Should you say yes to rental car insurance? It depends

For some, it is a waste of money. Others, should consider spending the cash.

ByABC News
December 11, 2007, 2:03 AM

— -- Frequent business traveler James Smith says he's saved "tons of money" during the past 30 years declining car rental companies' optional insurance coverage. But, he acknowledges, it could have come in handy at times.

Smith, an economist in Asheville, N.C., has paid $1,100 for damages to three rental cars in the past five years. Last year, a valet damaged his rental car in Maui, and his parked rental car was scraped in Buford, Ga. In 2002, he backed a car into a rock in Ireland.

Smith was unaware that his personal auto insurance policy would have covered most of the damages in Ireland, so he didn't make a claim. In the other two incidents, he had to pay deductibles.

Like Smith, many travelers are unsure about their coverage when they approach a car rental counter. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) surveyed 632 consumers in September, and 42% were "either thoroughly confused or had only a rough idea about insurance."

The association of top state insurance officials says 34% of consumers surveyed by telephone bought a rental car company's insurance just to make sure they were covered.

"When renting a car, many consumers purchase unnecessary insurance and end up wasting money," says Walter Bell, Alabama insurance commissioner and NAIC president.

Renters should check whether their personal auto insurance policy and a credit card used for the rental provide sufficient coverage without buying additional insurance, NAIC says. Many credit cards include some collision and theft protection, but the benefits are usually secondary to personal auto insurance or the coverage sold by a car rental company.

But, as Smith learned, protection provided by credit card companies can be tricky.

He says he used a Visa card, which provides secondary insurance coverage, to pay for the rentals in Ireland and Georgia, but he wasn't reimbursed because he didn't notify the credit card company within 45 days of each incident.

And personal auto policies that provide coverage for renters often include conditions. For example, they may not cover rentals on business trips and may limit coverage for long-term rentals. Personal policies also may not cover rentals in foreign countries.