[Idyllchat] archives and car rental insurance

[Bob Bestor]

I hate for anyone to spend money on CDW and/or 
theft insurance when renting a car in Europe 
(except Italy and Ireland where you must). Pay 
for the rental with a credit card that provides 
free zero deductible coverage. Yes, it's 
secondary coverage and only applies if you have 
no other coverage, but it's very likely the only 
way you'll have other coverage is if you purchase 
it from the car rental company - expensive with a 
high deductible-or it you purchase it from a 
third party provider such as AIG Travel Guard of 
other travel insurance carrier (usually about $10 
per day with a $250 deductible and a coverage 
limit of from about $35K to $50K. Unless you have 
a very unusual policy, your U.S. car rental 
insurance won't cover you in Europe.

If you have damage and want to be reimbursed by 
your CC company you'll have to file some 
paperwork and follow their rules (notify CC 
company in a timely manner, provide damage docs, 
and decline rental company's offer of insurance). 
However, there's paperwork with car rental 
company and third party insurance suppliers as 
well; damage docs and perhaps a police report. 
Also, read carefully the fine print. Some 
policies exclude damage to the undercarriage, 
wheels, roof, and interior. One company I know 
excludes one-car accidents...in other words if 
you notice a scratch or dent, and you can't 
locate the driver that caused it, you pay for the 
repair (in this case your credit card won't cover 
you because you already have insurance).

Consumer Reports and another reputable consumer 
organizations recommend against CDW sold by 
rental companies and instead endorse coverage 
offered by credit card companies.

A final note: For $15.95 or $24.95, Amex offers a 
primary coverage policy that is good for rentals 
as long as 42 days and includes coverage of 
certain vehicles - luxury sedean (Travel Guard's 
rental insurance only covers cars less than $35K 
in value), larger vans, SUVs-that aren't covered 
by normal credit card and third party cdw/theft 
insurance. It also includes personal property 
coverage and even some medical coverage. For 
details go to 
https://www152.americanexpress.com/fsea/travel/car_rental/product.do

Bob Bestor



>Hi Deb,
>You should contact Bob Bester, who gives a good 
>rental card discount to Untourists and is quite 
>a expert on renting cars in Europe. He can be 
>reached at:
><mailto:bob at gemut.com>bob at gemut.com and I am 
>sure he will be a big help to you on your 
>journey.
>
>Happy travels,
>Barbara Crowell Roy
>Sachseln, Switzerland
>
>PS. Bob's company is located in the US and he is American.
>
>On 02.03.2008, at 15:22, dtrees wrote:
>
>>I am resending this with a subject.  sorry.
>>
>>
>>I have been looking through the archives trying 
>>to get some suggestions on rental car insurance 
>>and I can't find any archived info since 2001. 
>>Am I looking in the right place? 
>>
>>Does anyone have any suggestions on rental 
>>insurance for picking up a car at the Munich 
>>airport from Hertz?  The car is booked through 
>>untours so even if my credit card would 
>>normally cover foreign rentals, it won't 
>>in this case.  Any suggestions will help.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Deb
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