Does Discover Card Cover Car Rental Insurance? What You Must Know

• does-discover-card-cover-car-rental-insurance-overview - Does Discover Card Cover Car Rental Insurance? An Overview
• eligibility-terms-and-the-catch-most-people-miss - Eligibility, Terms, and the Catch Most People Miss
• real-user-experience-when-relying-on-discover - Real User Experience When Relying on Discover
• types-of-discover-cards-and-insurance-coverage - Types of Discover Cards and Insurance Coverage
• better-safe-than-sorry-how-to-verify-your-coverage - Better Safe Than Sorry: How to Verify Your Coverage
• carvel-car-rental-recommends-smart-protection - Carvel Car Rental Recommends Smart Protection

1. Does Discover Card Cover Car Rental Insurance? An Overview

If you're asking does Discover Card cover car rental insurance, the short answer is: it used to, but not anymore. As of 2018, Discover stopped offering rental car insurance benefits on all of its credit cards. That includes the popular Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Miles.

This change surprised many loyal customers who were relying on their card for secondary or even primary rental insurance coverage. If you're renting a car in the U.S. or abroad and were counting on Discover for peace of mind—it's time to reconsider.

2. Eligibility, Terms, and the Catch Most People Miss

Before the policy ended, Discover’s car rental insurance was often secondary, meaning it kicked in after your primary insurance was exhausted. But here's the catch—most people didn’t know this and skipped paying for rental coverage at the counter assuming their credit card had them covered.

If you’re planning a trip, double-check your credit card perks. Don’t assume coverage exists just because it's a premium card.

3. Real User Experience When Relying on Discover

Take Adam from Austin, Texas. In 2019, he rented a car during a snowstorm in Denver and scratched the bumper. He called Discover assuming his card had insurance—only to find out that the benefit had been discontinued months earlier. He ended up paying $940 out of pocket.

“I had used Discover for years for everything. I wish I’d read the benefits update,” he shared. Stories like Adam's are common and underscore the importance of staying informed.

4. Types of Discover Cards and Insurance Coverage

Unlike Visa and Mastercard, which often partner with third-party insurance providers to offer some level of car rental coverage, Discover currently does not offer this benefit on any of its cards. Whether it’s Discover it® Chrome, Discover it® Student, or even the Discover it® Business, car rental insurance is not included.

This applies to both domestic and international rentals.

5. Better Safe Than Sorry: How to Verify Your Coverage

Before renting a car, take a minute to call your credit card’s customer service or check your online card benefits portal. Credit card perks can change—and often do without much fanfare. In Discover’s case, many cardholders didn’t notice until it was too late.

And when in doubt, opt into the rental company’s insurance if you’re not covered elsewhere. It's better to spend $10 a day than $1,000 fixing a car.

6. Carvel Car Rental Recommends Smart Protection

If you’re booking a vehicle through Carvel Car Rental, our team recommends reviewing your credit card benefits in advance and, if needed, selecting coverage through our trusted providers. We offer flexible rental insurance options to make sure you're fully protected, even if your card doesn't have your back.

Our customer support can even help guide you through comparing credit card perks vs. daily coverage—because peace of mind on the road should never be optional.