I have always been unsure about what to do when hiring a car. I have auto insurance with GEICO and usually pay with my Venture X credit card. As a result, I have typically declined the insurance offered by the rental company, but I have never been certain if that was the right decision.
From what I’ve found, most of the information available online seems to focus on what to do after an accident. I’m specifically interested in knowing what steps to take when renting a car, or even before that, such as how to determine my coverage.
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Take advantage of the rental company’s additional liability coverage and damage waiver. It is, indeed, a scam. Yes, your insurance policy and/or credit card may provide coverage. Still, you will not like the experience if a claim takes weeks or months to process.
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Sigh. Okay. What can I say? Hahaha…
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Normally, your own insurance covers rental cars just like your own vehicle, but it’s best to check your policy or ask your provider to be sure.
Rental staff often push Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) to avoid deductibles if you’re at fault. LDW lets you walk away after an accident without hassle. Many credit cards cover deductibles, making LDW often unnecessary and costly.
Without auto insurance, you’ll need liability insurance and possibly LDW from the rental company.
If you have insurance, mention your credit card coverage to avoid LDW. If renting for a week, consider LDW for the first day as a courtesy, as rental staff can’t accept tips.
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Well, that is very helpful