Those rental desk folks might push hard, but sometimes the extra coverage is worth the peace of mind, especially if you’re far from home.
Honestly, I’ve seen it go both ways. I get what you’re saying about “loss of use”—that’s a sneaky one. But in my experience, it really depends on the rental company and the specific policy. I’ve had clients where GEICO actually did step up and cover the downtime, but yeah, sometimes they don’t. The thing is, a lot of people pay for the rental company’s coverage and never need it. It’s kind of a gamble either way. I always tell folks to double-check their policy wording before the trip... those little details make a difference.
Honestly, you nailed it—those “loss of use” charges can sneak up on you like a squirrel at a picnic. I’ve seen folks breeze through with just their regular policy, and others get tripped up by fine print. It’s a bit of a coin toss, but checking your coverage before you travel is the real MVP move. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks, sometimes it’s just paying for a fancy piece of paper... depends on your luck and risk tolerance, I guess.
Yeah, I hear you on the “loss of use” thing. That one bit me a few years back—thought my regular insurance had me covered, but turns out, nope, not for the rental company’s downtime. Ended up paying more than if I’d just coughed up for their coverage in the first place. It’s wild how those little details can make or break your trip.
I get that some folks roll the dice and walk away fine, but honestly, I’d rather pay a bit extra than spend my vacation arguing with an adjuster over technicalities. Maybe it’s just my luck, but every time I try to save a buck on insurance, something goes sideways. You’re right though—it really does come down to how much risk you’re willing to take. Some people are cool with it, but I’m not about that stress anymore.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had the opposite experience. I’ve rented cars all over the place and never once had an issue with my regular insurance (I’m with GEICO too). Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but every time they try to upsell me at the counter, it feels like a scare tactic.
“every time I try to save a buck on insurance, something goes sideways.”
For me, it’s usually the other way around—pay extra for peace of mind and then nothing happens. I guess it really is just about your own risk tolerance. Personally, I’d rather take my chances than pay double for coverage I probably won’t use... but yeah, if you’ve been burned before, I totally get not wanting to mess with it again.
That’s totally fair—sometimes it really does come down to luck and personal comfort level. I’ve had a couple close calls with rentals, so I tend to err on the side of caution. Not saying the upsell isn’t annoying, but after dealing with a fender bender in a classic Mustang (not my fault, thankfully), I just can’t shake that “what if” feeling. Your approach makes sense too, though... no one wants to pay for coverage they never use.