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

I get the concern, but honestly, I’ve rented in Montana a few times and never bothered with the extra insurance. My regular policy covered me, and I just drove a bit more carefully on those gravel roads. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but sometimes the extra cost feels like overkill.

“My regular policy covered me, and I just drove a bit more carefully on those gravel roads. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but sometimes the extra cost feels like overkill.”

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a few folks get burned by assuming their personal auto policy would cover everything. One guy thought he was all set, then hit a deer outside Bozeman - turns out his policy didn’t cover “loss of use” fees the rental company charged while the car was in the shop. That added up fast.

Montana’s got those long stretches where help isn’t exactly around the corner, and even careful drivers can end up with cracked windshields or dings from flying rocks. Not saying everyone needs to shell out for every add-on, but sometimes that extra coverage saves a lot of headache (and money) if something weird happens. Guess it depends on your risk tolerance... but after seeing enough claims go sideways, I tend to err on the side of caution.

I hear you - those “loss of use” fees are sneaky and most people don’t even think about them until it’s too late. I’ve always wondered if credit card rental coverage actually fills in those gaps, or if it’s just as full of loopholes as the regular insurance. Anyone ever had to actually file a claim through their card after an accident?

I’ve always wondered if credit card rental coverage actually fills in those gaps, or if it’s just as full of loopholes as the regular insurance.

- Checked my Chase card’s policy last time I rented in Montana - turns out “loss of use” is covered, but only if the rental company actually documents that their fleet was at 100% capacity when the car was out of commission.
- Had a friend try to claim once; the card company wanted a ton of paperwork from the rental agency, which they never provided. Claim denied.
- Seems like these policies are written to sound reassuring but can be tricky in practice.

Curious - has anyone seen a rental agency actually provide that utilization documentation? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Curious - has anyone seen a rental agency actually provide that utilization documentation? Or is that just wishful thinking?

I’ve never once seen a rental company go out of their way to provide that kind of detailed utilization proof. Most of the time, they just shrug it off or say it’s “against policy.” It really does feel like these protections exist more on paper than in real life. That said, I always opt for the extra coverage, especially when I’m renting something higher-end. The peace of mind is worth the cost, even if it stings a bit at checkout.