Do I really need extra insurance when renting a car in VA?

I totally get the appeal of just paying extra to avoid the hassle. I’ve had one fender bender in a rental (in NC, not VA), and my own insurance did cover it, but it took weeks to sort out. The rental company charged my card right away for “loss of use” and then I had to fight to get reimbursed. Not the end of the world, but definitely more stressful than I expected. If you’re on a tight schedule or just want things simple, their insurance might be worth it for peace of mind. Otherwise, your own policy should work - just be ready for some paperwork if anything happens.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not sure the extra insurance is always worth it, especially if your credit card already offers primary coverage. I’ve had to file a claim once and, yeah, it took a bit, but the cost savings were significant. Sometimes the “peace of mind” is just expensive convenience.

I totally get what you mean about the “peace of mind” thing sometimes just being a pricey add-on. I’ve wondered about this myself, especially since my credit card supposedly covers rentals too. But then I start thinking - what if there’s some weird loophole or the rental company tries to stick me with something my card doesn’t cover? Has anyone ever had their card deny a claim for some technicality?

I’m with you though, the extra insurance always feels like a hard sell at the counter. I’ve got a family, so maybe I’m just more paranoid about being stranded or dealing with paperwork if something goes wrong. Still, if you’ve actually filed a claim and it worked out (even if it took a while), that’s kind of reassuring. Did you have to pay anything out of pocket first, or did your card handle it all up front?

It’s tough to know where to draw the line between being careful and just overpaying for stuff you don’t need.

Yeah, I’m in the same boat - first time actually thinking about buying the extra insurance and it just feels like a money grab half the time. I’ve heard stories where credit cards covered everything, but then you read the fine print and there’s always some random exclusion or weird rule. Makes me nervous, honestly. I’d rather not get stuck with a bill because of some technicality, but at the same time, paying double for “peace of mind” seems wild. I guess it’s just about how much risk you’re willing to take on... Still haven’t decided myself.

Honestly, it’s wild how tricky the fine print can get. I’ve seen folks swear their credit card had them covered, only to find out they missed a weird clause about “country of rental” or “type of damage.” It’s a gamble - sometimes paying extra feels like tossing money away, but if something goes sideways, that “peace of mind” suddenly makes sense. I usually lean toward coverage just because getting stuck with a huge bill over a technicality is my nightmare scenario... but yeah, it’s definitely not cheap.