Ever since, I just pay for the extra coverage, especially in places with wildlife all over the roads.
That reminds me of our road trip through Montana last summer—saw more deer than cars some days. I’m curious, did your credit card offer any kind of rental coverage? I’ve heard mixed things about relying on that versus paying the rental company.
I’ve actually relied on my credit card’s rental coverage a few times, but I always double-check the fine print. Some cards only offer secondary coverage, which means your own insurance gets hit first. In Montana, with all those deer, I just pay for the extra—it’s not worth the headache if something happens.
I get the logic behind paying extra, especially with Montana’s wildlife situation—hitting a deer is no joke. But honestly, I still question whether it’s worth it every single time. I’ve read so many stories where people paid for the rental company’s insurance and still got stuck with weird fees or loopholes. Like, you think you’re covered, but then they point to some clause about “loss of use” or “diminished value” and suddenly you’re out a few hundred bucks anyway.
I usually stick with my credit card coverage and just drive extra cautiously, but I’ll admit, I’m not super risk-averse. Maybe I’m just stubborn, but if my personal insurance and credit card together cover most scenarios, I’d rather not throw more money at the rental company. That said, if you’re not comfortable with even a little risk, the peace of mind might be worth the extra cost. For me, though, I’d rather gamble a bit than pay those crazy daily fees.
I’ve read so many stories where people paid for the rental company’s insurance and still got stuck with weird fees or loopholes.
That’s exactly what makes me hesitate too. I want to believe the extra insurance is a safety net, but those fine-print “gotchas” are everywhere. I’m pretty cautious behind the wheel, but Montana highways at dusk? Even the best driver can’t predict a deer sprinting out of nowhere. I usually cave and pay for the coverage, just because I hate surprises on my credit card statement... but yeah, it does sting paying those daily fees when you feel like you’re already covered.
I usually cave and pay for the coverage, just because I hate surprises on my credit card statement... but yeah, it does sting paying those daily fees when you feel like you’re already covered.
I totally get the “hate surprises on my credit card statement” thing. That’s what keeps me up at night when I’m booking a rental. I’ve never actually bought the extra insurance before, but I’m planning my first Montana trip and it’s making me second-guess everything. The idea of a deer popping out on a dark highway is exactly the kind of scenario that makes me nervous.
I’ve been combing through my credit card benefits and my regular car insurance policy, trying to figure out if I’m actually covered or if there’s some weird exclusion for rentals in certain states. It’s like, you think you’re safe, but then there’s always some clause you missed. Has anyone actually had to file a claim with their own insurance or credit card after a rental car accident? Did it go smoothly, or was it a paperwork nightmare? I feel like that’s the real test—if it’s more hassle than it’s worth, maybe the rental company’s overpriced coverage is just the cost of peace of mind...