Do you really need extra insurance for a rental in Montana?

I’ve always wondered about those “loss of use” and “admin fee” charges too. It’s like, you think you’re covered, then suddenly there’s a whole list of extras they tack on. One time, my credit card did cover the actual repair, but they flat-out refused to pay the admin fee. Ended up out of pocket anyway. Does anyone actually read those fine print sections in the credit card guide? I swear, every time I try, my eyes glaze over. Maybe the real trick is just taking photos of the car before and after... but then, what do you do when a deer decides to play chicken at dusk?

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from - those admin fees are sneaky. But I’d push back a bit on the idea that photos alone will save you. In my experience:

- Photos help with damage disputes, but they won’t do anything for “loss of use” or admin charges.
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“Maybe the real trick is just taking photos of the car before and after... but then, what do you do when a deer decides to play chicken at dusk?”

I know it’s a pain, but sometimes that extra insurance is worth it, especially if you’re driving somewhere remote or unpredictable.

Been there with the unpaved road thing - Montana’s got more dirt than pavement, it feels like. I used to skip the extra insurance, but after a close call with a wandering elk, I’m not so sure it’s worth the risk out here. Photos are good for scratches and dents, but they’re useless if you hit something alive or get stuck with “loss of use” fees. I still hate paying for coverage, but in Montana, I kinda get why people do.

Photos are good for scratches and dents, but they’re useless if you hit something alive or get stuck with “loss of use” fees.

Yeah, “loss of use” is the one that catches people off guard. Even if you’re super careful, stuff just happens out here - wildlife, gravel, random hailstorms... Curious if anyone’s actually had a rental company try to charge them for downtime? That’s the one I see folks get most frustrated about.

Honestly, the “loss of use” thing is a nightmare. I got dinged with it once after a deer ran out in front of me near Bozeman - wasn’t even major damage, but the car was out of commission for a few days. The rental company tried to charge me for every day it sat in the shop. My regular insurance didn’t cover that part, either. Learned the hard way that the extra rental coverage isn’t just a scam... sometimes it’s the only thing that saves your wallet.