Collision damage insurance with auto rental

Mark Brader wrote:
Steven Scharf:
BTW, if you want a credit card where the rental insurance is primary
rather than secondary, I think Diner's Club is the only card that still
offers this...

What practical advantage does this offer? Is it just so that if you have
an incident, and you have another car insurance policy, you can keep that
policy claim-free?

Yes, it's basically insurance against having to use your own auto
insurance. Probably the $95 is far less than the increase in rates
you'll incur with a claim, though still probably not a good wager in
terms of likelihood of a claim. When I had a Discover Private Issue I
used it for car rentals, as well as because it had a very good cashback
program (2%), but $95/year for Diner's Club is too much, IMHO.

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:50:08 -0700, SMS
wrote:

Mark Brader wrote:
Steven Scharf:
BTW, if you want a credit card where the rental insurance is primary
rather than secondary, I think Diner's Club is the only card that still
offers this...

What practical advantage does this offer? Is it just so that if you have
an incident, and you have another car insurance policy, you can keep that
policy claim-free?

Yes, it's basically insurance against having to use your own auto
insurance. Probably the $95 is far less than the increase in rates
you'll incur with a claim, though still probably not a good wager in
terms of likelihood of a claim. When I had a Discover Private Issue I
used it for car rentals, as well as because it had a very good cashback
program (2%), but $95/year for Diner's Club is too much, IMHO.

Not if you also travel a lot like I do. They have a bunch of fee free
airport lounges as well, so between the two, it's a very good bet
which is why I have one.

"Rowen" wrote in message
news:f5Nwi.62336$fJ5.32096@pd7urf1no...
Do many of you buy that? Normally, I decline it. Most of the time I see
asian looking tourists buying it; it is around $30 per day on top of
rental charges. For work related travel, my employer recommends it. But I
never do, as my credit card has some coverage. The funny thing is, twice I
had minor damages to autos. Once, I was asked to fill out an accident
report, but I did not have to pay anything in both occasions.
Perhaps, that is how rental companies make money.


Foreign renters typically do NOT get coverage from either their
credit cards or home auto insurance, personally I purchase
cover from AMEX as part of my annual travel cover but
most Brits take out CDW rather than bear the risk personally.

Keith

"John Kulp" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:50:08 -0700, SMS
wrote:

Mark Brader wrote:
Steven Scharf:
BTW, if you want a credit card where the rental insurance is primary
rather than secondary, I think Diner's Club is the only card that still
offers this...

What practical advantage does this offer? Is it just so that if you
have
an incident, and you have another car insurance policy, you can keep
that
policy claim-free?

Yes, it's basically insurance against having to use your own auto
insurance. Probably the $95 is far less than the increase in rates
you'll incur with a claim, though still probably not a good wager in
terms of likelihood of a claim. When I had a Discover Private Issue I
used it for car rentals, as well as because it had a very good cashback
program (2%), but $95/year for Diner's Club is too much, IMHO.

Not if you also travel a lot like I do. They have a bunch of fee free
airport lounges as well, so between the two, it's a very good bet
which is why I have one.

For the *frequent* traveller some things do make sense that wouldn't for
just the occasional traveller: Diner's Club is but one of many examples.

In article ,
SMS wrote:

Mark Brader wrote:
Steven Scharf:
BTW, if you want a credit card where the rental insurance is primary
rather than secondary, I think Diner's Club is the only card that still
offers this...

What practical advantage does this offer? Is it just so that if you have
an incident, and you have another car insurance policy, you can keep that
policy claim-free?

Yes, it's basically insurance against having to use your own auto
insurance. Probably the $95 is far less than the increase in rates
you'll incur with a claim, though still probably not a good wager in
terms of likelihood of a claim. When I had a Discover Private Issue I
used it for car rentals, as well as because it had a very good cashback
program (2%), but $95/year for Diner's Club is too much, IMHO.

Its also useful for those who don't own a car or an auto insurance
policy and who drive only rental cars when the need arises.

On Aug 17, 3:35 pm, "Keith Willshaw"
wrote:
Foreign renters typically do NOT get coverage from either their
credit cards or home auto insurance, personally I purchase
cover from AMEX as part of my annual travel cover but
most Brits take out CDW rather than bear the risk personally.

I'm a foreign renter (Canada). My insurance will cover liability to
$1M, but to be honest, I'm not 100% how that affects my rental. They
don't cover CDW because I don't even have that on my own car, so I
can't add the rider for rental cars.

I do have a MasterCard with a $99 annual fee for auto insurance on
rentals and medical for trips up to 31 days. Most rental companies
don't allow more than 28 day rentals anyways, so it works out okay. I
need the medical more than anything as that's around $3 per day with
some insurance providers (and one or two trips per year will be enough
to justify the $99 annual fee). Not to mention the fee itself is
cheaper than CDW on a one week rental in some cases.

