Saw this news story yesterday about a guy who rented a car on vacation, declined the damage waiver thingy, and then ended up with a huge bill after someone dinged his rental in a parking lot. Apparently, his own insurance didn't cover everything he thought it would, and now he's stuck paying out of pocket. Got me thinking...I usually skip those waivers too because they always seem overpriced and kinda scammy, you know? But now I'm second-guessing myself.
I mean, I get that rental companies probably make a killing off these waivers, but stories like this make me wonder if maybe it's worth the peace of mind. Or is it just fear-mongering to get us to fork over more cash? Curious what everyone else thinks about this—do you usually buy the waiver or risk it and rely on your own insurance?
Yeah, I used to skip them too, but after doing some digging, I changed my mind. Here's the thing—your personal insurance might cover damage, but usually there's still a deductible and it doesn't always cover "loss of use" fees rental companies charge while the car's being fixed. Plus, if you're like me (ahem...a bit accident-prone), having that waiver can save you from a major headache down the road. It's pricey, sure, but sometimes peace of mind is worth it.
I get your point, but honestly, if you're careful and know exactly what your own insurance covers, the waiver can still feel like a waste. Here's how I see it: first, call your insurer and ask specifically about rental coverage—deductibles, loss-of-use charges, everything. Next, check if your credit card offers extra rental protection (some do). After that, weigh the total risk against the daily waiver fee. Sometimes it's worth it...sometimes not. Curious though—has anyone actually had to deal with a "loss of use" charge? Seems kinda rare.
I've wondered about the loss-of-use thing myself. Seems like one of those charges rental companies throw around to scare us into buying their pricey waivers. I mean, how often is every single car in their fleet rented out at once, anyway? 🤔
Funny enough, my cousin actually did get hit with a loss-of-use charge a couple years back. He scraped a rental car against a pole (rookie move, I know), and the rental company tried billing him for the days the car was supposedly "out of commission." But here's the kicker—he pushed back and asked for proof they had no other cars available during that time. Suddenly, they got real quiet and ended up dropping the charge altogether. Makes you wonder how legit these charges really are...
But your point about checking credit card coverage is spot-on. I recently found out my card offers secondary rental insurance, which kicks in after my personal insurance. Not perfect, but it's something. Still, I always feel a bit nervous declining the waiver at the counter—like I'm tempting fate or something, haha.
Here's a question though: Has anyone ever had their credit card coverage actually come through for them after an accident? Or is that just another one of those "sounds good on paper" perks that never quite pan out?
"Still, I always feel a bit nervous declining the waiver at the counter—like I'm tempting fate or something, haha."
Yeah, same here... I've never had to use my credit card's rental coverage (knock on wood), but I've heard mixed stories. Makes me wonder if anyone's successfully navigated that claims process without headaches?
