I hate hearing the "insurance" talk when renting a car!

[Liz]

This morning I rented a car locally for the weekend since one of our cars died. I really, really dislike the spiel about the insurance!!! I know not to take it but I drive away all nervous about what if something happens! They make it sound like you'll be in a HUGE mess.

Just wondering if anyone has ever had an accident with a rental car when you didn't purchase their insurance and if so, what happened?

The insurance "talk" always has me intimidated on vacation too and the first couple of hours I'm all nervous driving the car. I guess I'm easily frightened!!! I'm renting from National's EA next time we go to WDW and I'm hoping that will prevent hearing the push on insurance.

 

[LindaR]

About 2 years ago my boss was in Hawaii. I had FINALLY convinced him shortly before that to QUIT accepting the extra insurance on the rentals. He has platinum cards (including AMEX). BUT, he failed to inspect the car before taking posession. Later, after turning in the car, I receive notification that there was "damage" and there was a bill attached. After many phone calls.....they were gonna charge Gary for the damage BUT not get the damage fixed (it was a fairly deep scratch).

The way it works. A platinum card will cover what your own car insurance will not cover. So everything was taken care of.

LESSON: You may not need the insurance (depending on what coverage you normally have) and if you have credit cards that will cover any damage. BUT, you do need to inspect the vehicle before accepting it (lots of places say you don't have to "bother") and make sure that they inspect it in your presence when turning it in. If there is damage, they need to note it on your receipt.

Otherwise, weeks later you get a bill for something that you have no proof for.

The insurance that they try to "force" on you is a HUGE money-maker for the rental companies and they use the fear tactic to sway you.

That is the ONLY time we've had a problem (my boss travels constantly 11 months out of 12) and in my 8 years here........that's the only time we've encountered this. So the odds are really in your favor!

 

[safetymom]

Join the frequent renter program of the rental agency you are using. You can bypass the counter where they ask the questions.

I always take a picture of the car in the stall with my digital camera. That way I have proof.

 

[DVC-Don]

........I always take a picture of the car in the stall with my digital camera. That way I have proof.

Same here. I take pictures of the rental vehicle from all four corners and if there is ANY damage or marks, I get a close up of that also. Then I do it again when I drop it off. Must be the old auto damage estimator in me (licensed in the state of New York)

 

[jl3614]

Pushing the insurance too hard is the reason I do not even consider Alamo and Dollar anymore when I'm looking to rent. I realize the reps need to ask and most will accept NO quite readily, but I had very, very persistant agents with both of these companies - so I just aviod them now.

 

[Rootskate]

Last time we rented from Alamo the guy at the counter made me feel like I had to be the stupidest person alive to be declining the insurance. He just kind of shook his head as if to say "You cheapskate....your gonna be sorry"

 

[Liz]

Taking pictures of the car berfore you leave the lot is a great idea, but if something happened how would you prove they were taken before the damage occurred and not after?

 

[HappyLawyer]

i used alamo, i purchased it for a piece of mind for myself, and i just got the cheap one like 7.99 per day, they did not offer i had to ask, could it be the person you get or is it like that with mostly all the companies

 

[safetymom]

In the properties of each digital photo is the time the photo was taken. Also you could take a picture of the cars around yours. You would be able to see when those cars were rented.

 

[Maddle]

When I find damage on a car I am about to rent, I make a note of it on the rental ageement, and I have one of the agents sign off on it. Usually, it's the guy at the gate, sometimes I have to go to the kiosk where I got the keys (it depends on the company.) I try to be friendly and matter of fact about it, and there is never any problem. Additionally, I take some photes.

That insurance talk always leaves me feeling a little sickly too.

Maddle

 

[Bill From PA]

Regarding Alamo and Dollar, they're all I've used the last 6 trips and I've had no problem with 'The Speech'. I'm in Alamo's QuickSilver program which not only pre-enters your insurance preferences thus avoiding that whole thing, it also gets you your car in about 5 mins. vs the 1 hr standby line that was in place this month when we landed. Dollar has FastLane for the same purpose. Regardless, one of the items I carry with me on all trips is a copy of my insurance policy. If the agent starts in with the pitch, I flash the copy and say, 'My policy has all that covered'. They never go past that point.

Bill From PA

 

[Sarahsal]

Our last trip, 8/04, the Avis agent was very pushy about the insurance. At one point he even said I was required to give them the name and number of my insurance, so they could contact them in the event of an accident. Told me to write them down on the side of the rental agreement. Please. I don't plan to use Avis again.

 

[G00fyDad]

Unfortunatly I have to get the coverage. I have full coverage on both of my current vehicles but it does not transfer over for rentals. Only the liability portion transfers. I still cant figure that out.

 

[localdriver]

Unfortunatly I have to get the coverage. I have full coverage on both of my current vehicles but it does not transfer over for rentals. Only the liability portion transfers. I still cant figure that out.

Are you using a credit card?? Most cards provide rental car insurance automatically. Check with your card company before you spend extra for something you may already have.

And don't let these sales people intimidate you. They generally make a commission for "selling the over-priced extras"

 

[G00fyDad]

They're not intimidating me. It takes a lot to do that. LOL I've just not driven on Florida roads since I was 17 and lived in Jacksonville. I would be too afraid that I would hit someone else and be stuck with the bill. As for the credit card, yeah, I have 2 of them but neither covers this. It's okay though. At least I know I am covered. btw, they didnt mention it to me, I asked them about the insurance.

 

[Bill From PA]

Sarahsal,

Have a copy of the policy on hand, I take the small form we keep in the glove box. Just showing it to them shuts them up every time I've produced it.

Bill From PA

 

[inkkognito]

What's even worse than the talk is when they get snotty when you ask them to skip it! We rent cars nearly every other week in Orlando, and once at Thrifty the agent went into the spiel and I said, "I already know about this and am not interested." He got really huffy and snotty and insisted on going through it anyway. I joined their Blue Chip program, so that was no longer a problem. Alamo likes to say, "Do you want the deluxe coverage, or just the basic?" to try to trick you into thinking that you have to take one or the other. The other agencies we've used (Avis, L & M Hertz, Budget) have been very low key about the insurance.

We always take photos, althought thankfully we have nver had a problem. Once at Hertz we tried to get them to note a scratch and they wouldn't put it on the paperwork because they said it was just "normal wear." I was worried, but they didn't give us ony hassle about it on the return.

Barb

 

[G00fyDad]

I am going to be taing pics of every angle of the car. ANY scratches will be noted or I will not rent from them. I have no deire to end my vacation bill with a $2k paint job bill.

 

[localdriver]

. As for the credit card, yeah, I have 2 of them but neither covers this. It's okay though. At least I know I am covered. btw, they didnt mention it to me, I asked them about the insurance.

Well, being covered is the most important part, even if it costs a few extra $.

Have a great vacation!!