I’ve been wrestling with this exact question, especially since I’m about to rent a car for the first time. The idea of a cracked windshield in Montana—where I hear rocks basically fly at you for sport—makes me a little nervous. I keep reading that credit cards and regular insurance “usually” cover it, but then there’s always that fine print about “exclusions” and “secondary coverage.” Makes me wonder if they just have a secret club for denying claims.
Honestly, I’m tempted to just roll the dice and skip the extra insurance too. But then again, my luck is such that the one time I don’t get it, a moose will probably sneeze on the car and I’ll be stuck arguing with my credit card company about “acts of wildlife.” I guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take. If you’ve never had to file a claim, maybe you’re living right... or maybe you just haven’t rented in Montana yet.
Makes me wonder if they just have a secret club for denying claims.
That’s honestly not far off—those exclusions can be sneaky. Even if your credit card says it covers damage, will it handle chipped windshields or “acts of wildlife”? Sometimes you’re left with a deductible or a long back-and-forth. I always ask: how much hassle are you willing to risk if something goes sideways? In Montana, with all those gravel roads, the odds aren’t zero.
Honestly, I’ve had my credit card “coverage” fall apart over a cracked windshield—ended up paying out of pocket after three months of emails. Montana roads chew up rentals. If you can’t stomach the hassle, just get the extra insurance. Not worth the headache.
Title: Extra Insurance in Montana? My Wallet Still Has Nightmares
“Montana roads chew up rentals. If you can’t stomach the hassle, just get the extra insurance. Not worth the headache.”
That line about Montana roads is painfully accurate. I swear, every time I drive through there, it feels like the highway’s actively trying to eat my car. I once rented a sedan for a work trip out of Billings—figured I’d save a few bucks skipping the extra insurance since my credit card “had me covered.” Fast forward two days, and a rogue pebble (or maybe a small boulder, who knows) left a chip in the windshield. By the time I returned the car, that chip had turned into a crack that looked like modern art.
Cue the three-month saga of emails, phone calls, and “we’re still reviewing your claim” messages. My credit card company wanted documentation from the rental agency, the rental agency wanted documentation from my credit card, and I just wanted to stop feeling like I was starring in a Kafka novel. In the end, I paid out of pocket and learned that “coverage” sometimes means “good luck, buddy.”
I get why people skip the extra insurance—it’s not cheap, and half the time it feels like a scam. But after that Montana trip, I’m not rolling those dice again. Maybe if you’re the type who never gets so much as a parking ticket, you’ll be fine. Me? I attract road hazards like a magnet. If there’s a pothole, I’ll find it. If there’s a deer thinking about crossing, it’ll wait until I’m passing by.
Long story short: if you’re even a little accident-prone or just unlucky (like me), that extra insurance starts to look like a bargain. Montana’s beautiful, but those roads don’t mess around.
- Been there with the “my card covers it” headache. Sometimes the hassle just isn’t worth the few bucks saved.
- Montana roads are brutal—no joke. I’ve patched more tires there than anywhere else.
- I get wanting to skip the extra cost, but peace of mind has value too. Sometimes you just gotta pay for less stress.
- Don’t beat yourself up—live and learn. Next time, you’ll know what’s worth it for you.
