thirty (30) days of the loss.

You or the Authorized Driver may contact the Company by calling toll-free stateside 1-800-338-1670 or, if from overseas, by calling collect 1-216-617-2500.

You can also write them at:

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance Claims Unit
PO Box 94729, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-4729

You may have to submit further documentation to show proof of loss. Make sure you adhere to the deadlines which require you to show proof of loss within 60 days.

Provide documents (if needed)

Other documents you may have to provide include:

An itemized repair bill
A copy of charge slip for the rental of the Rental Vehicle, Rental Agreement or machine generated receipt to show rental was charged and paid for with an American Express Card
A police report (if applicable)
Photos of the Damaged Rental Vehicle, if available
A copy of the Card Member’s, Authorized Driver’s or employer’s auto insurance coverage, or a notarized letter stating no insurance
A copy of all claim documents and correspondence
A copy of the Rental Company’s utilization log
A copy of the driver’s license of the Card Member and/or Authorized Driver, unless the driver’s license number shows on the Rental Agreement
A copy of the written Rental Agreement, front and back, which documents when the Rental Vehicle was checked out and checked in
Information pertaining to other available insurance coverage(s)

How to get primary rental car coverage

It is possible to get primary rental car coverage with the Amex Platinum.

However, you’ll have to pay extra (flat rate of $19.95 / $24.95 per rental period). It’s not terribly expensive to get primary rental car coverage and it even offers a higher coverage limit and longer coverage period (42 days), so it could be worth it.

You can read more about Amex car rental insurance and Amex travel insurance here.

Amex Platinum rental car elite benefits

With the Amex Platinum, you’ll get the following elite statuses:

These will offer you perks like special discounts, upgrades, and expedited service for picking up your vehicle.

Keep in mind there are other ways to save money on rental cars with sites like AutoSlash or other travel portals like Costco Travel — always consider your alternatives.

Avis Preferred status

Enjoy expedited service and go straight to your car at most locations.
Keep rental preferences on file and track your activity and rewards.
Exclusive monthly email offers.
Receive a free weekend rental certificate when you use code AWD#A756900 and rent twice within 6 months (first half or second half of the year).

Note: Avis Preferred is open to the general public so it’s not a “true elite” status.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

To unlock your Platinum Card Car Rental Privileges, include CDP #211762 in your Hertz reservation and pay with your Platinum Card.

If you are already a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards member simply add CDP #211762 to your profile.

Bypass the Counter

When you arrive, you’ll reach your car as quickly as possible, with expedited service at over 40 of the world’s largest airports if enrolled in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.

Bonus points

As a Platinum Card Member, you’ll get a 10% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points if enrolled in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.

Special Savings

The road seems just a little smoother with special savings for Platinum Card Members on the best available rates at participating locations worldwide.

Some discounts may be up to 25% off the contract prices.

Grace period

Receive a four-hour grace period on returns in the US.

Upgrade Your Drive

Once you’re ready to get on the road, you can do so in comfort and style, with perks including complimentary one-car-class upgrade based on availability.

Have a memorable weekend

Receive special savings for Platinum Card Members on weekend rental rates at participating locations for the Hertz Prestige Collection – high-end luxury vehicles that can transform any trip into a special one.

Be sure to look into Hertz status matches. You might be able to match your Executive status from National to a higher tier with Hertz.

National Emerald Club Executive status

The Executive status with National is the only “true” elite status offered by the Amex Platinum.

Priority Service

Get expedited services when renting in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Guaranteed Upgrades

You’re always guaranteed a free upgrade when you reserve using the Midsize rate (in US and Canada).

Drop & Go

With convenient email receipts, just drop off your car and go (if your car has not been damaged during the rental).

Executive Area Access

Choose any car (full size and above) in the Executive Area and only pay the mid size rate (in US and Canada).

Faster Free Rental Days

Earn 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental. Free Rental Day = 6 credits.

No Second Driver Fees (excluding rentals in Europe)

Never pay extra when family members and business associates do the driving.