I do purchase Extended Protection or Supplemental Liability Insurance
(damage to the other car), since to the best of my knowledge, CDW on
my credit card does not cover that. They also don't cover the other
party's medical expenses should that be a situation. In the US where
health care is not universal, I do not want to be sued and lose my
house paying for someone's medical. After all, accidents happen,
they're called accidents for a reason, if I knew it was going to
happen I'd avoid it, but we often can't do that. (I've never been in a
single accident, but don't want bad luck to make my first one a bad
one...) I also want to have CDW mostly to protect myself against
paying for dings in the parking lot. Someone did $1500 in damage to my
driver side door outside where I work, and I can't even claim since I
didn't see how did it. I'd hate to have to pay for that on a rental.
At least on my car, I don't care that much since the car is only worth
$2000 now.

S.

Steven Scharf:
BTW, if you want a credit card where the rental insurance is primary
rather than secondary, I think Diner's Club is the only card that still
offers this...

Mark Brader:
What practical advantage does this offer? Is it just so that if you have
an incident, and you have another car insurance policy, you can keep that
policy claim-free?

Steven Scharf:
Yes, it's basically insurance against having to use your own auto
insurance. ...

Shawn Hirn:
Its also useful for those who don't own a car or an auto insurance
policy and who drive only rental cars when the need arises.

No, in that case it makes no difference whether the credit card
insurance is primary or secondary.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "I don't have a life; I have a program." --the Doctor
| (Michael Piller, Star Trek: Voyager, "Tattoo")

Mark Brader wrote:
No, in that case it makes no difference whether the credit card
insurance is primary or secondary.

Right, and it's rather unfair in that regard. The person with no
personal car, or at least no personal insurance, gets a better deal.

Interesting to read everyone's different views on this .

I use ATT Gold Card which picks up $10,000 of damage after any coverage
that I might have. Since I have no collision protection on my own car ( 98
Toyota) ATT is only protection I have. I am making a conscious decision
each time that if more than $10,000 of damage to rental vehicle I'm on the
hook for the balance, but ( luckily) never had any incidents so saved
quite a bit. Of course if I total a 18,000 car then I'm out $8,000 after
AT&T's 10,000 payout.

Someone earlier mentioned California proof of insurance. I have rented in
CA every previous year (but not this year), done as above, and never had
to show anything ... is that something new this year ??

Bobb


"Sapphyre" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Aug 17, 3:35 pm, "Keith Willshaw"
wrote:
Foreign renters typically do NOT get coverage from either their
credit cards or home auto insurance, personally I purchase
cover from AMEX as part of my annual travel cover but
most Brits take out CDW rather than bear the risk personally.

I'm a foreign renter (Canada). My insurance will cover liability to
$1M, but to be honest, I'm not 100% how that affects my rental. They
don't cover CDW because I don't even have that on my own car, so I
can't add the rider for rental cars.

I do have a MasterCard with a $99 annual fee for auto insurance on
rentals and medical for trips up to 31 days. Most rental companies
don't allow more than 28 day rentals anyways, so it works out okay. I
need the medical more than anything as that's around $3 per day with
some insurance providers (and one or two trips per year will be enough
to justify the $99 annual fee). Not to mention the fee itself is
cheaper than CDW on a one week rental in some cases.

I do purchase Extended Protection or Supplemental Liability Insurance
(damage to the other car), since to the best of my knowledge, CDW on
my credit card does not cover that. They also don't cover the other
party's medical expenses should that be a situation. In the US where
health care is not universal, I do not want to be sued and lose my
house paying for someone's medical. After all, accidents happen,
they're called accidents for a reason, if I knew it was going to
happen I'd avoid it, but we often can't do that. (I've never been in a
single accident, but don't want bad luck to make my first one a bad
one...) I also want to have CDW mostly to protect myself against
paying for dings in the parking lot. Someone did $1500 in damage to my
driver side door outside where I work, and I can't even claim since I
didn't see how did it. I'd hate to have to pay for that on a rental.
At least on my car, I don't care that much since the car is only worth
$2000 now.

S.

"- Bobb -" schrieb

I use ATT Gold Card which picks up $10,000 of damage after any coverage
that I might have.

My VISA Gold covers almost everything but damage to my (own or rental) car.
Most of the time I opt for CDW when I rent. Makes me sleep better when
I'm on holiday :-)

"Sapphyre" wrote in message

Most rental companies
don't allow more than 28 day rentals anyways

Of course they do. Check for 'long term rental' on their websites. You can't
book that on the 'normal' reservations pages because special rates apply.

Jochen