Should you’re contemplating signing up for certainly one of Southwest’s airline bank cards, or maybe you’ve just lately develop into a cardmember, you might be perusing card advantages and questioning, does my Southwest bank card have automobile rental insurance coverage? It’s a legitimate query and there’s excellent news: Sure, Southwest bank cards do include automobile rental insurance coverage. Right here’s the lowdown.
The way it works
Southwest bank card rental automobile insurance coverage covers occasions akin to:
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Loss-of-use prices from the rental firm.
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Towing that could be the results of an accident or break-in.
The rental automobile insurance coverage that comes with Southwest bank cards is secondary protection usually, which implies it dietary supplements your main auto insurance coverage coverage. In case you have private auto insurance coverage, that coverage would pay out first within the occasion of a declare. Your Southwest bank card insurance coverage could reimburse you on your main insurance coverage deductible, administrative prices charged by the automobile rental firm, and “cheap” towing prices that your main insurance coverage doesn’t cowl.
Should you don’t have private auto insurance coverage or every other insurance coverage, the Southwest rental automobile insurance coverage reimburses you for lined theft, injury, administrative prices or loss-of-use prices imposed by the rental firm, plus cheap towing prices that occurred when you have been accountable for the automobile.
Should you’re renting a automobile exterior your nation of residence, your Southwest bank card’s automobile rental insurance coverage will probably be your main protection and can reimburse you for those self same bills — theft, injury, administrative prices or loss-of-use prices imposed by the rental firm, plus cheap towing prices.
Obtainable bank cards and their phrases
Questioning which Southwest bank cards provide automobile rental insurance coverage? Excellent news: All of them do, private and enterprise playing cards alike. So it’s merely a matter of selecting which card is best for you.
Southwest Fast Rewards playing cards with automobile rental insurance coverage
Phrases
The playing cards all include the identical fundamental phrases, that are vital to think about earlier than counting on bank card protection to guard you and your rental automobile.
It is simply as vital to know what’s not lined as it’s to know what is roofed. What’s not lined? Occasions akin to:
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Injury to a different driver’s automobile within the occasion of a collision.
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Prices associated to accidents.
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Injury to any objects not in any other case lined, akin to baggage.
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Theft of non-public belongings.
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Damages arising from reckless utilization like off-road driving.
You’re additionally solely lined for rental intervals as much as 31 consecutive days, so preserve that in thoughts when renting a automobile for longer intervals of time.
Not all automobiles are lined, both. Exclusions embody high-value automobiles, bikes and high-capacity vans.
You should use your Southwest bank card to pay for the whole value of the automobile rental to be able to profit from the cardboard’s insurance coverage protection.
make a declare
Must file an insurance coverage declare in your rental automobile after a collision, theft or injury? Right here’s how one can use the rental automobile protection that comes along with your Southwest bank card:
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E book and pay on your whole rental utilizing your Southwest bank card.
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If you hire the automobile, decline the rental firm’s insurance coverage and injury waivers. Accepting them will make your Southwest bank card protection void.
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Within the case of theft or an accident, gather copies of all accident and police reviews and take images of any injury if relevant.
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Name the Southwest bank card advantages administrator inside 60 days of the incident to begin the declare course of. The quantity could be discovered in your bank card assertion or on the again of your bank card.
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Submit any required paperwork, like restore payments, alongside along with your declare. The advantages administrator will present a listing of what is wanted.
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In case your declare is authorized, settle for any declare funds.
After an accident, file your insurance coverage declare as quickly as attainable. Make certain to have all mandatory paperwork postmarked inside one year of the incident.
When to think about including further insurance coverage to your rental
Infrequently, the secondary insurance coverage accessible along with your Southwest card might not be sufficient. For instance, you might have considered trying further protection should you’re renting an vintage or extremely luxurious automobile like a Ferrari, or should you’re planning off-road adventures in 4WD automobiles. Should you’re not sure if the Southwest protection will probably be sufficient on your scenario, check out the rental automobile firm’s insurance coverage to see if it presents extra protection and peace of thoughts.
Should you’re contemplating reserving a rental automobile along with your Southwest card
For many vacationers, the automobile rental insurance coverage accessible along with your Southwest card will probably be greater than satisfactory to cowl the incidents you would possibly encounter whereas cruising the highway. However as with all insurance coverage, make certain to learn the phrases and circumstances, know the steps to file a declare, and be clear on what’s and isn’t lined.
maximize your rewards
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