the fine print is just so confusing. For example, my card says it covers “collision damage” but then there’s all these exceptions about “loss of use” and “diminished value.” I have no clue what that means in practice.
Those exclusions trip up a lot of people. “Loss of use” is basically the daily rental fee the company claims they lose while the car’s being repaired—most credit cards don’t cover that, and it adds up fast. I’ve seen plenty of cases where people assumed their card would handle everything, only to end up fighting over technicalities for weeks. If you want zero hassle, paying for the rental agency’s coverage is the safer bet, even if it’s not cheap. Peace of mind isn’t overrated when you’re on vacation and something goes sideways.
I’m right there with you on the confusion. I just rented a car for the first time last month, and I spent ages reading through my credit card’s “benefits” section. It looked like I was covered for collision, but then the rep at the counter pointed out that if anything happened, I’d be on the hook for “loss of use” and admin fees. That made me nervous, honestly. I ended up paying extra just to avoid stressing about some weird charge popping up later. Maybe it’s overkill, but I don’t love surprises when it comes to money...
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing, and honestly, all those little “extra” fees make my head spin. I always wonder if I’m just paying for peace of mind or if it’s actually necessary. Like, is “loss of use” something that really comes up often, or is it just a scare tactic? I’d rather save the cash, but I also hate the idea of getting hit with a surprise bill later. It’s tough to know what’s actually worth it...
I hear you on the “extra” fees—sometimes it feels like they’re just looking for ways to squeeze more money out of us. But I’ll be honest, after a fender bender in a rental a couple years ago, I’m way more cautious now. My insurance covered most of it, but the “loss of use” charge totally blindsided me. The rental company said they lost money while the car was in the shop and charged me for those days. It wasn’t cheap, either.
I used to think it was just a scare tactic too, but apparently it’s pretty standard if something goes wrong. Guess it depends on your risk tolerance... I’d rather pay a bit extra up front than get slammed with a surprise bill later. Has anyone actually had their credit card cover that “loss of use” stuff? I’ve heard some cards do, but I’m not sure how reliable that is.
I’ve actually been in that boat—rented a car in Bozeman last winter, and my credit card did cover the damage, but not the “loss of use” part. Turns out, some cards only reimburse if the rental company provides proof their fleet was at full capacity. It’s a bit of a gray area. I’d double-check the fine print before relying on it... I learned the hard way that “coverage” doesn’t always mean what you think.
