Honestly, I get the whole “just use your own insurance” thing, but after seeing a friend get hit with a $900 “loss of use” bill that GEICO wouldn’t cover, I’m not so sure it’s always worth the risk.
That stuff’s real. Sometimes paying a little extra for the rental company’s coverage just saves a ton of hassle if something goes sideways.Some insurers get weirdly specific about “loss of use” fees or diminished value, and those can sneak up on you.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had more issues with the rental company’s insurance than my own. Here’s my take:
- Rental coverage is overpriced and full of loopholes. They’ll still try to ding you for stuff.
- GEICO (or whoever) at least has to follow state laws and can’t just make up fees.
- I’ve had a couple fender benders—my own insurance handled it, no drama, just paid the deductible.
Yeah, “loss of use” sucks, but I’d rather risk that than pay double for a maybe. Just my two cents...
Honestly, I get why you’d stick with your own insurance—it’s usually less hassle, and you know what you’re dealing with. But I’ve seen a couple of situations where using the rental company’s coverage actually made things easier. Like, a friend of mine had a rock hit the windshield, and the rental company just swapped the car out, no paperwork, no deductible, no waiting for claims. Sometimes that peace of mind is worth the extra cost, especially if you’re traveling out of state or internationally. It’s not always a ripoff, just depends on the trip and how risk-averse you are.
Sometimes that peace of mind is worth the extra cost, especially if you’re traveling out of state or internationally.
I get that, but I always wonder—if you have a couple of tickets or an accident on your record, does the rental company’s insurance actually cover you, or do they jack up the price? Anyone run into that?
I get that, but I always wonder—if you have a couple of tickets or an accident on your record, does the rental company’s insurance actually cover you, or do they jack up the price?
Yeah, peace of mind is nice, but I’m with you—cost matters. From what I’ve seen, rental companies don’t usually check your driving record unless it’s a major thing (like a DUI). Their insurance still covers you, but if you’ve got something serious on your record, they might refuse to rent to you at all. For minor stuff like a speeding ticket or two, they just charge everyone the same high rate for insurance. It’s not like regular car insurance where your history changes the price.
If you’re trying to save money, double-check if your own policy or credit card covers rentals. That way you’re not paying extra for basically the same thing.
