I totally get where you’re coming from—Montana roads can be unpredictable, and wildlife doesn’t care if you’re in a rental or your own car. I’ve never had to file through my credit card, but honestly, I’d rather pay a bit extra for the peace of mind. Those “secondary” coverages can get tricky, and I’ve heard stories about people getting stuck in paperwork limbo. For me, it’s worth the extra cost just to avoid the headache if something goes sideways.
I hear you on the paperwork headaches—nobody wants to be stuck arguing with a credit card company over coverage. But honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks pay for the extra rental insurance and never need it, especially if their own car insurance or credit card already has them covered. I remember one client who hit a deer outside of Bozeman (not fun), and her regular policy plus her card actually took care of everything. She did have to make a few calls, but it wasn’t the nightmare people make it out to be.
I get wanting peace of mind, but sometimes those extra fees add up fast, especially if you’re renting for more than a few days. I usually tell people to double-check what their own insurance and credit cards offer before shelling out for more. It’s not always as risky as it sounds, and you can save a chunk of change if you’re willing to do a little homework upfront. Just my two cents...
I totally get where you’re coming from about those extra fees stacking up. Like you said,
I’ve been in situations where my driving record made me nervous, but even then, my credit card’s coverage was enough after I checked the fine print. It took a bit of digging, but it saved me a good chunk of cash. The paperwork can be a pain, but honestly, it’s usually manageable if you keep your docs handy. Peace of mind is great, but not if it costs double the rental.“sometimes those extra fees add up fast, especially if you’re renting for more than a few days.”
Honestly, I’m with you on skipping the extra insurance if your credit card or regular car policy covers rentals. What’s worked for me: I call my insurance company before booking, double-check what’s actually covered, and screenshot the relevant bits just in case. Rental agents sometimes push hard for add-ons, but if you’ve got proof, it makes it way less awkward. Only time I paid extra was when driving on unpaved roads—Montana’s got a lot of those, and some cards won’t cover that. Otherwise, I just keep all my docs handy and roll with what I’ve already got.
I’ve been stressing about this exact thing since I’m renting for the first time in Montana this summer. The rental agent on the phone made it sound like skipping their insurance was basically asking for disaster, but I checked with my regular car insurance and they said rentals are covered. What’s tripping me up is the unpaved road bit you mentioned—my trip’s mostly backroads and trailheads. Guess I’ll have to call my credit card company too. Never realized how many little loopholes there are... kind of makes me wish it was more straightforward.
