Rental car insurance

[two_travelers]

We do not have a toad. Find that rental cars and taxi's work just fine for our way of travel. When we rent we generally take the extra coverage to keep from having to pay surcharges in case of an accident. I asked our auto insurance firm if we had to tell them we had an accident. They said no, but would generally find out and then attach a surcharge to our policy even though they did not pay out. The reason, you are a greater risk. So, what's the point of extra insurance? Any one else have this experience?

[two_travelers]

I contacted my auto insurance company. They said I would get surcharged even if I took the full coverage from the rental car company. It's the driver not the car that is surcharged. Well guess there is no point in paying for extra rental car insurance. Thanks to all who shared their knowledge.

[wa8yxm]

I have always been under the impression that when you rent a car and you own an existing automobile that your coverage "Extends" to cover the rental..Still I took out insurance when renting. This "extension" also applies to a newly purchased vehicle for a period of days (not for long)

When my wife crashed our "New" (4 days) old used jeep into a tree at 50MPH my insurance company told me: Yes, both Michigan (Where I'm registered) and SC (Where it happend) have rules like that but.. the motor home is NOT AN AUTOMOBILE!!!!

(Says automobile on my policy but what do I know).

So yes, get the insurance.

By the way how much would it have cost the insurance company to cover the accident? About a dollar.. All I wanted them to do was sign and return the Financial Responsibility form..There was never a claim made.

[Klueck]

I used to be an insurance adjuster for a top notch insurance company and here is what we told our insureds.

If you have comp and collision on your personal vehicle you do not have to get the extra coverage when you rent a car. HOWEVER, should you have an accident, you will have to pay for the administrative fees (I've seen them charge $125 and maybe even loss of use for the rental vehicle while it's being fixed) So you will still be out of pocket for your deductible, the admin fee and if the rental vehicle is out of commision for a while the lost revenue.

USAA covers your rental car providing you have coverage on your existing car however, there can be some special circumstances so you need to confirm it with them first. Some credit cards will cover the admin fees and loss of use if you rent the car using that credit card. It's usually the gold or platinum cards. Check your credit cards for this coverage.

If you have an accident, you can certainly be charged a surcharge if you were at fault.

[J-Rooster]

I get the extra insurance just to protect myself!

[tmmar]

If you have an amex card, they offer rental car coverage for $25 or $30 per rental if you charge the rental on their card. So,if you rent a car for a week, you would pay the one flat fee and would be covered up to, I believe, $100,000 and they would pay everything. No need to go through your insurance at all.

[fitznj]

I never take the rental insurance as my Credit Card covers the rental insurance. When I was travelling on business, Amex would take of the insurance. When I rent privately, then my personal credit card covers me.

I had 2 no fault accidents abroad and the everything and I mean everything was taken care of by the car rental agency and the credit card company. I never saw any paperwork, phone calls, bills etc etc - a truely positive experience.

Check with your CC company before shelling our for insurance you don't need.

Gerry

[tatest]

You are covered by your own liability insurance, as most policies are written. Same as for your own car.

What they are trying to sell you is Collision Damage Waiver, i.e. the rental company will not try to collect from you the difference between what your insurance covers and what they want for the damage. Rather than insurance, it is a fee for waiver of liability. At $24 a day, it can't be an insurance premium, no state insurance company would permit a $8760 premium for so little risk. CDW is a contract feature, not insurance.

Whether or not you want the CDW depends on your own insurance situation, as it can be worthwhile is your own coverage leaves you with large personal risks (a whole lot depends on the size of your deductible).

When I traveled on business, the policy of our (self insured) company was to decline CDW. On my own, I declined the coverage when I was paying by American Express, because it was their policy at the time to insure most of the difference in liability. Other credit card companies have jumped on this as a sales feature for various premium credit programs, so figure out how you are paying and what your credit card plan does for you.

You probably want CDW if you are paying cash for the rental, but who lets you pay cash today?

[Daytonaman]

The gotcha might be if you have an incident, the rental will charge down time at full daily retail while it is out of service for repair. The damage will be covered but maybe not the out of service charges. Amex has a $25 one time-covers-most everything deal.

[msmith1199]

I should also mention your coverage for the rental car will be the same as your coverage on your own car. So if you have a cheap paid for car and you don't carry collision insurance, then you better buy the rental company insurance as when you wreck their 2015 car you also won't have collision coverage for that. Also I'm pretty sure the coverage only covers similar type vehicles. Meaning I don't think your motorhome insurance would cover a rental car. So if you don't have a car at all you may wish to check on that too.

[msmith1199]

Rental car insurance coverage is a HUGE rip off. Generally (you do need to check) your own car insurance covers you for a rental car just like you were driving your own car. The only danger to you is if you wreck the rental car you're going to be paying your deductible. But think about it, if you're driving your own car and you wreck it you're going to have to pay the deductible. So would you elect to pay $24 a day (or whatever it is now) to drive your own car just do you don't have to pay your deductible if you got in a wreck? Of course you wouldn't. So why pay it for a rental car?

And like others have said, check the benefits on your credit card. I think your own auto insurance would be the primary coverage and I think some credit cards have coverage that pays the deductible.

And no matter what, if you get in a wreck and there is a police report or an insurance claim it's going on your record and your own company is going to find out. That happens no matter what car you are driving, even if you are driving an employers car.

[old_guy]

2gypsies is right, check you credit card company. one the cards, I think it's visa provides insurance on rental cars, just go one step further and read the coverage just to be on the safe side. I am old and getting so I do not trust some people any more. I would be inclined to believe they cover themselves and not the consumer

[2gypsies1]

You might want to check with your credit card. Use it for the rental and most often it includes insurance. We've never paid for extra rental insurance.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

I have USAA and they provide coverage for the rental. I decline the coverage. Make sure you have them mark existing dings well instead of a hand wave.

[Trackrig]

No, we never take the extra insurance since we have the MH and car insurances.

Bill