Auto rental optional insurance

In article ,

It's been a while since I saw a credit card that did *not* provide
this coverage. I suppose they are out there, but it seems that even
plain, non-Gold cards come with auto rental insurance these days.

Try looking at any UK credit card.

Fair enough. I don't know anything about UK credit cards.
Do MBNA cards come without auto rental insurance in the UK?

In article ,

It's been a while since I saw a credit card that did *not* provide
this coverage. I suppose they are out there, but it seems that even
plain, non-Gold cards come with auto rental insurance these days.

Try looking at any UK credit card.

Fair enough. I don't know anything about UK credit cards.
Do MBNA cards come without auto rental insurance in the UK?

"Vitaly Shmatikov" wrote in message
...
In article ,

(2)more importantly, that's when it's good to have a gold Visa or
Mastercard-----while their rental coverage is secondary in the US to your
own insurance policy...since your own policy didn't/wouldn't pay, you
could
then get the coverage with your credit card company to handle the $6000

It's been a while since I saw a credit card that did *not* provide
this coverage. I suppose they are out there, but it seems that even
plain, non-Gold cards come with auto rental insurance these days.

Then you have a very narrow view of the world. Try looking at any UK credit
card [1]

That's a problem for us hiring a car in the USA, we get stung by the massive
insurance costs from the renter.

[1] My egg card does provide limited cover, but only medical expenses for
dismemberment or death (I kid ye not)

"Vitaly Shmatikov" wrote in message
...
In article ,

(2)more importantly, that's when it's good to have a gold Visa or
Mastercard-----while their rental coverage is secondary in the US to your
own insurance policy...since your own policy didn't/wouldn't pay, you
could
then get the coverage with your credit card company to handle the $6000

It's been a while since I saw a credit card that did *not* provide
this coverage. I suppose they are out there, but it seems that even
plain, non-Gold cards come with auto rental insurance these days.

Then you have a very narrow view of the world. Try looking at any UK credit
card [1]

That's a problem for us hiring a car in the USA, we get stung by the massive
insurance costs from the renter.

[1] My egg card does provide limited cover, but only medical expenses for
dismemberment or death (I kid ye not)

"AJC" wrote in message
...

Renting cars in the US always seems so frought with complications, it
seems one either has to spend ages studying the smallest of the small
print, or just take full coverage and accept that it is going to cost
significantly more than in many other countries. When I book for
elsewhere it is simply a question of reducing cdw and tp or not, the
rest is included.

Yes. The drawback of little regulation really.

It seems to be backwards too, for example.. in the USA car hire that I've
seen you can take out insurance which will cover you up to a maximum amount
of a claim. e.g. if you took out $10,000 worth of insurance and wrote off
the car you would still have to pay for what the car is worth over that.

In the UK it is the opposite, you are covered for everything but have to pay
the first £500 (depending on what option you chose).

Now the USA version is better if you have a small prang, you aren't likely
to pay anything. The UK version is better if you have a big accident because
you don't end up out of pocket to the tune of thousands,, much like our
orginial poster.

"AJC" wrote in message
...

Renting cars in the US always seems so frought with complications, it
seems one either has to spend ages studying the smallest of the small
print, or just take full coverage and accept that it is going to cost
significantly more than in many other countries. When I book for
elsewhere it is simply a question of reducing cdw and tp or not, the
rest is included.

Yes. The drawback of little regulation really.

It seems to be backwards too, for example.. in the USA car hire that I've
seen you can take out insurance which will cover you up to a maximum amount
of a claim. e.g. if you took out $10,000 worth of insurance and wrote off
the car you would still have to pay for what the car is worth over that.

In the UK it is the opposite, you are covered for everything but have to pay
the first £500 (depending on what option you chose).

Now the USA version is better if you have a small prang, you aren't likely
to pay anything. The UK version is better if you have a big accident because
you don't end up out of pocket to the tune of thousands,, much like our
orginial poster.

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 10:19:38 +0100, "Mark Hewitt"
wrote:


"AJC" wrote in message
.. .

Renting cars in the US always seems so frought with complications, it
seems one either has to spend ages studying the smallest of the small
print, or just take full coverage and accept that it is going to cost
significantly more than in many other countries. When I book for
elsewhere it is simply a question of reducing cdw and tp or not, the
rest is included.

Yes. The drawback of little regulation really.

It seems to be backwards too, for example.. in the USA car hire that I've
seen you can take out insurance which will cover you up to a maximum amount
of a claim. e.g. if you took out $10,000 worth of insurance and wrote off
the car you would still have to pay for what the car is worth over that.

In the UK it is the opposite, you are covered for everything but have to pay
the first £500 (depending on what option you chose).

Now the USA version is better if you have a small prang, you aren't likely
to pay anything. The UK version is better if you have a big accident because
you don't end up out of pocket to the tune of thousands,, much like our
orginial poster.



The UK version as you describe it seems to be common across Europe,
plus Australia, New Zealand, and a few other places I have rented in.
Bearing in mind the differences with the USA version, combined with
some traffic rules and driving habits which are very different from
those in Europe and other locations, it always amazes me that so many
visitors try to cut corners on their rental car costs in the US. Go
for a cheap flight and maybe get more delays or missed connections, go
for a cheap hotel and get a lumpy matrass and a cockroach or two, but
saving money on car rental insurance can lead to serious problems. I
have known tour operators give their fly-drive customers A4 sheets
detailing exactly what they should sign up for when collecting their
car, what they might like to consider, and what they absolutely don't
need.
--==++AJC++==--

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 10:19:38 +0100, "Mark Hewitt"
wrote:


"AJC" wrote in message
.. .

