- I never trust the credit card coverage—too many loopholes, too much fine print.
- My driving record’s not great, so my insurance rates are already high. Rental company insurance is a ripoff, but at least it’s clear what’s covered.
- Ever had your own insurance jack up your rates after a rental car claim? That’s what worries me more than the “loss of use” stuff.
- Been there with the rate hikes after a claim—hurts way more than the rental company’s daily insurance fee.
- Credit card coverage is a gamble, I agree. Too many hoops to jump through, and they’ll find any excuse to deny a claim.
- Rental company insurance is overpriced, but at least you know what you’re getting. Peace of mind sometimes costs extra, especially if your record’s not spotless.
- Honestly, if you’re worried about your rates going up, paying the rental company might be the lesser evil. Not ideal, but sometimes you just gotta pick your poison.
I’ve been burned by a rate hike after a minor fender bender in a rental—thought my regular insurance would have me covered, but the premium jump was brutal. Ever since, I tend to bite the bullet and pay for the rental company’s coverage, especially on trips where I’m not familiar with the area or roads. It stings paying extra, but honestly, the peace of mind is worth it for me. Credit card coverage always sounds good on paper, but those exclusions and paperwork are a headache... I’d rather not roll the dice.
I get where you're coming from, especially after a rate hike like that. That kind of surprise is enough to make anyone gun-shy about relying on their main insurance. But I keep wondering if the rental company’s coverage is really worth it for most situations, or if it’s just a psychological safety net.
You mentioned,
Credit card coverage always sounds good on paper, but those exclusions and paperwork are a headache... I’d rather not roll the dice.
Totally agree that credit card coverage can be a maze—every card has different rules, and half the time you only find out what’s NOT covered when you actually need it. But have you ever tried calling your credit card company ahead of time and getting them to send you the full policy? It’s tedious, but sometimes you find out it’s more comprehensive than expected. I did that with my Chase Sapphire and was surprised by how much they actually covered (as long as I declined the rental company’s insurance). Still, there are weird loopholes—like “luxury” cars or certain countries being excluded. Super annoying.
On the other hand, paying $15-30 extra per day for rental coverage adds up fast, especially on longer trips. I’ve started looking at my destination and trip length before deciding. If I’m in a city with good roads and low theft risk, I’ll usually stick with my regular insurance plus credit card backup. If I’m somewhere unfamiliar or driving in rougher areas (or internationally), then yeah, maybe the rental company’s insurance makes sense.
One thing that bugs me: rental companies love to upsell their insurance at the counter with all kinds of scare tactics. Ever notice how they never mention your existing coverage might be enough? Makes me wonder how many people are double-insured without realizing it.
Curious if anyone here has actually had an easy claims experience with a rental company’s insurance? Or is it just as much of a hassle as dealing with your own insurer? For me, peace of mind is great, but only if it actually works when you need it...
Curious if anyone here has actually had an easy claims experience with a rental company’s insurance? Or is it just as much of a hassle as dealing with your own insurer? For me, peace of mind is great, but only if it actually works when you need it...
Honestly, I’ve had one claim with rental company insurance and it was... not the breeze I’d hoped for. The pitch at the counter makes it sound like you just hand over the keys and walk away if anything happens, but in reality, there was still paperwork, calls, and a lot of “we’ll get back to you.” Not as bad as wrangling with my regular insurer, but definitely not instant relief.
Here’s how I usually break it down:
1. Check if my personal policy (GEICO in my case) covers rentals—most do, but double-check the fine print for exclusions.
2. Look up what my credit card covers. Like you said, calling ahead is a pain, but I’ve found some surprises that way too.
3. Think about where I’m driving—big city vs. rural, US vs. abroad, etc.
4. If I’m feeling paranoid or the trip is high-risk, maybe I’ll spring for the rental coverage... but usually, I skip it.
Rental companies definitely play up the fear factor. I swear, last time the agent made it sound like I’d be personally liable for a meteor strike.
