I used to always skip the extra insurance at rental counters, figured my credit card had me covered. Then last summer, I got a nasty surprise when a rock cracked the windshield on a road trip. Turns out my card only covered collision, not glass damage. Had to pay out of pocket...ouch. Now I always double-check exactly what's covered beforehand. Curious if anyone else has tips or learned the hard way like me?
Yikes, that sounds rough... rental car fine print can be sneaky like that. I had a similar wake-up call a couple years ago. Thought my regular auto insurance would cover rentals completely, but turns out it only covered liability and collision—not loss of use fees. Had a minor fender bender (totally my fault, embarrassingly enough), and the rental company charged me for the days the car was out of commission getting repaired. Wasn't a huge amount, but still stung.
Now I always do a quick call or online chat with my insurance beforehand to confirm exactly what's covered. Takes just a few minutes and saves me from surprises later on. Also learned some credit cards are way better than others when it comes to rental coverage—definitely worth checking into if you rent often.
Anyway, don't beat yourself up too much about it—these things happen to most of us at some point. At least now you're prepared for next time, right?
Yeah, rental car fine print is definitely one of those things you don't think about until it bites you. Had a similar experience myself a while back—nothing major, thankfully—but enough to make me extra cautious now. I always assumed my personal insurance would cover everything, but turns out there were gaps I hadn't even considered.
One thing I've learned is that if you're renting something higher-end or luxury (which I tend to do occasionally), the stakes get even higher. Those loss-of-use fees can really add up fast if the car's sitting in the shop for repairs. And some rental companies are pretty aggressive about charging for diminished value too, especially on pricier vehicles. My regular insurance didn't cover that at all, and neither did my credit card at the time.
Since then, I've gotten into the habit of double-checking coverage with both my insurer and credit card company before picking up the keys. It's a bit of a hassle, sure, but way better than getting blindsided later. Also found out some premium credit cards offer primary rental coverage—which means they pay first, before your own insurance kicks in. That can save you from potential rate hikes down the road if something does happen.
Anyway, don't feel bad about missing this stuff initially—most people don't realize how complicated rental coverage can be until they're stuck dealing with it firsthand. At least now you're aware and better prepared going forward... that's half the battle right there.
