Connor Photography wrote:
Never buy gas or insurance from rental car companies.  Most credit cards cover your damage.  However, since you don't have your own auto insurance, you may need to bite bullet buy the minimal coverage.

Yes, top off your tank before you return the car, with some cheap gas.

Carl Herbert wrote:
Make absolutely certain you are covered for any losses when you rent a vehicle. Rental car companies calculate their losses of revenue for damaged cars that are out of service while being repaired, so a damaged rental car is a more expensive problem than a damaged personal vehicle. And don't assume vehicle collisions are the only potential problem. You need to consider theft, weather damage and collisions with animals also. Anything bad that can happen to a car has happened and will happen again to somebody.

Credit card companies provide some coverage but you probably have to call them and verify verbally the coverages they provide.

If the information in the following link is accurate, they don't cover much at all -

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-c … insurance/

Model Sarah wrote:
…I have never been in an accident and the likelihood I will is next to nothing

You shouldn't say things like this. Setting aside any statements one could make about the potential hazards of being an overconfident driver, in a span of 5 years I was rear-ended twice while sitting at red lights by drivers who were not paying attention and hit once on the side by a woman who was not paying attention as she backed out of a space. Lucky for them my Jeep is built like a tank so only in one of those cases did I call the police.

269,082 total traffic crashes in the state of Ohio in 2013. 90% of the drivers were described as being in a "normal" state (as in not under the influence). 65% of those were during day light hours. Well over half of those crashes were on clear days. Over 191K were in dry conditions. Sometimes it does not matter how good a driver you are, bad drivers will find you. And even otherwise excellent drivers are at-fault in some collisions, too.

And before you go saying that you've driven however many miles in the past or that you do most of your miles on the highway (which, admittedly, is a different sort of driving conditions), most traffic accidents in the state of OH happen within 25 miles of the person's home.


Unless you plan on not driving the vehicle (not even off the lot), you are no more, no less likely to be in an accident as anyone else. A lot of the insurance coverage that rental companies offer cover everything from dings and scratches to a totaled vehicle with property damage and injuries to motorists. It also tends to be far less hassle than going through your insurance company. If the car got dented due to your fault or someone else's, when you turn it in you just say "The car's got a massive dent in it now. Ooops. Have a nice day." and go on about your business after you hand over the keys.

Generally, the waiver you sign on car rental insurance amounts to "I'm not taking yours so I am going to cover every penny of the damages on my own." whether that is out of pocket or otherwise. Now, if you get a ding on that car, when you turn it in they may initiate the process right there. Sometimes you have to cover a particular fee up front (kind of a "fuck-you" fee for just giving them the trouble). That fee could be substantial, depending. Also, going through your credit card could be a breeze or it could be a colossal headache. If you've never had to take care of such a thing, I wouldn't chance it.

In all likelihood they have a minimum coverage option of $25K or $80K something. Take it. If you use a credit or debit card and you waive their coverage, they probably have the right to charge whatever card you have on file for the damages or fuck-you fees.

Kincaid Blackwood wrote:

You shouldn't say things like this. Setting aside any statements one could make about the potential hazards of being an overconfident driver, in a span of 5 years I was rear-ended twice while sitting at red lights by drivers who were not paying attention and hit once on the side by a woman who was not paying attention as she backed out of a space. Lucky for them my Jeep is built like a tank so only in one of those cases did I call the police.

269,082 total traffic crashes in the state of Ohio in 2013. 90% of the drivers were described as being in a "normal" state (as in not under the influence). 65% of those were during day light hours. Well over half of those crashes were on clear days. Over 191K were in dry conditions. Sometimes it does not matter how good a driver you are, bad drivers will find you. And even otherwise excellent drivers are at-fault in some collisions, too.

And before you go saying that you've driven however many miles in the past or that you do most of your miles on the highway (which, admittedly, is a different sort of driving conditions), most traffic accidents in the state of OH happen within 25 miles of the person's home.


Unless you plan on not driving the vehicle (not even off the lot), you are no more, no less likely to be in an accident as anyone else. A lot of the insurance coverage that rental companies offer cover everything from dings and scratches to a totaled vehicle with property damage and injuries to motorists. It also tends to be far less hassle than going through your insurance company. If the car got dented due to your fault or someone else's, when you turn it in you just say "The car's got a massive dent in it now. Ooops. Have a nice day." and go on about your business after you hand over the keys.

Generally, the waiver you sign on car rental insurance amounts to "I'm not taking yours so I am going to cover every penny of the damages on my own." whether that is out of pocket or otherwise. Now, if you get a ding on that car, when you turn it in they may initiate the process right there. Sometimes you have to cover a particular fee up front (kind of a "fuck-you" fee for just giving them the trouble). That fee could be substantial, depending. Also, going through your credit card could be a breeze or it could be a colossal headache. If you've never had to take care of such a thing, I wouldn't chance it.

In all likelihood they have a minimum coverage option of $25K or $80K something. Take it. If you use a credit or debit card and you waive their coverage, they probably have the right to charge whatever card you have on file for the damages or fuck-you fees.

The car will literally be sitting for two days and I'm driving down to NC- a drive I've made a million times and can do with my eyes closed. Weather conditions are going to be wonderful. I'm a very defensive driver. I'm aware of everything you said I just need to know exactly what covers what with options I have.

Connor Photography wrote:
Never buy gas or insurance from rental car companies.  Most credit cards cover your damage.  However, since you don't have your own auto insurance, you may need to bite bullet buy the minimal coverage.

Right but what does that minimal coverage cover? That's my question. What is the best option. I don't have insurance because I've not had a car for nearly a year so that's my issue.

Lohkee wrote:
Two very good articles -

https://www.esurance.com/insurance-reso … rance-myth

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-ho … 77103.html

Hope this helps you out. BTW, I've never been in an accident (driver for over 40 years) until last week when I wrecked my beloved pilot. Insurance is covering everything for the person I hit and myself except the $500.00 deductible. The repair bill is off-the-freaking charts. I still got the rental car insurance at $18.00/day.

Oh yeah, and the car I hit was empty. Had there been someone inside it could have very easily been financially devastating without insurance.

Both links are broken.

Model Sarah wrote:

Both links are broken.

Just tested them. They both work for me just fine.

Lohkee wrote:

Just tested them. They both work for me just fine.

The second one I've already read but the first takes me to esurance quote page.

Model Sarah wrote:

The second one I've already read but the first takes me to esurance quote page.

Huh.

https://www.esurance.com/insurance-reso … rance-myth

same link, but it should take you to an article explaining the different types of coverage.

Lohkee wrote:

Huh.

https://www.esurance.com/insurance-reso … rance-myth

same link, but it should take you to an article explaining the different types of coverage.

It doesn't work because it is broken. I just googled it and found it.

Model Sarah wrote:
Thanks to Lohkee's article on esurance I was able to figure out what is what. The collision damage waiver is what I want. The SLP is for lawsuits and the other two are for health and theft of your personal property. I think...

So unless I cause some MAJOR accident the liability isn't really needed.

I would also check to see the difference between the minimum and top of the line. It might not be more than two or three bucks (I really don't know). It would be worth it if there was not a significant difference between the two. Just a thought.

Connor Photography wrote:
Never buy gas or insurance from rental car companies.  Most credit cards cover your damage.  However, since you don't have your own auto insurance, you may need to bite bullet buy the minimal coverage.

Model Sarah wrote:
Right but what does that minimal coverage cover? That's my question. What is the best option. I don't have insurance because I've not had a car for nearly a year so that's my issue.

It looks like you are a responsible person and a good driver.  If I were you, I would not take any insurance.  I know myself well, I was NYC taxi driver and expert in driving in snow storm (love it).  I know I would not involve an accident on my own.  If someone hits me, I walk and they pay unless the other driver is uninsured. 

Do you have umbrella coverage for your personal life?

If you must purchase the insurance coverage, buy the minimal, ie:  Insurance covers you when you are at fault but with a high deductible (500 to $1000).   Remember, insurance should not be used for minor thing.  Insurance should be used to protect you if the major accident occurs so you can't be wiped out financially. 

Good luck.

Carl Herbert wrote:
I advise against relying on minimal liability coverage when renting vehicles. Accidents happen, and if you don't have the vehicle covered it could cost you a lot of money out of pocket. If you don't have the money in your pocket to pay for a car then you can see what a problem that could be.

The loss damage waiver (LDW, CDW, etc.) is an add-on coverage that should allow you to walk away from the car with zero obligation. Which is to say if it's stolen, wrecked or whatever, the rental company will tow it away or deal with it on their own and bring you a replacement. If you aren't hurt then you forget about it. In most any place with roads, drivers are required to have liability insurance, so you will have to make sure you have that. I believe the damage waiver is the more expensive coverage, but if you rent the car at the weekly rate and shop around a bit it should be affordable.

If you are already committed to Enterprise then maybe it's too late to shop around, but it's good to remember it in the future -- insurance rates and coverages vary for each agency. Check beforehand how thoroughly the Enterprise LDW covers you. Some agencies don't include theft in their LDW coverage.

Yep I figured it all out. LDW is what I went with and it wasn't all that expensive either. I was committed to Enterprise because I knew this store took debit cards.

Thanks everyone for your advice and help!

ernst tischler wrote:
Back when I rented cars while on business travel, I always purchased the Damage Waiver.

absolute necessity. if you don't get it, you can get burned.

my son's idiot buddy just rented a car, and had the windshield dinged by a rock. guess what he's being charged, since he didn't get the waiver?

$2,600.00

Carl Herbert wrote:
Make absolutely certain you are covered for any losses when you rent a vehicle. Rental car companies calculate their losses of revenue for damaged cars that are out of service while being repaired, so a damaged rental car is a more expensive problem than a damaged personal vehicle. And don't assume vehicle collisions are the only potential problem. You need to consider theft, weather damage and collisions with animals also. Anything bad that can happen to a car has happened and will happen again to somebody.

Credit card companies provide some coverage but you probably have to call them and verify verbally the coverages they provide.

Do not blindly trust what a customer representative tells you. It is not uncommon receive incorrect information just because the customer service person is misinformed. Make sure you have a pointer to a website page where you can confirm it and in case of an accident you can have it in print.