Extra Insurance in Montana: Worth It or Not?
Been there, done that—Montana roads are no joke. I get the peace of mind argument, but honestly, I’m not convinced the extra insurance is always worth it. Here’s how I look at it, step by step:
1. First thing I do is call my regular car insurance and ask them point-blank: “Do you cover rentals? What about glass? What about loss of use?” If they start talking in circles or using too much jargon, I ask for it in writing. If they can’t give me a straight answer, that’s a red flag.
2. Next, I check my credit card benefits. A lot of cards cover collision damage if you pay for the rental with them. But again, you have to read the fine print—some cards only cover certain types of vehicles or exclude “off-road” driving, which can be a gray area in Montana.
3. If both my insurance and credit card come up short, then yeah, I’ll consider the rental company’s coverage. But those waivers are expensive and sometimes don’t cover everything either (like tires or undercarriage). It’s a bit of a racket.
Last summer, I rented a car in Bozeman and skipped the extra insurance. Got a door ding in a grocery store parking lot—no idea who did it. My regular insurance covered it after a $500 deductible, but the paperwork was a pain and my rates went up a bit. Still, I saved more than I lost by not paying for the waiver every day.
I guess it comes down to your risk tolerance. If you’re hauling kids and want zero hassle, maybe the extra cost is worth it for you. Personally, I’d rather take my chances and keep the cash in my pocket unless I’m driving somewhere really remote or sketchy.
Just don’t trust the rental desk folks to explain it—they’re there to upsell you. Do your homework before you go. And yeah, Montana’s beautiful but rough on cars... watch out for those gravel roads.
If they can’t give me a straight answer, that’s a red flag. 2.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d argue the “paperwork was a pain and my rates went up a bit” part is exactly why I usually just pay for the extra coverage. Not saying it’s cheap, but after dealing with a cracked windshield claim in Kalispell once, I’d rather avoid the hassle. For me, the time and stress saved sometimes outweighs the cost, especially if I’m on vacation and don’t want to deal with insurance calls.
I hear you on the paperwork headache. A few years back, I rented a car in Missoula and figured my regular insurance would cover everything. Ended up with a minor fender bender (barely a scratch, really), but dealing with the back-and-forth between my provider and the rental company was a nightmare. Took weeks to sort out, and my premium crept up after. Now I just pay the extra—costs more, but at least my vacation stays a vacation.
I get the temptation to just pay for the extra coverage and not worry, but I always wonder if it’s really worth it, especially for short trips. I usually call my insurance and credit card company before I travel—sometimes they actually cover more than you’d think, but you have to ask about the fine print. Anyone ever had their credit card actually come through on a claim? I’ve heard mixed stories, and I’m not sure if it’s just luck or if some cards are better than others.
I’ve actually had to file a claim once after a minor fender bender in a rental, and my credit card did cover it... but it was a hassle. Tons of paperwork, back-and-forth emails, and they only paid after the rental company chased me for weeks. I’d say it worked out, but it wasn’t smooth. I’m always tempted to skip the extra insurance too, but with my driving record, I get nervous. Has anyone run into issues with rentals in rural areas like Montana? I wonder if it’s riskier out there with wildlife and all.
