In case you hire automobiles even a number of occasions a yr, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and costs) provide glorious advantages.
Each playing cards earn bonus factors on rental automobiles booked by Chase Journey℠, and cardholders can make the most of an annual $300 journey credit score and glorious insurance coverage protection.
Here is what makes a Sapphire Reserve card one of the best premium card for rental automobiles, how one can maximize its advantages and what wonderful print to bear in mind.
Why Sapphire Reserve playing cards are nice for renting automobiles
This previous June noticed the launch of the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise on the identical time the Sapphire Reserve was refreshed.
Three key advantages that make the Sapphire Reserve a wonderful alternative for rental automobiles embody:
- Incomes 8 factors per greenback spent whenever you e-book a automotive through Chase Journey
- Gaining access to major rental automotive insurance coverage whenever you decline an company’s collision harm waiver
- Reductions and perks with Avis, Hertz or Nationwide when reserving straight
Associated: Get monetary savings in your subsequent journey: Use these tricks to by no means pay full value for a rental automotive
E-book by Chase Journey for max bonus factors
Each Sapphire Reserve playing cards earn 8 factors per greenback spent on all Chase Journey purchases, together with rental automobiles. This is applicable to accounts opened on or after June 23 and for current cardholders beginning Oct. 26.
In my expertise, Chase Journey automotive rental costs are aggressive, typically decrease than different companies. Primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations, you will get a few 16.4% return.
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For instance, when looking for a rental automotive in Chicago, Chase affords an intermediate automotive by Hertz for $95 a day. You’d earn 3,016 Chase Final Rewards factors from this reserving, price about $62 primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations.
Compared, if I e-book straight with Hertz, the pay as you go price can be about $97 a day; nonetheless, the speed to pay later on the counter can be $135 a day. Chase Journey is barely cheaper, and, most significantly, it affords free cancellation by Oct. 11, whereas the direct reserving is nonrefundable after 24 hours.
Earlier than reserving with Chase Journey or straight with the rental company, take note of cancellation insurance policies or elite standing perks out there to you. It may possibly aid you decide which channel to e-book by.
I favor reserving by Chase Journey as a result of the 8 factors per greenback incomes price is superb. To not point out, the Sapphire Reserve solely earns 1 level per greenback spent on all different journey exterior of direct airline or lodge purchases, until you are an current cardholder who had an account earlier than June 23. In that case, you will earn 3 factors per greenback spent on all different journey till Oct. 25.
Maximize the $300 journey credit score
Each the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise additionally provide an annual $300 journey credit score. In contrast to journey credit from different issuers, Chase’s huge definition of journey makes the credit score relevant to any journey buy, even these exterior of Chase Journey.
Simply be aware that you just will not earn bonus factors on any quantity lined by the $300 journey credit score. Final yr, I booked a rental automotive straight with Enterprise in Hawaii, and some days later, I acquired my journey credit score.
Associated: How lengthy does it take to obtain assertion credit from Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi?
Keep protected with rental automotive insurance coverage
Having beforehand bought rental company insurance coverage, this profit saves me between $35 and $60 per day.
Each Sapphire Reserve playing cards will reimburse as much as $75,000 for damages attributable to theft or collision to a rental automotive, and protection is worldwide. Word that this covers the rental car and will not cowl private accidents or damages to different automobiles or objects. Each Sapphire Reserve major automotive insurance coverage insurance policies have the identical listing of excluded automobiles and motorized automobiles, and protection doesn’t prolong to off-roading or in case you are below the affect of an intoxicant.
Each playing cards differ in how the insurance coverage safety profit is utilized. With the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise, major automotive rental insurance coverage solely applies to a automotive rental for business or enterprise functions. If it is for private use, the protection is secondary to some other insurance coverage the first driver might possess.
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, your automotive rental is roofed no matter whether or not it’s for private or enterprise use. For New York residents, when renting throughout the U.S., the protection is major until you might have private automotive insurance coverage, during which case it is extra protection.
One other benefit of major insurance coverage protection from a Sapphire Reserve card is that there is not an exclusion listing of nations. Issuers like American Specific have nation exclusions for protection, reminiscent of Australia, Italy and New Zealand.
Make the most of Visa Infinite privileges
Each the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise include the Visa Infinite designation, giving cardholders extra perks with rental automotive companies. These advantages embody:
Contemplating the Visa Infinite perks for rental automobiles, reserving straight might be attractive. I’ve activated my advantages as a Sapphire Reserve cardholder and have elite standing with Avis and Nationwide. Each Sapphire Reserve playing cards provide a plethora of perks, so you’ll want to weigh the professionals and cons.
Though you will get a reduction with one of many companies, evaluate the value to Chase Journey. In case you’re saving vital cash and might obtain an improve, a return grace interval or different ancillary advantages, then go for it.
I favor incomes Chase Final Rewards factors, so if the value distinction is negligible, I would favor incomes 8 factors per greenback spent, quite than 1 level per greenback spent.
Associated: Hitting the highway in your trip? Every thing that you must find out about rental automotive elite standing
Backside line
Each the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise provide excessive incomes charges on rental automotive bookings, the power to make use of a journey credit score to offset its value and industry-leading major insurance coverage protection.
In case you e-book rental automobiles usually, contemplate one in all these playing cards that can assist you earn loads of bonus factors alongside the best way.
To study extra, learn our full critiques of the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise
