[WishUponAStar]

Just closing up some loose ends before we leave this Saturday...

We have a rental car booked through Alamo for 11 days. If we get all that insurance/protection, etc. they offer it's going to add nearly $300 to the cost of the rental. I called my car insurance company here in NJ to find out "if I really need it" and I got a totally neutral answer. It was basically "Well, you can pay $300 to Alamo just in case something happens or pay us your deductible of $500 if something happens."

I have full coverage here in NJ but would that cover anything that could happen in a rental car? I am really so confused. Nobody ever wants to give an answer either way on this, at the rental company or insurance. And if I refuse all the Alamo coverage do I bring my NJ insurance card with me?

So, honestly, do I get all their coverage or not? This is like the great rental car mystery to me.

(PS: I'll be in Disneyland in only 4 days!!! )

[PhilliesFan]

Insurance is my game. You don't need to buy the insurance as long as you have full coverage, meaning collision, comprehensive, liabiilty, and medical or PIP coverage. Since you are renting the vehicle out of state for a vacation, the rental vehicle is considered a temporary substitute and your coverage is then transfer to the rental car. You normally just provide your insurer's name and policy number when you rent the vehicle, but I never rented through Alamo so you may want to make a copy of your insurance card for a 'just in case' moment.
Hope this helps.

[lovemysons]

I always wonder about this myself. Thanks PhilliesFan!!

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by PhilliesFan

Insurance is my game. You don't need to buy the insurance as long as you have full coverage, meaning collision, comprehensive, liabiilty, and medical or PIP coverage. Since you are renting the vehicle out of state for a vacation, the rental vehicle is considered a temporary substitute and your coverage is then transfer to the rental car. You normally just provide your insurer's name and policy number when you rent the vehicle, but I never rented through Alamo so you may want to make a copy of your insurance card for a 'just in case' moment.
Hope this helps.

Thank you so much PhilliesFan!! I am so glad somebody was just able to explain it and save me $300 on paying for protection I already have. I will make a copy of my insurance cards today and put them in my trip folder. So helpful, thank you.

Now geeez, WHAT was so hard that my insurance company couldn't just explain that to me!!!

[JANIESMILE57]

Well,

Something my DB did was lowered his deductible to 100 bucks when we made two trips to disney in a month. that made his premium go up a lil(42.00), but covered us a lot more than the 500.00 out of pocket in case something did happen. At his next renewal he putis back up.

But we also copy our cards when we go, as well as tell our agent.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by PhilliesFan

Insurance is my game. You don't need to buy the insurance as long as you have full coverage, meaning collision, comprehensive, liabiilty, and medical or PIP coverage. Since you are renting the vehicle out of state for a vacation, the rental vehicle is considered a temporary substitute and your coverage is then transfer to the rental car. You normally just provide your insurer's name and policy number when you rent the vehicle, but I never rented through Alamo so you may want to make a copy of your insurance card for a 'just in case' moment.
Hope this helps.

That is exactly what our agant told us years ago. We have full coverage and a $100 deductible so he told us we could pass in the insurance through the rental company. (However, my DH wasn't covered to drive my DFIL's company car.)

[DisneyFreak78]

As well if you have an American Express card and are paying for the rental and using your card you have insurance through us as well.

Always keep in mind though whether you use their's, your's or American Express the rental company can charge you for each day their car is out of commission. That doesn't go against any of the insurance's it's right out of your pocket. Sorry to be Debbie Downer here, but it's a good thing to know ahead of time.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by JANIESMILE57

that made his premium go up a lil(42.00), but covered us a lot more than the 500.00 out of pocket in case something did happen.

I am still a little confused. You said you lowered your deductible to only $100 but why would that "cover you a lot more?" The amount of your deductible shouldn't effect how much coverage you get right?

[Experiment6-2-6]

Check with your insurance company to make sure that your coverage extends to both Nevada and California.

The insurance is one of the ways car rentals make money.

As long as you have your own insurance, there's no reason to spend the extra.

[PhilliesFan]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

I am still a little confused. You said you lowered your deductible to only $100 but why would that "cover you a lot more?" The amount of your deductible shouldn't effect how much coverage you get right?

Your collision/comprehensive deductible is your out of pocket expense, and it does not effect your liability limits. You will pay more for a lower deductible, i.e. $100, as opposed to higher deductible i.e. $500, because the insurance company will not pay anything until your damages exceed your deductible. Your liability limit is charged as a separate premium, and it pays for property damage and bodily injury claims if you are responsible for an accident.

[PhilliesFan]

Originally Posted by Experiment6-2-6

Check with your insurance company to make sure that your coverage extends to both Nevada and California.

The insurance is one of the ways car rentals make money.

As long as you have your own insurance, there's no reason to spend the extra.

Good idea. Most personal auto policies provide coverage for rental cars as temporary substitute vehicles in the continuous 48 United States.

[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by DisneyFreak78

Always keep in mind though whether you use their's, your's or American Express the rental company can charge you for each day their car is out of commission. That doesn't go against any of the insurance's it's right out of your pocket. Sorry to be Debbie Downer here, but it's a good thing to know ahead of time.

Debbie Downer is right.

"Loss of Use" is a nasty side effect if the vehicle requires extensive repairs that prevent the car from being safely rented.

Unless, of course, your insurance covers that as well. Might want to ask them while discussing the jurisdictional thingy..

My legal advice for the day.

[WishUponAStar]

Alright, so I just called again and got another neutral answer.

This time the agent I talked to said "Yes, it will cover you BUT also consider that if something DID happen, depending on what, it could make your premium go up." He basically told me you just have to "weight and decide" what costs are worth it and which aren't. He said that he sometimes rents cars and doesn't take the insurance if he's not going to use it a lot but sometimes does take it, depending on where he is. I told him I'd be driving in California & Nevada and have full coverage here in NJ with Liberty Mutual. He basically just said again, "well, also consider the hassle too; you drive off the rental lot and somebody hits your car. With their insurance you just bring it right back and say "see ya." If you use your insurance you have to do the claims, etc."

OK, so are insurance agents trained in ambiguity or what?

Someone just tell me!!! Get it or not???????

[Peppertink]

I'd say get it if it is going to weigh on your mind and have any effect on the enjoyment of your trip. You will be driving quite a distance from Anaheim to Las Vegas..right? If you won't be fretting about it...then don't get it.

[MissDisney]

We never get it, Jess, because as PhilliesFan said, our regular insurance covers any car we are driving.... does that help?