Honestly, the paperwork is half the battle—sometimes it feels like they make it confusing on purpose. I’ve seen credit card coverage get denied for stuff like “improper documentation” or tiny technicalities. With Montana’s wild weather, that extra insurance can save a lot of hassle, but it always comes down to your risk tolerance and how much time you want to spend arguing over claims. I’ve seen both sides—some folks breeze through, others get stuck in red tape for months.
I totally get what you mean about the paperwork being a nightmare. I’ve been burned by “coverage” that turned out to be basically useless because I missed some tiny detail in the fine print. It’s like, you think you’re covered, but then they hit you with “oh, you didn’t submit the claim within 48 hours” or “the police report wasn’t filed exactly right.” Who has time for that when you’re on a trip?
Honestly, I’m super careful with my budget, so I always try to avoid paying for extra stuff if I don’t have to. But Montana’s weather is no joke—hail, sudden snow, gravel roads... it’s not like renting a car in LA or something. I’ve seen people come back from Glacier with cracked windshields or dings from flying rocks, and the rental companies are ruthless about charging for every little thing. If your credit card coverage is solid and you’re organized enough to keep every receipt and document, maybe you can get away without the extra insurance. But if you’re like me and don’t want to risk a $500 bill for a chip in the paint, sometimes it’s worth the peace of mind.
One time, I tried to use my credit card’s rental coverage after a fender bender (not in Montana, but still), and it took months of back-and-forth emails. They wanted photos, police reports, rental agreements, and even then they tried to deny it because the damage “wasn’t reported at the scene.” It was exhausting. If I’d just paid the $15 a day for the rental company’s insurance, I could’ve avoided all that stress.
I guess it comes down to how much hassle you’re willing to deal with if something goes wrong. If you’re on a tight schedule or just don’t want to deal with paperwork nightmares, paying a bit more upfront might actually save you money (and sanity) in the long run. But yeah, it stings to pay for something you might not even use... tough call.
Can’t blame you for wanting to skip the hassle—paperwork with rental claims is a nightmare, and those “gotcha” fine print moments are the worst. I’ve been there, sweating over a scratch on a Mustang I rented for a road trip. Sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra just for peace of mind, especially in places like Montana where the roads can be brutal. Still stings to shell out for insurance you might not need, but man, it’s less stressful than fighting the rental company over every tiny ding.
I hear you on the paperwork headache. Montana roads can be a bit wild—one stray rock and suddenly you’re debating if that chip was already there. Honestly, I’ve seen people’s credit cards cover rentals, but the devil’s in the details. Some cards only cover collision, not liability, and they’re picky about trucks or SUVs. If you’re not sure what’s covered, that rental counter insurance starts looking less like a ripoff and more like a sanity saver. Peace of mind’s worth a few extra bucks, especially if you’re not keen on arguing with a rental agent over a bug splat that “wasn’t there before.”
I’ve always wondered about the fine print with credit card coverage—like, do they actually pay out without a fight? I had a friend who thought he was covered, but his card excluded “off-road” damage, and the rental company counted a gravel parking lot as off-road. That was a mess. Has anyone actually had to file a claim through their card? Curious if it’s as straightforward as they make it sound or if it’s just more hassle.
