Yeah, those “loss of use” fees can sneak up on you. I’ve had to argue with a rental company once when they tried to tack it on—my insurance didn’t fully cover it either. Now I always:
- Check if my credit card offers any secondary coverage (some do, some don’t).
- Call my regular insurance to clarify what’s actually covered, especially for rentals.
- Only spring for the rental company’s coverage if I’m out of state or somewhere with crazy traffic. Otherwise, I just cross my fingers and hope for the best.
It’s a bit of a gamble, but reading the fine print saves headaches later.
It’s a bit of a gamble, but reading the fine print saves headaches later.
Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Got dinged for “loss of use” after a fender bender in a rental—GEICO only covered part of it, and my card didn’t help at all. Now I:
- Always ask about every possible fee at the counter (they hate it, but whatever).
- Double-check if my policy covers high-risk drivers like me—sometimes there’s weird exclusions.
- Usually skip the rental insurance unless I’m in a city with wild drivers or bad weather.
Honestly, sometimes paying extra is cheaper than dealing with the hassle later... depends on where you’re renting.
Rental car insurance is one of those things people don’t think about until they’re standing at the counter, tired from a flight, and suddenly being upsold every coverage under the sun. I’ve seen folks get burned by “loss of use” charges more than once—rental companies love to tack that on, and most personal policies (including GEICO) only cover so much. Credit cards are hit or miss, too. Some only cover collision, not liability, and almost none touch “loss of use” or admin fees.
I always tell people: if you’re renting in a place where drivers are nuts or weather’s unpredictable, that extra $15-20 a day for the rental company’s coverage can be worth it just for peace of mind. But if you’re somewhere familiar and your own policy is solid, skipping it makes sense. Just don’t assume your regular insurance covers everything—those exclusions are sneaky. I’ve seen claims denied over stuff like “commercial use” or “out-of-state rentals.” It’s not fun arguing with adjusters after the fact.
Bottom line: read the fine print, ask annoying questions, and don’t trust the guy at the counter to explain it all. They’re just trying to move the line along.
I learned the hard way that “loss of use” isn’t just a scare tactic. Got into a fender bender in a rental, figured my GEICO would handle it, but nope—ended up paying out of pocket for days the car was in the shop. That extra $15/day stings less than a surprise $400 bill, trust me. If your driving record’s not spotless (mine sure isn’t), the rental company’s coverage is sometimes just the safer bet, even if it feels like a ripoff.
I get what you’re saying about the rental company insurance being the safer bet, but honestly, I’ve never been totally sold on it. Yeah, “loss of use” is a real thing, but if you’ve got decent coverage on your own policy (like most full coverage plans), it usually extends to rentals. I always double-check my own insurance before signing on for those extra charges at the counter. Feels like they’re banking on people’s fear more than anything.
Had a rental scrape once in Arizona—my classic car’s never seen that kind of action—and my insurer handled everything, including loss of use, after a bit of paperwork. Maybe it depends on the company or the state, but I’d rather risk a little paperwork than pay $15 a day for nothing most trips. Just gotta read the fine print and make sure your policy covers what you think it does. Those little charges add up fast if you rent often...
