Car Rental and the LDW

[Rydalot]

Just wondering if other car renters on here typically select the LDW when renting? I would prefer not to as it more than doubles the cost of the rental and I am renting for 11 days. I am waiting to hear back from my personal car insurance company to see what they would cover in case of an accident with the rental. My credit cards have confirmed they do not cover anything when paying by their cards. Any other way to get coverage through another source that I have not listed?

 

[gmeh1]

Just wondering if other car renters on here typically select the LDW when renting? I would prefer not to as it more than doubles the cost of the rental and I am renting for 11 days. I am waiting to hear back from my personal car insurance company to see what they would cover in case of an accident with the rental. My credit cards have confirmed they do not cover anything when paying by their cards. Any other way to get coverage through another source that I have not listed?

Try your own auto insurance.

 

[Bullseye]

I don't know if it's all insurance companies but I think most cover rental cars on a full coverage policy.

 

[ParrotBill]

Your own car insurance should cover you for a rental worth up to the same value as what you insure at home... with the same deductable and risk of increase to your premiums if you make a claim. Plus, if you are in an accident, or worse on return of the car the rental has damage, you will be in for some hours of contacting your insurance, paying the deductable, and getting the rental company to NOT charge you for the full damage amount while waiting for their check from the insurance company. Plus, the rental company starts with an inflated loss claim that includes loss of use and an inflated value for a car that is certainly paid for many times over from rental income.

That said, I usually decline it too and take my changes and drive carefully and park out of the way. You should carry your insurance card and declarations page to help but I usually forget to do that.

When I rent a car outside the US I always take the insurances. Don't add another country's legal system to the risk!

 

[Lewisc]

Your own car insurance should cover you for a rental worth up to the same value as what you insure at home... with the same deductable and risk of increase to your premiums if you make a claim. !

The OP needs to check with his broker or with his state's DMV website. The answer differs from state to state and sometimes from policy to policy.

Your explanation may be valid for residents of some states but it's not the way NY policies work.

The general rule is most of us have adequate coverage through our personal auto polices and credit card coverage. The problem with relying on the internet is the OP could be one of the exceptions.

edited to add link to NY State gov site.

For the benefit of the PP, and anyone else from NY

http://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/auto/autorent.htm

 

[ParrotBill]

Right - but that's for renting a car in New York State. That web site basically says check with your rental agency to determine what your coverage is. I can tell you it does not change what a hassle it will be if you get into an accident with a rental in NY or any other state or country.

Remember almost all credit card coverage is supplementary to your own auto insurance. There are only a few that offer primary coverage.

In Florida they are not so friendly. Many agencies will try to bully you into taking LDW telling you all the bad things that will happen to you if you don't.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

NO its a huge money maker for the rental business. If the person at the counter gets you to buy it they get a commision.

I checked with my agent and my auto insurance covers my rentals.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would recommend you get a credit card that covers car rentals. I have yet to have had a card that did not cover them. The Disney card covers care rentals. The rental insurance included with most credit cards can be pretty comprehensive. Also, if you use the KLM code for National the LDW is free.