Need clarity on car rental insurance to be covered

Posted by Ellen (Centennial, CO, USA) on 08/30/17 03:15 PM

I called our credit card company, and spoke to our insurance company. I'm not good at this stuff...need to confirm we will be covered.

our insurance company won't cover us outside of the US.
Our credit card company Chase Visa, will cover the car for damage and and injury to us, but not the contents, and not others or their car, should we be in an accident.
The rental company, Enterprise is suggesting liability insurance through them for 8pounds a day. (we have a 7 day rental)

I'm asking if the liability insurance is enough. The Chase told me to decline all other insurance from Enterprise, but do take the Liability coverage.

Plan for only one driver, my hubby will drive, and I'll navigate (have a GPS, and also a map)

Do I have my information correct?

Posted by Gone

not here anymore

08/30/17 03:46 PM

631 posts

are you dealing with Enterprise in US or UK? It's interesting, the UK website makes no mention of being able to opt out of basic insurance. Normally all insurance is included but there is at least £1000 of excess (which can be reduced by £900 on payment of daily additional fee). It would be illegal to drive the car without liability insurance and even if your card covered it you would probably not have suitable documentation to meet legal requirements. What you seem to be saying is that Entreprise are offering a rate with no insurance and then suggesting adding Liability, this is something they might do if renting to a company with a cover all business policy and would be a fair solution in your case. What you need to check is that they aren't quietly leaving the main insurance in the price.

Posted by Chris F

Basel, Switzerland

08/30/17 08:10 PM

8889 posts

"Third party" is what it is called in the UK. It means anybody who is not the person being insured or the insurance company (the first and second parties in the insurance contract).
It is a legal requirement in the UK, and all other European countries, to have third party insurance for any motor vehicle on the public roads. So it is included automatically in the price.

What is not a legal requirement, and so is not included automatically is:
1) Loss or injury to yourself or other passengers in the rented car (theft, damaged property, injuries), that is the renters problem.
2) Damage to the rented car. This is what the hire car company is worried about, and why they want to sell you (C)DW insurance, or hold a very large amount on your credit card.

Important note: Being covered by your credit company for a hired car is a US peculiarity. I know of no UK or other European country where this is the case. Neither do normal car insurance policies cover you for hired cars. Car hire company staff, especially in smaller offices, may not have heard of either of these before and may not believe you.
They are used to their standard procedures, where they either sell you DW insurance (with perhaps an "excess" of £500 or £1000), OR put a large "hold" on your credit card until you return the vehicle intact.

Posted by John

Pantego, NC, USA

08/31/17 12:43 AM

1014 posts

Buy everything they offer. From what I hear and read, if you try to use your cc which does cover some accidents, you have to pay upfront. Then submit bills to cc for them to pay you back. I would rather just pay the insurance upfront and be done with it. Consider it part of the expense of traveling.