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

Had a buddy get dinged for “loss of use” after a deer ran into his rental in Billings. His regular insurance covered the damage, but he still had to cough up for the days the car was out of commission. The paperwork circus was real. I usually just bite the bullet and pay for the extra coverage - cheaper than stress wrinkles, honestly.

Honestly, that “loss of use” thing is wild. I never even thought about it until my cousin got hit with the same deal after a hailstorm trashed his rental in Bozeman. His regular insurance helped, but he still had to pay for the days the car was in the shop. Now I’m kinda paranoid and usually grab the extra coverage, even if it feels like a ripoff. It’s like buying peace of mind, you know? Montana wildlife doesn’t mess around.

I never even thought about it until my cousin got hit with the same deal after a hailstorm trashed his rental in Bozeman.

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a lot of folks pay for that extra coverage and never actually need it. The “loss of use” charge is real, but sometimes your credit card or even your own auto policy will cover it - just gotta check the fine print. I had a client who got dinged for a deer collision outside Missoula, and his Visa actually picked up the tab for the downtime. It’s not always a ripoff, but it’s not always necessary either. Just depends how much risk you’re willing to take on.

I get the “just check your credit card” angle, but honestly, those policies can be full of loopholes.

“just gotta check the fine print”

Honestly, I’ve been burned before thinking my card had me covered, only to find out about “loss of use” after a deer ran into my rental. In Montana, I just pay the extra - it’s not worth the stress if something weird happens.

“only to find out about ‘loss of use’ after a deer ran into my rental”

That “loss of use” thing gets me every time. I’ve always wondered, do they really lose THAT much money when a car’s in the shop? Had something similar happen a few years back - hailstorm, not a deer, but still, the bill for downtime was nuts. Makes me question if those extra fees are padded or legit. Anyone ever actually see the math on that? I usually roll the dice, but Montana’s wildlife does make me think twice...

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

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen the “loss of use” charges add up, especially with higher-end rentals. A few years back, I rented a BMW for a road trip and a rock cracked the windshield. Even though my own insurance covered the repair, the rental company still charged me for the days it was out of commission. They claimed it was their “average daily rate” times the days in the shop. I asked for proof, and they showed me their fleet utilization numbers - honestly, it looked legit, but who knows if it’s padded a bit.

I used to skip the extra insurance too, but after that, I started adding it, especially in places like Montana where wildlife is everywhere. It’s not just about the repair bill - it’s the hassle and those sneaky fees. If you’re renting something basic, maybe it’s not worth it, but with luxury or specialty cars, the risk feels higher. I’d rather pay a little extra upfront than get hit with a surprise bill later. Just my two cents...

“It’s not just about the repair bill - it’s the hassle and those sneaky fees.”

Man, you nailed it with the “sneaky fees.” I once rented a Camry in Bozeman and thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Cue a deer playing chicken at dusk. My insurance covered the dent, but the rental company still charged me for “loss of use” and some cleaning fee for the fur. Never thought I’d pay extra for wildlife drama. Now I just pay the extra insurance - cheaper than therapy after dealing with their paperwork.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not convinced the extra insurance is always worth it.

“Now I just pay the extra insurance - cheaper than therapy after dealing with their paperwork.”

I totally get wanting to save where you can, but for folks like me with a not-so-great driving record, I always double-check the fine print on credit card coverage. Some cards exclude drivers with recent accidents or tickets - found that out the hard way once. Here’s what I do: 1) Call my card company before booking, 2) Ask about exclusions, 3) Compare with what the rental offers. Sometimes it’s just less stress to pay a bit more upfront than risk a denied claim later. Not saying it’s for everyone, but if your history’s spotty, it might be worth considering.

I hear you on the fine print - those exclusions are sneaky. I’ve always wondered how much those “premium” rental insurances actually cover, especially when you’re used to driving something a bit fancier. Honestly, I just assume my card’s coverage is solid, but now you’ve got me second-guessing that. Had a friend get dinged for a scratch on a rental Mercedes once and his card refused to pay because of a speeding ticket from two years back. Total nightmare.

It’s wild how they’ll take your money for the insurance but then find any excuse not to pay out. I usually go for the extra coverage just for peace of mind, especially if it’s something I’d be upset about scratching. Not cheap, but less stressful than arguing with insurance later... and Montana roads can be rough on nice cars. Guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take.

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Those exclusions are a pain, and the “premium” coverage isn’t always as bulletproof as they make it sound. I’ve had my own run-ins with rental companies nitpicking over minor stuff, and it’s never fun. I tend to go for the extra coverage too, especially if I’m driving something that’d cost a fortune to fix. It’s not cheap, but like you said - less hassle than fighting with insurance later. Montana roads can be brutal, so I’d rather pay a bit more upfront than risk a big bill down the line.

