You may be paying a hefty price for moving trucks or rental vehicles, and perhaps U-Haul rentals as well. So, you might be asking, Does The American Express Business Platinum Card Cover U-Haul Rentals?
When it comes to this card, it offers a lot of benefits, but does that mean you got full protection when renting a moving U-Haul? With this guide, I want to summarize what the Amex Business Platinum covers, what it excludes, and what you should do to cover yourself while renting a moving vehicle.
Does The American Express Business Platinum Card Cover U-Haul Rentals? (Quick Answer)
Simply put: No, the American Express Business Platinum Card does not cover U-Haul Rentals U-Haul rentals primaly aren’t covered by insurance policy.
The coverage that Amex offers does apply to standard passenger vehicles rentals but will not extend to U-Haul. In the event that you do rent a U-Haul, look for other insurance options, which I will explain in detail later on in this article.
Understanding Amex Business Platinum Rental Coverage
We are in no way going to rush into U-Haul specifics and damages. For now let’s focus on the specifics of what the Amex Business Platinum Card has to offer in serving for vehicles.
What Does Amex Business Platinum Cover for Car Rentals?
Whenever you book a car rental through your American Express Business Platinum Card, you can be at ease knowing that vehicle insurance plans are included within the card coverage. That is of course as long as you decline the agency’s loss or damage coverage (CDW or LDW) protective offers. This protection is referred to as the CDW, and it covers a wide range of damages one can incur while renting a car including theft.
Secondary Coverage Explained
The Amex Business Platinum card has the CDW as a secondary insurance or coverage. This means that the card insurance coverage is utilized only after your car insurance gets paid first. However, if you do not have any personal vehicle insurance, the Amex coverage will be applicable, though with caveats.
Coverage Limit and Eligibility
Any rental car that one intends to insure using the Amex card has to be at a worth of not more than $75,000. That is the limit imposed. In case the vehicle is worth beyond that amount, Amex will not be liable to any damages incurred. It is also important noting that there is a cover threshold of $75,000 which applies to most car rentals.
Renting a vehicle is often best done through a major rental car company such as Avis or Hertz because one is mostly guaranteed basic coverage. This, then, means that one would not have to spend additional money on insurance. But there is one exception, however, and that is U-Haul rentals.
Why Amex Business Platinum Does NOT Cover U-Haul Rentals
Despite the generous coverage for standard rental cars, Amex Business Platinum does not extend this protection to moving trucks, cargo vans, or pickup trucks—which means U-Haul rentals are not covered.
Exclusion of Commercial and Utility Vehicles
Regrettably, Amex Business Platinum does NOT provide business owners added insurance protection on those moving or hauling vehicles as they do for passenger cars. Sadly, this also means that cargo vans and pickup trucks are excluded from the generous coverage offered with Amex Business Platinum.
U-Haul Vehicles That Are Not Covered
Some of the U-Haul vehicles that are NOT covered by American Express Business Platinum trucks include but are not limited to:
- Moving Trucks: This includes U-Haul’s 10ft, 15ft, 20ft, and 26ft trucks, which are commonly used for moving homes or transporting goods.
- Cargo Vans: U-Haul has cargo vans available for rent which are suitable for small relocations, however, these vehicles fall under the commercial category and therefore do not fall under the coverage of Amex rental insurance.
- Pickup Trucks: U-Haul\’s pickup trucks are often used for local transportation or hauling purposes. These vehicles are also not covered.
- Trailers: Rental standard vehicles with customized trailers also do not receive coverage from American Express.
In layman’s terms, when renting a U-Haul, if anything happens or goes wrong, you wouldn’t have American Express looking over your back, regardless of what happens. So, if there’s any damage, you will be the one covering those costs unless you have additional coverage.
Why Are Moving Trucks Excluded from Amex Coverage?
There are a few reasons for this. One of those is the fact that moving vans and trucks are high risk vehicles, which is the main reason cargo vans are excluded. It would be similar to a standard rental car that most people only use for driving. Moving trucks on the other hand have more complexity since they are larger and heavier.
