car rental insurance in Spain

Your US car insurance is not likely to cover you abroad. Your American Express card probably does, but check the policy for exclusions. See more at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/car-rental-cdw.

Check with AmEx to make sure their additional insurance covers Spain. We used AmEx in France for primary coverage at $18 for the entire rental (signed up for the coverage in advance)

We often rent in spain and rely upon the visa card insurance to cover this issue. However, you need to insure your credit cards will provide adequate coverage.

Some important tips: when you pick up the car carefully review the paperwork to insure you are getting what your reservation stated. Be sure and bring copies of the reservation.

In the USA we hop in the car and take off with the assurance that help is a convenient phone call away. But abroad an issue can take more time to resolve and the last thing you want to spend your precious vacation time doing is resolving car issues. So.......

Take lots of exterior and interior photos to document the condition of the vehicle. If you find any damage then immediately bring it to the attention of the agency.

Open the hood and the trunk just to make sure there are no surprises (e.g. Make sure there is windshield washer fluid in the container, etc)

Sit in the car and start it up and check out the functionality of all the items (radio, headlights, brakelights, windshield wipers, turn signals etc). Examine the tires to determine if any appear low in pressure, also check the thread depth)

Upon leaving the lot drive around the block to insure everything is working (like the brakes not squelling

This all takes a bit more time at the beginning, but we have found it beneficial to prevent issues.

We prefer hatchbacks so there is a cover for the few items we might leave in the vehicle. We also carry a small black sheet to toss over items that we sit on the floor.

We choose to park outside of tourist zones and walk into the area as it avoids the potential of tickets and, we believe, theft. This tactic also saves money on avoiding expensive parking lots.

And most of all, do obtain the IDP.

thanks to everyone with help on my question concerning car rentals

I personally think relying on Visa/Mastercharge insurance coverage is risky. The posts on AE have been good but not Visa. There has been more than one horrid story here about Visa insurance coverage. You get caught up in a finger pointing triangle. My son was burned in the US on a Visa coverage because the rental agency literally failed to check a certain box on the rental form. The rental company's defense was, "That is the way we always do it." Visa's position was, "No coverage." An insurance claim can become very complicated when you thrown in distance, language, and different business culture. Although it is expensive we tend to buy from the rental company. An extra hundred dollars or so may buy a lot of headache relief if a problem develops.

I don't think your US coverage will cover you in Spain. It is a different ball of wax here. The car insurance I have noticed is EXTREMELY expensive. There have been lots of posts of people having problems with damage to the car, tires, glass, etc and insurance coverage if they didn't get it. I rented from Centauro in Torremolinos last year and was a so-so experience. Call and ask AMEX, and bring a copy in writing. My US insurance (State Farm) does not cover outside the U.S.

Buyer beware is the key here. As noted previously, be very, very clear about what your CC will cover and any deductibles and the requirements for making a claim. American Express tends to have a better reputation about such things than others, but still, the onus is on you.

And know that with 3rd party coverage, you have to do all of the leg work in making your claim and you are on the hook financially until the claim is resolved.

There are also some rental agencies that will try and get you for some minor scratch or dent or whatever. Not common but it does happen. So take the previous advice and document the entire car with photos BEFORE you leave the lot. And know that if there is a deductible, you may be on the hook for it if you encounter such a scenario.

Lastly, an International Drivers Permit is required to legally drive in Spain.

Call your insurance agent. Mine (State Farm) explained we are covered in the US and Canada and 15 miles across the Mexican border and no further. So definitely no Europe. Plus, your state of residence may affect the credit card insurance coverage. Call and check. Get the IDP as fines for not having one can be over 300 euros. And as stated above, document every tiny ding and scratch before you leave. Our Sixt car rental spent 35 minutes trying to charge us for every tiny ding in Greece. Since, I only rent from US companies and do a phone video of the cars condition when picking up the car.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

I rented a car from EuropCar through Auto Europe (in Maine) and put it on my American Express. Rather than pay a lot for their CDW which has a very high deductible ($1000-1500) I talked with the Am X people and they covered me for up to a $35,000 car for nothing (nada penny). If I had a claim the deductible was only going to be about $250. We were supposed to get a Qash Kai and were upgraded to a VW Tiguan, both small SUVs

Be careful of 2 things:

1) If they offer you a free upgrade, get it in writing. EuropCar billed me another $65 after I got home for the upgrade. The guy at the rental counter at BCN airport spoke good enough English and my friend, my granddaughter and I all heard him say "free". BTW, I complained and got out of paying that.

2) Be careful of traffic cams. I just got a speeding ticket in the mail for Feb. 4 of this year. 100 euros for going 97 km/hr in an 80 km/hr zone. That's about 60 mph in a 50 mph zone. EuropCar also put $43 on my AmX for their trouble in giving the authorities my name and address. I'm sure it's legit...my friend has a lead foot. Translating the Spanish ticket is another matter. One option is to pay it online within 20 days and only pay half. It's the two sentences after that part that I'm not sure of. My granddaughter who is majoring in Spanish and her Spanish roommate in Barcelona couldn't even help me out with the legalese. Hoping for the best...

If you decide to use AX for coverage, be sure that the credit card and reservation is in the same name as the driver. Also be sure to use your AX for anything related to the rental: reservation, car pickup and drop off for any other charges (taxes, etc). Don't switch cards, or any cc insurance might be invalid. You can sign up for the AX premium coverage which will cost you around $20, only charged with the car rental charge.
AX Premium Car rental insurance

Personally, I feel better with AX car rental insurance as it's actually insurance you are buying vs. a visa that is a card member perk or benefit.