Final word

The Platinum Card offers some decent rental car benefits but nothing extremely valuable.

Secondary rental car coverage doesn’t even compete with lower annual fee cards like the Sapphire Preferred. But the rental car elite status perks are pretty good, allowing you to receive things like expedited access and free upgrades.

So while these perks aren’t exactly deal breakers, I’d still do my best to take advantage of them.

Daniel Gillaspia

Should You Drive in Lisbon, Portugal? Probably Not.

Every once in a while, we find ourselves in a sticky situation. A situation where we’re not sure how we got there and would really like to get out. Driving in Lisbon, Portugal on a busy sunny weekend was one of those situations. If you are thinking about renting a car and driving through the streets of Lisbon then please consider the advice in this post.

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Driving in Lisbon

First, let me just say that I didn’t do any of the driving — our car was manual and I’ve yet to teach myself how to work such a thing so my SO Brad handled the wheel while I was busy recording footage out the window with our GoPro. Brad’s a very efficient and experienced driver. In fact, he’s one of the best drivers I know. With that said, driving through Lisbon was still an overall “nightmarish” experience for both of us.

Arriving in Lisbon

We first arrived in Lisbon from the south, over the 25 de Abril Bridge bridge — you know the beautiful bridge that looks exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It’s a hell of a way to make your entrance into Lisbon, with great views of the surrounding bay/river. Everything was pretty good up to that point. And really, things were still okay once we made it across the bridge.

Our first destination was to find Pasteis de Belem, so we turned west right off from the bridge. This area in Lisbon was totally tolerable from a traffic standpoint. While I found that they did drive quite aggressively in Lisbon, there wasn’t a very high concentration of crazy drivers or pedestrians in the west area of the city.

We even easily found open parking very near to Pasteis de Belem and were able to park our car and then walk about the area and admire some of the colorful architecture. It was still relatively early, about 10-11am, so the streets weren’t congested too bad, though the line at Pasteis de Belem was already waayyy out of the building.

After we had a little breakfast, we decided to check out the really interesting part of Lisbon: Old Town Lisbon. This is where all of the amazing castles, viewpoints, and awesome hills are. Little did we know, things were about to get really hectic.

The madness begins

As we began to approach the hilly side of Lisbon, the lanes became narrower and we soon found ourselves navigating a labyrinth of tight corners, alleyways, busy pedestrian crossings, clamoring cable cars, and tuk-tuks. The drivers became much more aggressive in this part of town. We got cut off, yelled at, honked at, and received a bunch of crazy stares as we fought for survival. It was every man or woman for themselves.

The thing was, this seemed like just another Saturday in Lisbon, not too much out of the ordinary. It was stressfull and pretty annoying but we still maintained our composure, at least for a while.

Things became a bit unravelled at one point when we got stuck behind a pile of cable cars that weren’t moving at all. The worst part: we were in the middle of a really busy intersection! Herds of pedestrians were weaving through the intersection, in front of us and in back so we couldn’t move. Cars were laying on their horns. Bells were ringing. People were shouting.

At this point, the honking and defensive gesturing had gone on long enough, so I jumped out of the car and actually started to direct traffic. Looking like Chris Pratt out of Jurassic World, I stood out in the middle of the street and forced pedestrians to hold and signaled for a line (yes, an entire of line of bumper-to-bumper vehicles that were behind us) of cars to back the f*** up and let us get out!

(It’s really too bad I didn’t have the GoPro running for all this.)

The crazy thing is that the people actually listened to me. One by one, the cars slowly moved back. The pedestrians waited patiently. And once there was as little as an inch for us to break free, we darted down some tight roads not even trying to get the GPS to work and just hoped to find somewhere where we would decompress (and maybe chug a pitcher or two of sangria). The only problem was that we needed to stop to do so and so our quest to find parking in Lisbon began.