Higher Risk of Accidents
The range of people who drive U-Haul vehicles, or even just larger trucks is spread along a wider scope, which increases the chances of accidents, damage, or other liability claims being filed against the driver. That means removing a large portion of the rental protection policies that American Express, and many other Credit cards companies have.
Different Insurance Classifications
One of the reasons why a moving vehicle has a separate classification from any standard rental car is that not only do some policies cover personal vehicles, but any vehicle above that category falls under commercial insurance, and moving trucks over sized and serve a distinct purpose.
What Are Your Insurance Options for U-Haul Rentals?
Since Amex Business Platinum does not cover U-Haul, let’s explore the best types of insurance.
1. U-Haul\’s Own Insurance Plans
U-Haul provides these two insurance plans which can be purchased at the time of booking:
✅ SafeMove Insurance (Basic Plan)
- Theft, damage, and cargo securing coverage.
- No liability coverage (you’ll need your auto insurance for that).
- Costs $14–28 dependent on automobiles dimensions.
✅ SafeMove Plus (Premium Plan)
- Everything currently included in SafeMove.
- Liability coverage up to one million dollars.
- Costs 30–50 dollars per day.
SafeMove Plus provides the most coverage, especially if you don\’t have personal auto insurance.
2. Your Personal Auto Insurance Policy
If you have personal auto insurance, contact your insurer to see if your coverage includes U-Haul rentals.
Most automotive insurance policies do not cover moving trucks. Some premium level policies may offer some coverage restrictions on small U-Haul and cargo vans.
3. Third-Party Rental Truck Insurance
If U-Haul s plans are too pricey for you, you can get coverage from other commercial providers like:
- MBA Choice (covering specializes in rental trucks)
- Bonzah (short term inexpensive rental insurance)
- Allianz (may include moving truck protection)
They tend to be less than U-Haul’s SafeMove plans; however, they provide decent coverage.
How to Use Your Amex Business Platinum for U-Haul Rentals
Even though U-Haul rentals are not covered by Amex, assistance can still be provided when making bookings.
✅ Step 1: Use Amex Business Platinum to Book U-Haul
- Your purchase will earn you Membership Reward points.
- Amex Purchase Protection may cover any eligible expenditures.
✅ Step 2: Add the Best Insurance Plan
- For the maximum benefit, select SafeMove Plus.
- If you have personal auto insurance, look to see if it protects U-Haul trucks.
- If U-Haul plans are too high, consider third party insurance.
✅ Step 3: Save on Rental Costs
- Search for U-Haul promo codes before making a reservation.
- Make use of Amex Offers to take advantage of travel-related discounts.
- You can save money by booking your U-Haul during the slower days of the week (Monday – Thursday).
Other Credit Cards That Cover U-Haul Rentals
If you\’re looking for different credit cards that allow U-Haul rentals, try these:
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Coverage for standard vehicles includes primary rental insurance.
- Might include coverage for smaller cargo vans, but check first.
2. Capital One Venture X Rewards
- Up to $75,000 in car rental protection.
- While no set coverage for moving truck was found, it can be explored.
3. Wells Fargo Propel American Express®
- Some rental coverage will be included but most trucks will be excluded.
No U-Haul protection for most credit card insurance policies. The best option for those seeking protection plans for rental trucks is U-Haul’s SafeMove plans.
My Opinion
So does the Business Platinum Card American Express cover U-Haul rental? The answer is negative.
Here’s what you should do:
✅ Charge the rental to Amex to earn the rewards.
✅U-Haul Safe Move or Safe Move plus should be purchased to get maximum protective coverage.
✅ Personal insurance can be used to confirm if any coverage exists.
✅ Third party truck rental insurance will be less expensive so do remember to compare.
Although the Amex Business Platinum will not cover your U-Haul rental, it is a great card for travel and business expenses along with premium rewards.
If you are renting a U-Haul for business, do not forget to claim rental expenses on your taxes. And if you are moving, look for some discounts and promo codes to save some cash.
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