I hear you on the credit card coverage, but I’ve had a couple of close calls where the fine print almost tripped me up. Once, my card didn’t cover “loss of use” because the rental company couldn’t prove the car would’ve been rented otherwise. That was a headache. I tend to drive a bit more aggressively, so I usually weigh the extra insurance just for peace of mind. Sometimes it feels like a waste, but after dealing with paperwork and back-and-forth calls, I’m not always convinced skipping it is worth the risk. Guess it really comes down to how much hassle you’re willing to deal with if something goes sideways.
Honestly, I’m with you—fine print’s a pain, and “loss of use” is one of those things they love to sneak in. If you drive hard (guilty here), that extra coverage can save a ton of hassle. I’ve had adjusters drag things out for months over tiny technicalities. Peace of mind usually wins for me, even if it feels like throwing money away sometimes.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve started skipping the extra insurance more often than not—especially in places like Montana. Maybe I’m just rolling the dice, but after a couple of cross-country trips, I realized my credit card actually covers a lot of that “loss of use” stuff (buried deep in their terms, of course). Had a fender bender outside Missoula last summer, and the rental company tried to tack on all these fees. My card company handled it, no problem.
Not saying it’s totally risk-free—there’s always that nagging “what if” feeling—but sometimes it feels like the rental counter folks are banking on us being too tired or worried to say no. I guess it depends on your tolerance for hassle vs. your tolerance for paying extra. For me, the peace of mind comes from knowing what my own coverage actually does... even if it means reading some of that dreaded fine print myself.
sometimes it feels like the rental counter folks are banking on us being too tired or worried to say no
Can definitely relate to that. Every time I rent something fancier than my usual ride, I get the hard sell for every possible insurance add-on. I always wonder if they're secretly hoping I'll panic because of the car's sticker price. My credit card covers a lot too, but I still double-check—especially if it's something like a Porsche or Benz. The fine print is brutal, but better than getting surprised later... Montana or not, I’m just not keen on paying twice for the same thing.
