National Rental Car Insurance Review [2024]
This National rental car insurance review explains how drivers can get rates as low as $16/day by joining the National car rental loyalty program. Learn how to redeem National Emerald Club points and why National is one of the best-rated car rental insurance companies.
Joel Ohman
Certified Financial Planner
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Joel...
Certified Financial Planner
UPDATED: Jul 4, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jul 4, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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National
Average Monthly Rate For Good Drivers
$487A.M. Best Rating:
Not RatedComplaint Level:
LowPros
- National’s Emerald program offers great perks for frequent renters.
- National has a high military and government discount.
Cons
- National does not accept cash payments.
- National has negative reviews from some customers.
National Rental Car Insurance Review: The Bottom Line
While National has some negative reviews, National is still a good choice for renters who are looking for perks for frequent rentals, as National’s Emerald Club is well-rated. National’s rates are average for rentals, and its discount offerings can help renters save on rental insurance. However, you may not need National General if your primary insurance extends to rental cars.
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What You Should Know About National
Our National rental car insurance review goes over everything you need to know about rental car insurance from National. Continue reading to learn what to expect with National Car Rental, from National car rental customer service to National car rental coverage products.
To find affordable car insurance for your rental car right away, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool.
National Rental Car Insurance Pros and Cons
For a quick National rental car insurance assessment, we’ve listed out the pros of National below.
- Emerald Club perks: National’s Emerald Club is beneficial for frequent renters, with free rental days and upgrades.
- Available discounts: National offers a selection of discounts to all renters.
- Coverage options: National offers all the classic rental car insurance coverages.
Of course, there are also some cons of a rental car insurance policy with National.
- No cash payments: National only allows credit and debit payments to rent a car, so you can’t pay with cash.
- Negative reviews: National has some negative customer reviews for a number of issues, such as requested cars not being available.
You can learn more about National car rental complaints in the next section.
National Car Rental Customer Service and Complaints
Some negative National car rental reviews center around requested cars not being available, charge holds, unclear fees, and overall poor customer service. However, bear in mind that J.D. Power gave National a good customer service review, so most customers are pleased with National’s customer service.
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National Insurance Coverage Options
Types of National Rental Car Insurance Coverage
There are a number of National car rental coverage options.
These coverages boil down to the following:
- LDW: A National car rental damage policy that protects renters from having to pay most or all of the repair bills after covered damages.
- SLP: A National car rental personal accident insurance that adds more bodily injury and property damage liability coverage to a rental car.
- PEC: National coverage that insures your personal items in the car.
- RSP: Coverage that helps pay for roadside assistance for your rental car.
In the next section, we will break down these coverages’ costs by showing the National car rental insurance cost per day.
National Insurance Rates Breakdown
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National Rental Car Insurance vs. The Competition
To see how National’s rates stack up to the competition, take a look below.
Rental Car Insurance Daily Rates by Company
| Rental Car Company | Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) | Personal Effects Insurance (PEC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE | $15 | $11 | $10 |
| Alamo | $17 | $13 | $12 |
| Avis | $13 | $12 | $11 |
| Budget | $13 | $12 | $11 |
| Dollar | $16 | $11 | $10 |
| Enterprise | $13 | $13 | $12 |
| Hertz | $13 | $12 | $11 |
| National | $17 | $13 | $12 |
| Thrifty | $16 | $11 | $10 |
Enterprise and Hertz have cheaper rates for CDW than National but similar rates for other coverages. Read more in our Budget rental car insurance review and Hertz rental car insurance review.
National Discounts Available
Benefits of National Car Rental Loyalty Programs
One of National’s main perks is its Emerald Club for frequent renters, as it is one of the best car insurance loyalty rewards programs.
There is no National Emerald Club membership fee — rather, you pay with credits you earn from renting cars through National.
The National car rental loyalty program also makes it easy to redeem credits. You can look up the specifics of how to redeem National Emerald Club points on National’s website, but it is as easy as signing into your account and redeeming credits.
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National Rental Car Discounts
See how National’s car insurance discounts compare to other popular companies.
Rental Car Insurance Discounts & Upgrades by Company
| Company | M-F Discount | Sa-Su Discount | AAA Discount | Govt/Military Discount | Free Upgrades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACE | 10% | 5% | 5% | 10% | No |
| Alamo | 15% | 10% | 10% | 15% | Yes |
| Avis | 20% | 15% | 15% | 20% | Yes |
| Budget | 15% | 10% | 10% | 15% | Yes |
| Dollar | 10% | 5% | 5% | 10% | No |
| Enterprise | 20% | 15% | 15% | 20% | Yes |
| Hertz | 15% | 10% | 10% | 15% | Yes |
| National | 20% | 15% | 15% | 20% | Yes |
| Thrifty | 10% | 5% | 5% | 10% | No |
National offers one of the highest government/military discounts.
Other Ways to Save on National Rental Car Insurance
If you have rental car reimbursement coverage on your primary insurance policy and are renting a car under a covered claim, it may help pay for your National rental car (learn more about primary and secondary coverage in our guide to primary vs. secondary car insurance).
Most car insurance companies will extend coverage to cover rental cars, negating the need to purchase rental car insurance. However, it is always wise to double-check.
Daniel Walker Licensed Insurance Agent
For example, if you have Progressive rental insurance, there may be Progressive car rental discounts you can use on National car rentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is National car rental insurance better or Enterprise?
Both are similar in terms of rates and ratings. Enterprise does have more locations, but National has some better perks with its National Emerald Club program.
Is Enterprise cheaper than National car rental insurance?
Enterprise’s CDW coverage is cheaper on average than National, but average rates are the same between the two companies for all other coverages.
What is better, Enterprise Plus or National Emerald Club?
National Emerald Club is usually the better option for drivers, as National offers more perks like automatic upgrades.
What is the highest loyalty status with National Car Rental?
The highest National Emerald Club elite status is executive status.
How do I keep my National Car Rental executive status?
To keep your National Car Rental Emerald Club executive status, you must have either 25 or more rentals or 85 or more rental days at National in a year.
Is National Car Rental owned by Hertz?
No, National Car Rental is owned by Enterprise Holdings.
Is National Car Rental owned by Avis?
No, Enterprise Holdings owns National Car Rental.
Is Hertz more expensive than National rental car insurance?
No, Hertz’s car rental insurance coverage is cheaper on average than National.
Which car rental company has the best rating?
J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction rating ranked Enterprise as the best-rated car rental company, followed by National.
Which rental car company has the cheapest deposit?
It depends, as some rental car companies require a membership fee instead of a deposit. Some cheaper companies for deposits include Budget and Enterprise.
How can I find the best car rental deals?
Shop around and compare rental car deals based on perks and coverage rates to find the best deals on car insurance for rental cars.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Joel Ohman
Certified Financial Planner
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Joel...
Certified Financial Planner
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.