That “loss of use” thing really gets me—seems like a sneaky charge most folks wouldn’t even think about. Has anyone actually had luck getting their credit card to cover that, or is it just a lost cause? I always wonder if paying for the rental company’s coverage is just giving in to fear, or if it’s actually saved someone from a nightmare scenario. Curious if anyone’s ever had the rental company fight them on what’s “covered” after the fact, too... feels like there’s always some fine print waiting to trip you up.
I get what you mean about “loss of use”—it does feel kind of sneaky. But honestly, I’ve actually had my credit card cover it once. It took a bit of back and forth, but they eventually paid up. I think a lot of folks just give up too soon or don’t send all the paperwork the card company wants. Still, it’s a hassle, and some cards are way better than others with this stuff.
I used to always skip the rental company’s insurance, but after a fender bender in a snowstorm last winter, I caved and started buying it when I’m in places like Montana. The peace of mind was worth it for me, especially since the rental company made a huge fuss over a tiny scratch and tried to charge for “loss of use” AND “diminished value.” My regular insurance didn’t cover either. I guess it depends on your risk tolerance, but I wouldn’t call the extra coverage a total waste—sometimes it really does save your butt.
Honestly, I’ve seen people get tripped up by “loss of use” too—it’s one of those things you don’t think about until it bites you. Credit cards can help, but yeah, the paperwork is a pain. For places like Montana, with unpredictable weather, that extra coverage is sometimes worth the headache it saves. I’ve had clients surprised when their own insurance didn’t cover diminished value either... it’s not as clear-cut as folks think.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced the extra insurance is always worth it. I’ve rented in Montana a few times—yeah, weather can be nuts, but I’ve never had an issue my credit card or personal policy couldn’t handle. The “loss of use” thing seems like a scare tactic sometimes… maybe I’ve just been lucky, but the rental companies love to upsell those policies.
Honestly, if you drive something high-end at home, your own coverage is probably pretty solid already. I do agree the paperwork is a headache if something happens, but that’s true with any claim. For me, I’d rather risk a bit of hassle than pay double for coverage I might never use. Maybe that’s just me being stubborn, but I haven’t regretted skipping the extra so far.
I’m with you on this one. Rented in Montana last winter—roads were a mess, but my regular auto policy and credit card covered everything I needed. The counter guy tried to push the extra insurance hard, but I just said no. Only time I ever regretted skipping it was when a friend got dinged for a cracked windshield, but even then, his own insurance sorted it out. I’d rather deal with a little paperwork than shell out for coverage I probably won’t use.