Car Rental & Insurance--Declining the CDW

Well, these are actually not so simple things. If the rental is noneventful, then you probably
say what was all that hassle about, but, 1) these are money making items for the car rental
companies, and 2) if something goes wrong, you could be out a lot of money if you didn't set
things up correctly.

First off, you want to make sure you understand the coverage you get from your card.

1) It may not apply internationally
2) If it is secondary coverage, then it only kicks in after your primary coverage (most likely
your coverage at home) has done its part.

Liability insurance is often mandatory in foreign countries. And it is, if I understand things
correctly, different than the CDW. CDW covers damage to the car. Liability covers damage
to things (and people) other than the car.

Some companies now offer what is called a zero-deductible option, which is more per day,
but absolves you of having to pay for any damages.

It all depends on how much peace of mind you want. There are many stories of folks getting
hit for large amounts of $ after the car was returned for seemingly insignificant damages.

No matter what, take pictures of the entire car, and note the pre-existing issues that should be
documented and explained when you get the car.

You cannot decline liability insurance. It is mandated by law, throughout Europe I believe, and it is included in the price of the rental.

You can decline CDW and use your credit card coverage, but ensure you know what is and isn’t covered as well as what documentation you’ll need to show the rental company if asked.

Also, if using your credit card CDW you may be prohibited from getting optional coverages like zero deductible, roadside/tire protection, personal injury protection, windshield protection. This varies by company.

You may wanted to read up on the differences between liability and collision damage waver. They are not the same thing. In short, Liability car insurance covers the medical expenses and property damage of other people when you are at fault in an accident. It does not cover your own injuries or vehicle repairs. That’s where collision insurance comes in.

We ran this past our local insurance agent when we wanted to use the insurance provided through the credit card. He looked at the details and recommended we don't do that--it really does not cover much.

Which credit card do you have, LDR?

I always decline the CDW and I've never had a problem. I either use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card or my Delta Amex Platinum Card. The only time I've had to use it, it went without a hitch. I rented a car in the UK and used my Chase card to pay for it. When I turned the car in, it was dinged on the side (my fault—I hit something in a car park) and had to pay the £1,000 deductible. When I got home, I put in a claim through Chase, sent them the paperwork, and within four to six weeks they had reimbursed me the entire amount.

I'm not sure what credit card Carol uses, but my credit card benefits are generous enough that I've never had a problem using it. For example, my Chase card provides up to $60,000 in benefits, although there are a few caveats that you have to look for. For example, the rental has to be less than 30 days and so on. It does pay to check your benefits and see what you have with your particular credit card that you want to use.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I misspoke on my question on liability insurance. I understand the difference in coverage between liability insurance and the CDW coverage. What I am not clear on is if I get liability insurance from the rental company does that automatically waive the credit card's CDW? This from Rick's suggestions on his tips on renting a car: "Once you've confirmed your credit card's coverage, be sure to decline the CDW offered by your car-rental company. If you accept any coverage offered by the rental agency, you automatically forego your credit-card coverage." So am I correct in my understanding that Liability coverage from the rental agency does not affect the credit card CDW?

I have gone through the credit card coverage closely with the card company, using Rick's suggestions as a script for my questions and am comfortable with the coverage if I don't somehow, by mistake, waive coverage. I'll be booking the rental with my USAA AMEX.

My remaining question is when and where do I decline the rental agency's CDW? I see no way to do it on line.
Does anyone know will I have an opportunity to waive the CDW at the counter when I pick up the vehicle?

Thanks again for thje insights and suggestions.
LDR

Correct, Liability coverage from the rental agency does not affect the credit card CDW.

You’d decline CDW when picking up the car.