Thanks for that. It explains the US customer who was arguing in the queue in front of me with the sales rep, saying he didn't want the included insurance.

Chase says this about my Chase Sapphire Reserve card:

"Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
"Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad."

A cardholder's experience is here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.c...car-insurance/

I have a USAA Ltd policy for my UK car that covers me for liability and collision in Europe and North America. When I rented once with Amex and my hire car was damaged in a parking lot their coverage was secondary: USAA paid $600 and Amex $100. Chase would be primary and would pay it all.

An America-based USAA policy would only cover North American rentals. Many credit cards provide secondary CDW like Amex, or none at all.

I rented a car in Montreal Dec. 3-6, 2016. I took CDW because USAA wrongly told me over the telephone that Canada wasn't included. As it happens I returned the car some hours early, the afternoon of Dec. 5. A good thing too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BhhsEuYXZQ