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do you usually buy extra insurance when renting a car in Colorado?
I'm planning a trip to Colorado next month, and I'm gonna rent a car to explore around a bit. Usually, I skip the extra insurance they offer at the rental counter because my credit card supposedly covers it, but honestly, I've never had to test that theory (thankfully!). But now I'm wondering if that's actually smart or if I'm just tempting fate, you know?
I heard somewhere that Colorado has some weird rules or something about rental cars and insurance coverage, but I can't remember exactly what it was. Maybe something about liability or weather-related stuff? Anyway, figured I'd toss up a quick poll to see what most of you guys do.
Poll:
- Always buy the rental company's extra insurance
- Rely on my credit card coverage
- Use my personal auto insurance policy
- Wing it and hope nothing happens
Feel free to share your experiences or horror stories too - might help me make up my mind.
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5 replies
I usually recommend getting at least some extra coverage in Colorado, honestly. Your credit card might cover collision damage, but liability is a whole different ballgame - and Colorado's minimum liability limits are pretty low, meaning you could be on the hook if something serious happens. Plus, weather there can be unpredictable (hail storms out of nowhere, anyone?). Personally, I'd rather pay a bit more upfront than stress about potential gaps in coverage later...just my two cents.
Good points about liability coverage - seen plenty of claims where people underestimated that. But honestly, rental company insurance can get pricey fast. Ever looked into adding a temporary rider to your own auto policy instead? Might be cheaper and still cover those gaps...
Yeah, that's actually a smart suggestion about the temporary rider. I've done that before when renting classics for weekend drives - saved me a decent chunk of change and gave me peace of mind. Might be worth checking into...
Colorado’s minimum liability limits aren’t a cap on what an at-fault driver could owe. Before buying the rental company’s liability supplement, check whether your auto policy covers liability while you’re driving a rental. The card’s collision coverage doesn’t answer that. Would the supplement fill a gap in your policy, or duplicate coverage you already have?
For the hail concern, ask both your auto insurer and card issuer specifically whether damage from hail to a rental car is covered, and whether the card benefit only applies if you decline the rental company’s damage waiver. The details vary by policy and card, so “collision coverage” by itself doesn’t settle whether you’re covered for this risk.