I’m with you on the “loss of use” thing—honestly, that’s the part that makes me second-guess just relying on my regular insurance. I’ve heard stories where people got hit with those fees and their insurance wouldn’t touch it. Has anyone actually had to deal with a claim like that? I always wonder if it’s just a scare tactic or if it really happens often. I usually end up paying for the rental company’s coverage when I’m traveling with the kids, just for the peace of mind, but it feels like such a ripoff sometimes.
I’ve heard stories where people got hit with those fees and their insurance wouldn’t touch it.
That’s not just a scare tactic. I’ve seen it happen—rental companies will absolutely go after you for “loss of use” if the car’s out of commission, and a lot of standard policies (including GEICO) don’t always cover it. It’s buried in the fine print. Personally, I hate paying extra, but when traveling with family, I’d rather not gamble. The peace of mind is worth a few bucks, even if it feels like a ripoff.
That’s a good point about “loss of use”—it catches a lot of people off guard. I’ve seen claims where folks thought their regular policy would handle everything, but then got stuck with those extra charges. Sometimes credit cards help, but not always. Has anyone actually had a rental company try to bill them for diminished value too? That one seems even trickier to get covered.
Diminished value is a weird one—I've actually seen a friend get hit with it after a fender bender in a rental. The rental company claimed the car was worth less even after repairs and sent her a bill. Her regular insurance (State Farm, not GEICO) said they don’t cover that, and her credit card only covered damage, not diminished value. She ended up paying out of pocket. From what I’ve read, most personal auto policies and credit cards exclude diminished value, so unless you buy the rental company’s insurance, you’re probably on the hook if they push it. Not super common, but it does happen.
The rental company claimed the car was worth less even after repairs and sent her a bill.
That’s a tough break for your friend. Diminished value claims are one of those sneaky things most folks don’t think about until it’s too late.
- Most personal auto policies (including GEICO) and credit cards really do exclude diminished value, just like you said.
- Rental company insurance usually covers it, but it can be pricey.
- Even if you’re a careful driver, all it takes is someone else bumping into you in a parking lot...
Curious—has anyone here actually had a rental company *not* pursue diminished value after an accident? Or is this just luck of the draw?
