The terms on Chase Sapphire Reserve car rental insurance benefit have changed for New York state residents: they are no longer eligible for “primary” car rental insurance coverage on US car rentals. They’ll still have standard car rental insurance coverage, similar to how most credit cards offer; just the special primary coverage that the Sapphire Reserve card always offered is changing for NY residents.
New York Residents, inside the United States coverage is primary unless you have personal automobile insurance in which case it is excess.
Interestingly, other cards like the Capital One Venture X and the U.S. Bank Altitude have apparently not made this change, and would still be a viable option for New York residents who want primary car rental coverage.
It’s also been noted that the new terms no longer have Ireland and other commonly excluded countries as being eligible for any rental car insurance benefit on the Sapphire Reserve card. Update: Readers are receiving letters of coverage from Chase which still include these countries, so it seems this change is not being enforced.
Summary:
- New York residents who rent a car anywhere in the USA are no longer eligible for primary coverage. The credit card will act as a backup for your regular auto insurance policy.
- New Yorkers who rent a car outside the USA should still have primary coverage.
- This change has no affect for New Yorkers who don’t have auto insurance; credit card auto insurance benefit will work as it has in the past.
- For Sapphire Reserve cardholders who reside outside New York state will continue to get primary coverage on all car rentals.
- Readers in the comments have verified that this change for New Yorkers is true not only on the Sapphire Reserve card, but also on the Sapphire Preferred, United Club, and Ritz cards.
- Update 10/13/24: Dansdeals adds that – even for New York residents – Chase business cards provide primary coverage in the US and internationally, but that coverage in the US is primary only if the rental is for business purposes.
Hat tip to reader Dan and also this Reddit thread
