Coverage & liability · Travelers + trade
Secondary coverage
Also called secondary insurance, secondary cover
The short answerCover that pays only what your other insurance doesn't, after you've claimed on that first.
What it means
Secondary coverage pays after your primary insurance, typically your personal auto policy. It may pick up your deductible and other costs that policy doesn't cover. If you have no other applicable insurance, some secondary cover then acts as primary.
Why it matters
Many credit card rental benefits are secondary in the US. It still helps, but you'll usually need to claim with your own insurer first.
Wording by region
Mainly a US term.
Related terms
- Primary coverageCover that pays first, without you having to claim on your own auto insurance.
- Credit card rental coverageRental car damage cover that some credit cards provide when you pay for the rental with that card.
- Deductible vs excessSame thing, two words: the most you pay toward damage or theft of the rental car before the rental company's waiver covers the rest.
Also related Personal auto policy coverage (US)