Renting cars in the US always seems so frought with complications, it
seems one either has to spend ages studying the smallest of the small
print, or just take full coverage and accept that it is going to cost
significantly more than in many other countries. When I book for
elsewhere it is simply a question of reducing cdw and tp or not, the
rest is included.

Yes. The drawback of little regulation really.

It seems to be backwards too, for example.. in the USA car hire that I've
seen you can take out insurance which will cover you up to a maximum amount
of a claim. e.g. if you took out $10,000 worth of insurance and wrote off
the car you would still have to pay for what the car is worth over that.

In the UK it is the opposite, you are covered for everything but have to pay
the first £500 (depending on what option you chose).

Now the USA version is better if you have a small prang, you aren't likely
to pay anything. The UK version is better if you have a big accident because
you don't end up out of pocket to the tune of thousands,, much like our
orginial poster.



The UK version as you describe it seems to be common across Europe,
plus Australia, New Zealand, and a few other places I have rented in.
Bearing in mind the differences with the USA version, combined with
some traffic rules and driving habits which are very different from
those in Europe and other locations, it always amazes me that so many
visitors try to cut corners on their rental car costs in the US. Go
for a cheap flight and maybe get more delays or missed connections, go
for a cheap hotel and get a lumpy matrass and a cockroach or two, but
saving money on car rental insurance can lead to serious problems. I
have known tour operators give their fly-drive customers A4 sheets
detailing exactly what they should sign up for when collecting their
car, what they might like to consider, and what they absolutely don't
need.
--==++AJC++==--

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 10:19:38 +0100, "Mark Hewitt"
wrote:


"AJC" wrote in message
.. .

Renting cars in the US always seems so frought with complications, it
seems one either has to spend ages studying the smallest of the small
print, or just take full coverage and accept that it is going to cost
significantly more than in many other countries. When I book for
elsewhere it is simply a question of reducing cdw and tp or not, the
rest is included.

Yes. The drawback of little regulation really.

It seems to be backwards too, for example.. in the USA car hire that I've
seen you can take out insurance which will cover you up to a maximum amount
of a claim. e.g. if you took out $10,000 worth of insurance and wrote off
the car you would still have to pay for what the car is worth over that.

In the UK it is the opposite, you are covered for everything but have to pay
the first £500 (depending on what option you chose).

Now the USA version is better if you have a small prang, you aren't likely
to pay anything. The UK version is better if you have a big accident because
you don't end up out of pocket to the tune of thousands,, much like our
orginial poster.



The UK version as you describe it seems to be common across Europe,
plus Australia, New Zealand, and a few other places I have rented in.
Bearing in mind the differences with the USA version, combined with
some traffic rules and driving habits which are very different from
those in Europe and other locations, it always amazes me that so many
visitors try to cut corners on their rental car costs in the US. Go
for a cheap flight and maybe get more delays or missed connections, go
for a cheap hotel and get a lumpy matrass and a cockroach or two, but
saving money on car rental insurance can lead to serious problems. I
have known tour operators give their fly-drive customers A4 sheets
detailing exactly what they should sign up for when collecting their
car, what they might like to consider, and what they absolutely don't
need.
--==++AJC++==--

"AJC" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 10:19:38 +0100, "Mark Hewitt"
wrote:


"AJC" wrote in message
.. .

Renting cars in the US always seems so frought with complications, it
seems one either has to spend ages studying the smallest of the small
print, or just take full coverage and accept that it is going to cost
significantly more than in many other countries. When I book for
elsewhere it is simply a question of reducing cdw and tp or not, the
rest is included.

Yes. The drawback of little regulation really.

It seems to be backwards too, for example.. in the USA car hire that I've
seen you can take out insurance which will cover you up to a maximum
amount
of a claim. e.g. if you took out $10,000 worth of insurance and wrote off
the car you would still have to pay for what the car is worth over that.

In the UK it is the opposite, you are covered for everything but have to
pay
the first £500 (depending on what option you chose).

Now the USA version is better if you have a small prang, you aren't
likely
to pay anything. The UK version is better if you have a big accident
because
you don't end up out of pocket to the tune of thousands,, much like our
orginial poster.



The UK version as you describe it seems to be common across Europe,
plus Australia, New Zealand, and a few other places I have rented in.
Bearing in mind the differences with the USA version, combined with
some traffic rules and driving habits which are very different from
those in Europe and other locations, it always amazes me that so many
visitors try to cut corners on their rental car costs in the US. Go
for a cheap flight and maybe get more delays or missed connections, go
for a cheap hotel and get a lumpy matrass and a cockroach or two, but
saving money on car rental insurance can lead to serious problems. I
have known tour operators give their fly-drive customers A4 sheets
detailing exactly what they should sign up for when collecting their
car, what they might like to consider, and what they absolutely don't
need.

I guess that is part of the problem - most UK visitors to the USA dont
understand the options for insurance and which bits cover what, what the
legal minimums are and what maximum liability they face if they refuse a
particular option, and which bits might be covered by the holiday/travel
insurance they have already taken out.

And if you ask at the counter they talk so fast using terms you arent
familiar with that it doesn't help at all.

Maybe the UK travel insurance industry could add an optional car rental
cover choice to their packages.