Rented a car in Montana last summer and the rental agent was really pushing their insurance. I ended up just using my credit card coverage and my own auto policy, but I kept second guessing myself the whole trip. Nothing happened, but now I'm wondering if I got lucky or if that's what most people do. Anyone ever actually needed the rental company’s coverage out there, or is it just overkill?
I always skip the rental company’s insurance, but I drive higher-end cars at home and my policy covers rentals. Still, I’ve wondered—if you actually get into a fender bender out there, does the hassle of dealing with your own insurance or credit card outweigh the extra cost? Anyone ever had to file a claim through their card or personal policy after something happened in a rental? I’m curious if it’s as smooth as they say, or just a paperwork nightmare.
Honestly, I’ve had to go through my credit card’s coverage once after a minor scrape in a rental. It wasn’t as smooth as I’d hoped. The paperwork dragged on for weeks, and the rental company kept sending me “reminders” about the damage. Like you mentioned—
—it definitely leaned toward the nightmare side for me. The extra cost for the rental company’s insurance always felt steep, but after that hassle, I sometimes wonder if it’s worth paying for peace of mind, especially on short trips.“is it as smooth as they say, or just a paperwork nightmare.”
I hear you on the paperwork nightmare. I had a fender bender in a rental once, and dealing with the credit card insurance was a pain—lots of back and forth, and the rental company kept calling about “unresolved charges.” Like you said,
For longer trips, I still skip it, but for a weekend away, I’ll sometimes just pay up to avoid the headache. It’s not cheap, but sometimes my time is worth more.“the extra cost for the rental company’s insurance always felt steep, but after that hassle, I sometimes wonder if it’s worth paying for peace of mind.”
Title: Do You Really Need Extra Insurance For A Rental In Montana?
Honestly, I get why people skip the rental company’s insurance. It’s like buying popcorn at the movies—suddenly your wallet’s on a diet. But man, the paperwork if something goes sideways... that’s where they get you. I’ve seen folks spend more time arguing with credit card reps than they did on their actual vacation.
Thing is, Montana’s got those wide-open roads and, let’s be real, the occasional deer with a death wish. If you’re just zipping around town, maybe your own policy and card are enough. But if you’re heading into the backcountry or planning to test out every gravel road in sight, that extra coverage starts to look less like a scam and more like a sanity-saver.
I’ll admit, I’m biased—I’d rather pay a little more upfront than risk a “choose your own adventure” with insurance claims later. But hey, if you’ve got nerves of steel (or just really good luck), rolling the dice isn’t the worst move either... until it is.