I get the logic behind paying extra for peace of mind, but honestly, I’ve started skipping the extra insurance lately. I know Montana roads can be rough, but I feel like the rental companies are just banking on people’s fear. Like you said,

“the ‘premium’ coverage isn’t always as bulletproof as they make it sound.”

I’ve got pretty solid coverage through my credit card and my regular auto insurance, so doubling up just feels like throwing money away. Last time I rented, I actually read through the rental agreement (painful, but worth it), and most of the stuff they try to sell you is already covered. Sure, if you’re driving something fancy or you don’t have good insurance, maybe it makes sense. But for me, I’d rather save the cash and just be extra careful. Guess it depends on your risk tolerance and how much you trust your own driving... or luck.

Honestly, I get where you're coming from, but I’ve seen people get burned thinking their credit card or auto policy would cover everything - then they find out about exclusions after the fact. Montana’s got some wild hailstorms and gravel roads... not every policy covers “loss of use” or diminished value, either. Sometimes the rental company’s coverage fills those weird gaps, even if it’s overpriced. Worth double-checking the fine print on your own policies, just in case.

I’ve run into this exact situation before, actually - thought my credit card’s coverage was bulletproof, but then the rental company hit me with a “loss of use” charge after a fender bender. Turns out, my card only covered physical damage, not the income they lost while the car was in the shop. That was a fun surprise...

Here’s how I handle it now when renting in places like Montana:

1. Call your auto insurance and ask specifically about rental coverage - don’t just assume it matches your regular policy.
2. Check if your credit card covers rentals, and get them to send you the actual policy wording. Look for exclusions like “off-road,” “hail,” or “loss of use.”
3. If you’re planning to drive on gravel or rural roads (which is pretty much unavoidable in Montana), ask both your insurer and credit card company if that’s covered.
4. Compare what’s missing with what the rental company offers. Sometimes their coverage fills those weird gaps, even if it costs more.

It’s a bit of a hassle upfront, but way better than getting stuck with a bill later.

That “loss of use” thing really gets me - seems like a sneaky charge most folks wouldn’t even think about. Has anyone actually had luck getting their credit card to cover that, or is it just a lost cause? I always wonder if paying for the rental company’s coverage is just giving in to fear, or if it’s actually saved someone from a nightmare scenario. Curious if anyone’s ever had the rental company fight them on what’s “covered” after the fact, too... feels like there’s always some fine print waiting to trip you up.

I get what you mean about “loss of use” - it does feel kind of sneaky. But honestly, I’ve actually had my credit card cover it once. It took a bit of back and forth, but they eventually paid up. I think a lot of folks just give up too soon or don’t send all the paperwork the card company wants. Still, it’s a hassle, and some cards are way better than others with this stuff.

I used to always skip the rental company’s insurance, but after a fender bender in a snowstorm last winter, I caved and started buying it when I’m in places like Montana. The peace of mind was worth it for me, especially since the rental company made a huge fuss over a tiny scratch and tried to charge for “loss of use” AND “diminished value.” My regular insurance didn’t cover either. I guess it depends on your risk tolerance, but I wouldn’t call the extra coverage a total waste - sometimes it really does save your butt.

Honestly, I’ve seen people get tripped up by “loss of use” too - it’s one of those things you don’t think about until it bites you. Credit cards can help, but yeah, the paperwork is a pain. For places like Montana, with unpredictable weather, that extra coverage is sometimes worth the headache it saves. I’ve had clients surprised when their own insurance didn’t cover diminished value either... it’s not as clear-cut as folks think.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced the extra insurance is always worth it. I’ve rented in Montana a few times - yeah, weather can be nuts, but I’ve never had an issue my credit card or personal policy couldn’t handle. The “loss of use” thing seems like a scare tactic sometimes… maybe I’ve just been lucky, but the rental companies love to upsell those policies.

Honestly, if you drive something high-end at home, your own coverage is probably pretty solid already. I do agree the paperwork is a headache if something happens, but that’s true with any claim. For me, I’d rather risk a bit of hassle than pay double for coverage I might never use. Maybe that’s just me being stubborn, but I haven’t regretted skipping the extra so far.

I’m with you on this one. Rented in Montana last winter - roads were a mess, but my regular auto policy and credit card covered everything I needed. The counter guy tried to push the extra insurance hard, but I just said no. Only time I ever regretted skipping it was when a friend got dinged for a cracked windshield, but even then, his own insurance sorted it out. I’d rather deal with a little paperwork than shell out for coverage I probably won’t use.