The Cl(p, ) Ar reaction rate is of potential importance
in the rp-process powering type I X-ray bursts. Recently Clement et al.
\cite{CBB04} presented new data on excitation energies for low lying proton
unbound states in Ar obtained with a new method developed at the
National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. We use their data, together with
a direct capture model and a USD shell model calculation to derive a new
reaction rate for use in astrophysical model calculations. In particular, we
take into account capture on the first excited state in Cl, and also
present a realistic estimate of the remaining uncertainties. We find that the
Cl(p, ) Ar reaction rate is dominated entirely by capture
on the first excited state in Cl over the whole temperature range
relevant in X-ray bursts. In the temperature range from 0.2 to 1 GK the rate is
up to a factor of 70 larger than the previously recommended rate based on shell
model calculations only. The uncertainty is now reduced from up to a factor of
1000 to a factor of 3 at 0.3-0.7 GK and a factor of 6 at 1.5 GK.