We drove, and drove, and drove, looking for parking and found nothing! The parking lots were all full. And not just full, but jam-packed to the point that if you entered into a lot it was pretty much the land-of-no-return and you weren’t going to be able to get out. The streets were lined with vehicles for what seemed like miles. And what made it worse is the whole time you’re looking for non-existent parking, you’re also trying to avoid collisions with cable cars and a bunch of drivers who are zipping through the streets like they’re trying avoiding the policia.

A parallel parking spot, on a steep incline, with only enough room to fit a slim stack of Euros between the cars.

Calm area of Lisbon Portugal — A calm section of Old Town

However, we finally did find parking about a mile and a half further from where we were originally planning to park. Even this spot was a challenge. A parallel parking spot, on a steep incline, with only enough room to fit a slim stack of Euros between the cars. Luckily, we squeezed right in, half of our vehicle hanging up on the curb. The entire process had only lasted about an hour but it was the most stressful hour we’d experienced in Portugal by far.

Once we finally got out of our car we made sure to make the most of our time and resorted to walking everywhere so we didn’t have to go through that experience any longer. And while we weren’t able to catch a ride on a cable car, we did very much enjoy walking around the city — it’s definitely a great place to stroll around and with the hills and cable cars clamoring around, it reminded me of San Francisco.

So that was our driving experience in Lisbon…. I do want to say that we only spent one day driving in Lisbon so it could’ve been just a crazy day or we could’ve just gotten really unlucky and it may not always be so crazy. However, from other research that I’ve done, Lisbon just seems like a tough place to get around in a vehicle. With all that said here are a few pointers if you’re considering driving in Lisbon:

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Try to avoid driving in Old Town

Driving in the Algarve was fine and even driving outside of Old Town Lisbon was okay. Therefore, I recommend that if you must drive in Lisbon, try to park away from Old Town and then make your way into Old Town via cab, bus, tram, or just resort to walking.

Try to avoid weekend driving

It’s very possible that given the beautiful conditions and the fact that it was a Saturday, we were just asking for crazy conditions in Lisbon for driving. I know plenty of other cities that also become nightmares for parking and such on weekends, so maybe if you can swing driving in the middle of the week, it won’t be so bad?

Only try this if you know you can handle it

Only attempt driving in Old Town if you’re comfortable. For some, it may not be as bad of an experience. There are some areas that aren’t heavily congested and are a lot of fun to ride through. And even amidst all the pandemonium, looking back it was still kind of fun so if you like really adventurous stuff you might actually enjoy it a bit. However, if you’re the type who really doesn’t deal well with stressful driving conditions, then Old Town Lisbon is not the place for you to drive because those brief moments of calmness are outweighed by the craziness.

Be aggressive

Be aggressive. This is the only way you’re going to find parking and not have to waste a lot of time getting stuck because of inconsiderate drivers. If you’re from a part of the world where drivers regularly offer to give you room to pull out or to make your life a little easier, that’s likely not going to happen here.

Don’t rely too much on your navigation system

Don’t rely too much on your navigation system. Our navigation system, while rock-solid in the Algarve, was going mad due to the maze of streets we were trying to work through. It proved to pretty much be useless when we got to the really densely populated parts of Old Town. You’re better off relying on manual GPS tracking or even a paper map.

Remember where you’re parked

Take extra time to remember where you parked if you ended up finding a parking spot in some random side-alley among the maze of streets. It’s really easy to lose track of where you parked in those areas. And if you just really want to park in the one of the lots close to the famous lookout points located around the city then my suggestion is to make it to Old Town at like 8am and stake out your parking spot so that you can have it for the the day (assuming you can park there that long).

I hope I’m not making it sound like the Portuguese are A-holes because they were absolutely great people with an amazing culture. I think their driving, which was crazy to us, is simply “just the way they do things.” They’re not trying to be rude to you, so try not to take offense when you get cut off by car after car who feel no need to use their turn signal and just enjoy your time in Lisbon. After all, it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world, even if driving there is a bit absurd.

Booking.com

Daniel Gillaspia

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