CAR RENTAL CDW INSURANCE IN ITALY

This is Rick's experience on declining CDW in Italy:

"If you rent a car in Italy...most car-rental companies' rates automatically include CDW coverage (which you sometimes can't decline). It's not unusual to decline CDW when you reserve your Italian car, only to find when you show up at the counter that you must buy it after all."

I booked through Autoeurope and had to take CDW b/c of the actual rental company I was booking with. My opinion is that it depends on your financial situation, tolerance for risk, and patience. Presume there will be damage to the car and think about how you want to deal with it. CDW would be easier and less headache, but you pay more upfront.

By law, CDW and theft insurance is built into all the rental car rates in Italy. In addition, DO check with your VISA card as NONE of my cards (including a Platinum AMEX) will cover ANY rental car insurance in Italy... (no surprise with the number of car thefts and the way folks drive over here!)

I end up having to purchase Super-CDW. It's expensive, but driving here you will probably need the peace of mind. I rented a car a few months ago that got a door ding in a parking lot and they wanted to bill me over $1,000.... thank goodness I purchased the $0 deductible! DO NOT drive under-insured in Italy.

Highest accident rates in Europe. Probably worth it either way. Serious food for thought.

Ilene,

do DOUBLE check with your Visa. Most will NOT cover CDW in Italy even if they do so in other countries. But there are a few that actually do it. Even at 0% deductible.

Sorry for the stupid question but how do you know if your rental includes this coverage? I just reserved through Kemwel with Hertz for October... this is what my voucher says

[YOUR RENTAL FROM HERTZ INCLUDES]
* Unlimited mileage and fire insurance. Liability Insurance for injuries or damages to persons or things outside the vehicle.
* Rental includes Collision Damage coverage Rental limits potential vehicle damage liability to the deductible of ZERO.
* Rental includes Theft Protection for the vehicle Rental limits potential vehicle loss liability to deductible of ZERO.
[RENTAL DOES NOT INCLUDE]
* Personal Accident Insurance.

why must they make this so confusing?

Sorry, I'm renting in Italy, I thought that was clear from the fact that we're in the To the Boot section. Sorry for the confusion (but thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide)!

Ok, Debra, have you read Ron in Rome's post (above)? Does a careful reading of that post not answer your question? If not, let us know and we'll try to help?

I read it (more than once) and I'm afraid it doesn't help me :/ (I admit I'm very tired). I was under the impression (based on my conversation with the agent at Kemwel and the language I posted), that I was covered and wouldn't have to worry about my Visa cards covering me or not because I have insurance through Hertz with a zero deductible already (and I'm not concerned about personal accident insurance because I purchased trip insurance that covers accident medical care during the trip). Despite reading stuff all over the internet, Rick's books, etc., in the past months since I decided I'd be driving in Italy, I've never heard of the "Super-CDW" Ron mentioned, so now I'm concerned about what I've got through Hertz and whether it is actually sufficient. Perhaps I am just over-thinking it all - having been to Italy before, I'm comfortable about pretty much everything else for the trip except this brave new world of renting a car and driving there, so I guess I'm funneling all my nerves and lack of confidence into this.
(sorry for being a pain, I tried to figure this out myself, honest!)

From looking at your quote, it appears that you have a zero deductiable on both collision damage and on theft. That is what Ron was calling the super CDW.

Normal collision and theft coverage has a deductible for example somebody runs into you or the car gets stolen, you would be responsible for the first $500 or $1000 in cost.

With the zero deductible, the extra coverage you bought pays for the entire cost. You just walk away without paying anything for the repairs or replacement.

OK, thank you Ron! That's what I thought but somehow last night I got afraid that this was something else. I mean I know what deductibles and zero deductible means for car insurance, but it doesn't mean it's the right kind of insurance haha! Anyway, I didn't elect to buy this, it came with my rental automatically (but it sounds like it's a good idea to have anyway). Thanks again :)