I am sure a lot you seasoned travelers know what the best option is. If you don't buy the rental company's insurance, will you be covered for loss of use of their car if it has to be repaired? What about diminished value? Has anyone here had to deal with a rental company after an accident?

Covered by my credit card.

Never had to deal with a claim.

Used a LOT of rental cars when I was still working for IBM. Never took their insurance. Company covered it in our contract with the rental company.

Besides, my insurance covers any rentals I might use now.

Have heard a lot of stories about how that insurance is nothing more than an additional revenue stream for the rental company!

On business any big company declines and covers it itself as the margin is huge. But as an individual what's your risk quotient. I would guess (you would need to check as it varies by State) that your current insurance provides coverage. And your credit card might also. But there will be gaps in that. Example the rental car coverage is 0 deductible. My personal vehicles I carry a deductible in the thousands, so even though I'm covered for the big stuff I'm at risk for the deductible. My credit card insurance is secondary and yours will be too, so since my primary insurance has the deductible the cc isn't going to cover the gap.
SO its a bit of what risks do you want. I buy it. Yup its a rip off. But its totally pain free and I rent only when I'm out of town. I don't want to fight a battle 2K miles away under insurance rules I don't know (States have all kinds of silly stuff by State). If cost is all that matters, pass as your chances of an issue are low. If aggravation matters just pay.
As a side note for many rentals this will be your #1 cost, so don't shop on rental price, shop on this price.
FWIW>

I have American Express Premium car rental that charges a flat fee of $19.95 for no matter how long I rent the car. It kicks in automatically when I use the Amex card to rent a car.

USAA provides full coverage of your policy when you have USAA auto insurance and charge the rentals on a USAA credit card, I believe is how it works.

I relied on it for decades when I rented cars and never had an issue.

Your credit card and auto insurance company should provide all the coverage you need for a rental.

^^^^^^^^

Yep. I have never once took on extra insurance from a rental agency.

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
Your credit card and auto insurance company should provide all the coverage you need for a rental.

I called my insurance company and read the fine print on the CC policy, I'm GTG. I think the card is a Master Card Gold. I'm guessing some CCs may not have the rental coverage.

I always decline as employer provides on business and on personal auto insurance is primary and credit card is $50k secondary.

I had a scare a couple years ago on vacation. I had sold my vehicle in the US and my employer was providing me 40 days of rental in Canada until I bought one. Me being frugal decided to buy a car in Canada after Christmas vacation. I spent a week in US with family then spent a week in Hawaii for Christmas vacation. I rented a Mustang, declined insurance, and pulled in the parking lot of my hotel when I realized I was COMPLETELY uninsured as I didn’t own a car and my credit card was only secondary insurance. I drove like a Grandma back to the rental car lot, made it without incident, and insured it.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
Your credit card and auto insurance company should provide all the coverage you need for a rental.

I called my insurance company and read the fine print on the CC policy, I'm GTG. I think the card is a Master Card Gold. I'm guessing some CCs may not have the rental coverage.

Read fine print. Both my AMEX and Visa are secondary insurance.

quote:

Both my AMEX and Visa are secondary insurance.

That was what we found out when we had to file a claim. Visa paid the deductible. No big problems.

I guess I might be a little too cautious but I get the insurance. It is not worth the headaches if anything happens. I don't rent cars to often and the cost is minor compared to any future headache.

its a scam - pure revenue. If there is ever a claim they are simply going to go after your personal auto insurance anyway so why bother

quote:

Originally posted by patw:
I guess I might be a little too cautious but I get the insurance. It is not worth the headaches if anything happens. I don't rent cars to often and the cost is minor compared to any future headache.

You can't go through life like that. Everything is just a minor cost compared to the risk of a much bigger headache. Where does it end? Do you buy the warranty on simple electronics too?

The money saved by not buying the add on insurance for my rentals, electronics, appliances, trips etc, probably amounts to thousands of dollars over a decade. That money in and of itself is enough to serve as self insurance for those things.

No, often the cost is more than the rental. My insurance will cover me in a rental and my credit card also has some protection.

They hard sell the insurance.

You ever wonder why?

$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$

Thats why.

Some of the above is misleading. Your insurance may cover you. You need to actually check the policy terms. For example mine will cover if the rental is less than 4 weeks. After that not. My deductible applies.
My CC covers the gap, but with other terms that may or may not help me.
So to decide if you have adequate insurance you need to both check your actual primary policy, any secondary policy that may apply and decide.
yes its a huge money maker to the rental company. But only you can decide the price/hassel gap.

Use my own.
No additional charge.
Enterprise Rental gets $9.00 per day for the coverage.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by msfzoe:
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