Had a similar debate with myself last year when I rented a car for a Glacier trip. I usually skip the extra coverage, but after seeing what deer did to my neighbor’s BMW (and his insurance only covered part of it), I caved and took the loss damage waiver. Hated paying for it, but honestly, with all the critters and gravel out there, it felt smarter than risking a huge repair bill. Sometimes being cheap just isn’t worth the stress.
I totally get where you’re coming from. That feeling of weighing the cost of coverage versus the risk just never gets easier, especially in places like Montana. There’s just something about those endless stretches of road and unpredictable wildlife that makes me second-guess skipping extra insurance every time.
You mentioned,
Couldn’t agree more. I used to be all about saving every dollar, but after a friend hit a pothole outside Bozeman and got stuck with a $900 bill (his card’s coverage didn’t apply because he was on a gravel road), I started asking myself: Is my existing auto insurance really going to have my back in these scenarios? Does my credit card cover animal collisions or just theft and accidents? And what about downtime fees if the car’s out of commission?“Sometimes being cheap just isn’t worth the stress.”
It’s annoying to pay extra, but honestly, out in those remote spots, the peace of mind is worth it... even if it stings a little at checkout. Curious, did your regular insurance or credit card offer any help, or was the LDW just the only real option?
Honestly, I used to gamble and skip the extra insurance, thinking my regular policy would cover me. Then I got a cracked windshield from a flying rock near Missoula—turns out my insurance had a huge deductible and didn’t cover “loss of use” fees. Learned the hard way that sometimes paying a bit more upfront saves a ton of hassle later. Those Montana roads are no joke.
Man, that story makes me feel a little better about being nervous to rent a car out there. I keep going back and forth on whether the extra insurance is just a money grab or actually worth it. But hearing about random rocks cracking windshields... yikes. I guess sometimes it’s not about being unlucky, it’s just how things go on those crazy highways. Thanks for sharing—definitely leaning toward playing it safe now.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Montana highways can be brutal on cars, especially with all the gravel and random debris flying around. I’ve seen more than a few windshields take a hit out there, and it’s not always something you can avoid, no matter how careful you are. The extra insurance does feel like a bit of a racket sometimes, but when you’re dealing with unpredictable stuff like that, it can save you a headache later.
I usually weigh it against my own auto policy and credit card coverage—sometimes those already cover rentals, but not always for things like glass or undercarriage damage. Had a buddy who thought he was covered, then got dinged for a cracked windshield and ended up paying out of pocket. Not fun.
If it helps you relax and enjoy the trip more, it’s probably worth the peace of mind. Sometimes playing it safe just makes sense, especially in places where the roads have their own set of rules...
