Renting a car: stick with GEICO or pay for the rental company’s insurance?

I actually just went through this whole debate before my last trip. The “loss of use” thing is wild—never even crossed my mind until I read about it here.

I always tell folks: read the fine print, but who actually does that on vacation?

Yeah, the “loss of use” thing threw me for a loop the first time I heard about it too. I always figured my regular insurance had me covered, but then a buddy of mine got hit with a bill from the rental company after a fender bender—not just for repairs, but for the days the car was out of commission. His own auto policy didn’t cover that part, and he ended up out a few hundred bucks. That made me rethink just relying on my regular insurance.

I still lean toward using my own coverage most of the time, but if I’m somewhere unfamiliar or the rental contract looks extra complicated, I’ll actually pay for their insurance just to avoid the headache. It does feel like a bit of a rip-off sometimes, though. The fine print is brutal… there’s always some random clause you missed. I wish they’d just make it straightforward, but I guess that’s wishful thinking.

It does feel like a bit of a rip-off sometimes, though. The fine print is brutal… there’s always some random clause you missed.

You’re not wrong about the fine print being a nightmare. Rental contracts are basically designed to trip you up if you’re not paying attention. I’ve been burned by “loss of use” too—thought my regular insurance had it covered, but nope, got slapped with a bill for days the car was in the shop. Not fun.

- You’re smart to actually read through the contract and not just assume your own policy covers everything.
- I get what you mean about it feeling like a rip-off. Half the time, the rental company insurance costs more than the actual rental.
- Still, if you’re in an unfamiliar place or just don’t want to deal with headaches after an accident, paying extra for their coverage can be worth it. Peace of mind isn’t cheap, but neither is getting stuck with surprise fees.

I usually roll the dice and stick with my own insurance unless I’m traveling somewhere where I know things get sketchy or if I see weird clauses in the paperwork. But yeah, it’s always a gamble.

Honestly, they make it complicated on purpose. If it was straightforward, they’d lose out on all those extra charges people don’t see coming. Just gotta pick your battles—sometimes eating that extra cost up front saves you from way bigger headaches later.

You’re not alone in thinking it’s all kind of shady. At least you’re going in with your eyes open now. That’s more than most people do.

Honestly, they make it complicated on purpose. If it was straightforward, they’d lose out on all those extra charges people don’t see coming.

That’s the part that gets me every time. Last year, we rented a minivan for a family trip and I thought I’d covered all the bases with my own insurance. Turns out, there was some “diminished value” clause buried in the paperwork. We got a tiny scratch in a parking lot and ended up paying way more than expected. Ever since then, I’m super cautious—sometimes I just pay for their coverage if it means not stressing about every little thing. Not cheap, but my sanity is worth something too.

We got a tiny scratch in a parking lot and ended up paying way more than expected.

That’s exactly what worries me. I’m renting for the first time next month and I’ve been reading all the fine print, but it’s honestly overwhelming. I keep thinking my regular insurance (GEICO) should be enough, but then I see stories like yours and start second-guessing. The extra coverage feels expensive, but dealing with surprise fees later sounds worse. Not sure there’s a perfect answer, but I’m leaning toward just paying for the peace of mind this time.