Honestly, I've seen too many folks get burned thinking their credit card insurance would bail them out. Once you leave paved roads, most of those agreements are full of loopholes—tiny print about “maintained roads only” or “no gravel.” Montana’s gorgeous, but those gravel tracks chew up cars. If you’re even half considering a detour, I’d say cough up for the extra coverage. It’s not worth the headache or the repair bill if you get unlucky. Learned that one the hard way outside Missoula...
Honestly, I’ve read those credit card policies front to back and you’re right—they’re full of exceptions. I’d rather pay a bit more upfront than risk a busted axle on some backroad. Has anyone actually had a claim approved for off-pavement damage?
I’ve wondered the same thing, honestly. I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting a claim paid out for off-road or even gravel road damage—seems like there’s always some loophole. I get why people want to save money, but with the way those policies are worded, it feels like you’re just rolling the dice. Has anyone actually seen a credit card company cover something like a cracked oil pan from a dirt road? Or is that just wishful thinking?
I’ve actually tried to file a claim for a busted tire after driving on a gravel road in Wyoming—credit card company flat-out denied it, citing “off-road use.” It’s wild how they define “off-road.” Honestly, I just budget for the extra insurance now. Feels safer than arguing with fine print.
Extra Insurance Feels Like a Scam...But Sometimes It’s Worth It
I get why you just pony up for the extra insurance now, but honestly, I’ve always felt like it’s just another way for rental companies to squeeze more money out of us. That being said, your story about the gravel road and the credit card company denying the claim—yeah, that makes me pause. I’ve had similar headaches. Once, in Colorado, my kiddo opened a door into a snowbank and somehow managed to dent the panel (don’t ask me how). The rental company tried to say snowbanks counted as “off-road obstacles.” I spent weeks arguing with both them and the credit card company, and in the end, I was on the hook for a chunk of the repair.
Still, I feel like the extra insurance is a gamble. Half the time, I read the fine print and realize even their coverage has loopholes. Like, they’ll cover scratches but not tires, or glass but not “acts of nature.” It’s exhausting.
That said, when I’m traveling with my family somewhere remote—like Montana or Wyoming—I do tend to cave and get the extra coverage. It’s not so much about the peace of mind as it is about not wanting to get stuck with a bill because I missed some technicality buried in the terms. But if I’m just driving around a city or somewhere with decent cell service and plenty of tow trucks, I usually skip it and trust my regular insurance and credit card.
I guess my take is: if you’re heading into the middle of nowhere, especially with kids in tow, it’s probably worth the extra cost. Otherwise, it feels like paying for imaginary protection half the time. Still, those “off-road” definitions are ridiculous...gravel isn’t off-road in my book either. But try telling that to the claims department.
