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

I hear you on the “nickel and dime” thing - last time I rented, I thought I was covered, but then they hit me with a “loss of use” fee after a fender bender. My regular insurance only paid for the repairs, not the days the car was out of commission. Super frustrating. Now I always double-check, even if it means spending a few extra bucks. It’s not fun, but it beats getting that surprise bill in the mail...

“my regular insurance only paid for the repairs, not the days the car was out of commission.”

That’s exactly what I’m worried about. I’ve never rented before, so I’m trying to figure out if my own policy is enough or if I should just get the extra coverage. Has anyone actually had their credit card cover “loss of use” or those weird admin fees? I keep reading mixed things and don’t want to find out the hard way...

Has anyone actually had their credit card cover “loss of use” or those weird admin fees?

I’ve wondered about this too, especially since I’ve got a couple cards that claim to have “primary coverage.” From what I’ve seen, it really depends on the card and the rental company. Some folks say their card covered everything, others got stuck with those sneaky admin fees or “loss of use” charges. It’s kind of a gray area.

I had a buddy who rented in VA last year - his credit card covered the damage but not the downtime while the car was in the shop. He ended up paying out of pocket for that part, which was a surprise. Makes me think twice about just relying on my own policy or credit card.

Curious if anyone’s actually read through all that fine print? Or maybe even called their card company to ask about these specific fees? I always feel like there’s some catch buried in there...

Has anyone actually had their credit card cover “loss of use” or those weird admin fees?

I’ve rented a bunch for work trips and honestly, it’s a toss-up. My credit card covered the damage once, but when the rental company tried to tack on “loss of use,” the card company just shrugged. Ended up paying out of pocket for that part. I’d say double-check the fine print - some cards are better than others, but it’s never as clear-cut as they make it sound. Those admin fees are sneaky too...

- Been there, dealt with that headache.
- My card covered the actual repair bill, but “loss of use” was a no-go.
- Admin fees? Forget it. Had to eat those too.
- Read the benefits guide - some premium cards will fight for you, but most just give you the runaround.
- Honestly, feels like rental companies invent new fees just to see if we’re paying attention...
- If you’re renting a classic (not that they’d let us!), I’d want every bit of coverage possible. For regular cars, it’s always a gamble.