Credit cards and rental car insurance: What's covered and what's not.

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http://lifehacker.com/5931594/credit-cards-and-car-rental-insurance-whats-covered-and-whats-not

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Car Rental Insurance: What’s Covered and What’s Not


http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/commenter/2500000/2505766_32.jpg Melanie Pinola

Even if you're aware of the free car rental insurance provided by credit cards (http://lifehacker.com/5820045/check-your-credit-cards-extra-perks-to-avoid-overspending-on-benefits), unless you read the fine print on your credit card agreements and rental car contracts, it's just plain confusing knowing how your car rental would be protected. This infogaphic from Credit-Land spells it all out.
To get comprehensive insurance coverage from major car rental services, you could pay $28 a day—more than half the $48 daily cost of renting a mid-size car, according to Credit-Land. Meanwhile, credit card companies offer free collision and auto theft coverage, as well as towing service.
Generally, however, the credit cards don't offer free supplementary liability insurance—damage to other vehicles, property, or people—and luxury vehicles are also excluded from protection.
American Express, however, offers premium car rental insurance that covers all of the above for $24.99 per rental period, or if you currently have personal car insurance, they may cover the damages if you get into a fender-bender with your rental car.
Here's the final recommendation:

To choose or not to choose Credit Card Rental Protection?
Credit card car rental insurance is always considered secondary coverage – it covers you if you don't have other car insurance or if you do not purchase insurance from the rental company. A very important thing to know is that with any credit card rental insurance, buying the coverage from the rental company will invalidate your credit card insurance coverage. You can't get coverage from both sources at once. However, if your personal car insurance has a deductible, then your credit card will cover that amount. Keep in mind, although your rented vehicle is protected, you will need AMEX Premium coverage or a separate insurance to cover possible medical expenses and damages you may cause by accident. As always, the best solution is to be careful while driving.
And the infographic (click to expand, right-click to save):

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[questner]

Unless you have balance on your CC to cover total loss of your rental, don't rely upon in in DR! Buy zero liability rental company insurance including all perils and third party, or just stay out of driving!

No CC company will immediately pay a loss to a rental company!

[gulfmariner]

Unless you have balance on your CC to cover total loss of your rental, don't rely upon in in DR! Buy zero liability rental company insurance including all perils and third party, or just stay out of driving!

No CC company will immediately pay a loss to a rental company!

I agree ..
Not being a lawyer but trying to cypher the fine print , to many ifs , ands , ors and buts for me. Its worth paying for full coverage and have no worry , for the few times I fly into Santiago and make the drive ..

[Happyhorn]

American Express has a program where you pay a flat fee of $24.95 per rental period instead of per day.
I used it last time I rented a car in Sosua but did not read the fine print so have no idea if there are a bunch of loopholes.


https://www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-mvt/home.do?extlink=ps-cardserv-sdG1b3MBD&pcrid=9624685865&pmt=e&kw=amex auto insurance&gclid=CPCf6aeT47ECFQfCKgodDysAow

[psriches]

American Express has a program where you pay a flat fee of $24.95 per rental period instead of per day.
I used it last time I rented a car in Sosua but did not read the fine print so have no idea if there are a bunch of loopholes.


https://www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-mvt/home.do?extlink=ps-cardserv-sdG1b3MBD&pcrid=9624685865&pmt=e&kw=amex auto insurance&gclid=CPCf6aeT47ECFQfCKgodDysAowNone of them cover international "3rd party" and that's where you'll get hit. The insurance will EVENTUALLY cover your car and your injuries, but not the other person's injury or car damage. Remember that an accident in DR is always your fault. So you will be arrested and restricted from leaving the country until you pay the other person's damages in cash.

Also remember you are in DR. So real world logic doesn't apply. AVIS in Santiago once charged me $800 for a crack in the windsheild the size of a dime.