I’ve always wondered about that “loss of use” thing—like, how do you even know if the rental company’s being fair about the downtime? I mean, what if they just let the car sit around for a week before even starting repairs? I get why extra coverage might help, but sometimes it feels like a gamble. Has anyone actually tried to negotiate those charges or push back? Or is it just easier to pay and move on?
I’ve actually wondered about that too, especially since I’m new to all this insurance stuff. From what I’ve read, you can ask the rental company for proof of how long the car was out of service, like repair invoices or shop records. Some people say you can push back if it seems fishy, but I haven’t tried it myself. Does anyone know if your regular auto insurance would cover “loss of use,” or is that only with the rental’s coverage?
- Had a similar situation a couple years back when I rented a pickup in Billings for a car show.
- My regular insurance (classic auto policy, but with some rental coverage) did *not* cover “loss of use.” They were clear about that when I called to check.
- The rental company tried to charge me for 5 days of “loss of use” while their truck was in the shop, but I asked for proof. They sent over a repair invoice, but it only showed 2 days in the shop. I pushed back and they dropped the extra charges.
- From what I’ve seen, most standard auto policies don’t cover loss of use unless you have some kind of special endorsement. Credit cards sometimes do, but it’s hit or miss—definitely worth reading the fine print there.
- Honestly, these rental companies can be pretty aggressive about tacking on fees. If you’re driving something rare or expensive (like a classic), I’d double-check every bit of coverage.
- In Montana especially, some smaller rental outfits aren’t as buttoned-up as the big chains, so you might have more room to negotiate if something seems off... but it’s always a gamble.
That’s a good point about the “loss of use” thing—most folks don’t realize that gap until it pops up on a bill. I’ve seen people get tripped up by diminished value too, where the rental company claims the car’s worth less after an accident. Has anyone actually had their credit card come through on a claim like that, or is that just wishful thinking? I’ve always wondered how often those benefits actually pay out versus just looking good in the brochure...
I’ve actually tried to use my credit card’s rental coverage once after a fender bender—let’s just say it was about as smooth as driving through a Montana snowstorm in July. They covered the damage, but “loss of use”? Nope. Diminished value? Forget it. Those perks look great until you need ‘em...
