Germany - Car Rental Insurance Question

After visiting Munich, we will be renting a car and driving to Salzburg, Innsburck, and back into Germany for a few other visits, then returning to Frankfurt Airport and dropping off car there. Will I need extra insurance for the car, or can I decline and rely upon the insurance included with my credit card? Thanks!

I have never had a situation where I would have needed any insurance, but you should check your CC's T&C as to the maximum amount covered (for the M&M CC, it's EUR 75,000) and whether it's valid in the countries where you want to go. Several car rental companies restrict certain types of cars (mostly the more expensive ones) from some countries like Poland.

Otherwise, I'd say the CC insurance is sufficient (or you might ask at the counter, but be aware that many car rental companies draw a considerable amount of money from the quite expensive insurance rates, so there's the possibility they won't answer honestly).

After visiting Munich, we will be renting a car and driving to Salzburg, Innsburck, and back into Germany for a few other visits, then returning to Frankfurt Airport and dropping off car there. Will I need extra insurance for the car, or can I decline and rely upon the insurance included with my credit card? Thanks!

Without knowing the coverage from your CC nobody can answer this question

Without knowing the coverage from your CC nobody can answer this question

I guess I was wondering if others who rent cars in Germany, if they depend upon their credit card insurance for car rentals, or do they pay for the extra purchased insurance?

I guess I was wondering if others who rent cars in Germany, if they depend upon their credit card insurance for car rentals, or do they pay for the extra purchased insurance?


Most of us have never had a need to call upon insurance after renting a car.

However, one thing you should be aware of is that many car rental companies carefully scrutinize the car upon return and may try to charge you for minor door dings that would go unmentioned in the US.

The Avis agency in Vienna once tried to charge me for a bug splat on the bumper until I showed them that it actually came off.

Without knowing the coverage from your CC nobody can answer this question

I second that, you should have a look at the t&c of the credit card.

I guess I was wondering if others who rent cars in Germany, if they depend upon their credit card insurance for car rentals, or do they pay for the extra purchased insurance?

Let me put it that way. My credit card coverds insurance for a rental car. Nevertheless I tend to buy LIS in the US and sometimes also CDW (if not included anyway) because I do not want to deal with such issues in another country.



However, one thing you should be aware of is that many car rental companies carefully scrutinize the car upon return and may try to charge you for minor door dings that would go unmentioned in the US.

The Avis agency in Vienna once tried to charge me for a bug splat on the bumper until I showed them that it actually came off.

I strongly suggest you do a round check of your car (outside and inside) before you leave the rental agency. Either on the printout of your rental agreement (Sixt) or in the glove compartment (Hertz, Avis) should be a damage report and you should check the car against what is written there. Everything you discover and might it be only a minor scratch should be brought to the attention of the rental agency. European Rental Agency are much stricter than in the US if if comes to damages and scratches.

Call me paranoid, but my renatal car check is usually ten minutes and usually I find something.

Let me put it that way. My credit card coverds insurance for a rental car. Nevertheless I tend to buy LIS in the US and sometimes also CDW (if not included anyway) because I do not want to deal with such issues in another country.


+1. My CC covers car rental insurance but I always buy CDW et al. I just don't want to deal with all the issues coming up if something happens, and obviously that doesn't need to be your own fault.

Years ago, my rental car was damaged by someone else while parked. I had a CDW covered and there were no questions, no problems whatsoever. I completed a short report when I returned the car, that was it. Case closed.

Everything you discover and might it be only a minor scratch should be brought to the attention of the rental agency. European Rental Agency are much stricter than in the US if if comes to damages and scratches.

Well, I've never had any problems with scratches et al. with german rental cars - I've never checked the cars before I left the rental station (and I've rented with Sixt in most cases) and simply dropped the key into the key box upon return; never heard of them again. OK, so far I've managed not to add any damages to any car, but most of the minor scratches don't even appear on the damage reports. However, I don't know how things look when you return the car with a fresh, clearly visible dent. But in such cases, any insurance won't really help as the damages are mostly below the co-payment level and you'd have to pay it yourself anyway.

After suffering at the hands of Avis last year, when we were billed for existing damage, I would strongly recommend that you take out CDW/LDW.
I was only thabnks to the damage being clearly marked on the original doccuments, letters to our credit card company & to Avis HQ that we got the matter resloved.
I would also suggest that as well as doing a manual check with a torch if in a darkend garage, you also video the car as evidence with the date & time clearly displayed at the start of the video.
I know it sounds like going OTT but, having been scammed once, it's made us over cautious.

After visiting Munich, we will be renting a car and driving to Salzburg, Innsburck, and back into Germany for a few other visits, then returning to Frankfurt Airport and dropping off car there. Will I need extra insurance for the car, or can I decline and rely upon the insurance included with my credit card? Thanks!

Does this not depend on your credit card???

I rent cars on a weekly basis in Germany and never pay for any insurance as this is covered by my Amex Platinum Card. What does yours do?

Drawing from Dollar Car Rental requirement.

They need a written confirmation from Mastercard/VISA showing that the card you are using have CDW coverage in Germany. I called 1-800-911-VISA and asked them to send you a pdf letter with VISA's letterhead.

Hope this helps

D.

In Europe if you have a flat tire CDW doesn't cover. I rented with Avis at TLS once and first they put half a tank and wanted to charge me for a tank. The car was full of dents and I had to call them out twice to 'mark' things on the car. Basically the car picture was full of circles when we drove the car out of the lot. It took us roughly 1 hour before we sorted things out.

The worst of it was that they charged us 12 Euros for 3 litre of fuel which we filled in just before entering the lot and that we had receipt documented that. Also they applied DCC even though we wanted to be billed in Euro not SEK. We circled that but they still denied that, so we couldn't get that refunded.

From then on we will only rent a car if it's really really neccessary. It's time consuming and it ruins the memory of the trip.

Depends on the rental car company as well. I reserved in Stuttgart with Dollar (an off site location) and was told that I was required to get their insurance. I made them drive me back to the airport and got a car with Avis who let me use the CC for coverage.

That being said, it can be very expensive if you do have damage.

We rented a car in Italy recently and took out the extra insurance. Glad we did. Someone clipped the rear bumper cover on the car while it was parked somewhere and did some serious damage. We had the Super coverage and it cost us nothing (other than the cost of the insurance), so worked out great in this occasion.

What is DCC?

What is DCC?

DCC is Dynamic Currency Conversion. Basically, the merchant converts your purchase from the local currency (Euro) and charges you 3-4% for doing so, instead of letting your home bank do the currency conversion for about 1% (MC/VISA). It's a big ripoff. They are supposed to tell you ahead of time if you want the purchase in the local currency or convert it for you, but most don't. I always check my charge receipt. If I see $$$'s on it, I know I've been screwed -- I tell them NO -- use the local currency, because my bank does not charge anything for conversion when I use my debit card.

Depends on your card, the country you are visiting, and the rental agency.

If driving in Italy, I for sure don't want to deal with the local police for a police report, required for CC insurance claim.

In Germany/France/UK/Nethderlands/Switzerland, I relied on CC coverage.

My car in Germany got some scratches as I cut it too close exiting the garage. I figure it would cost 1-200 Eur to fix. I wasn't charged anything and no claim was made.

In Paris, they charged 1/2 tank of fuel on the agreement upon pickup. I returned the car with 3/4 tank. I got a CREDIT that is more than the fuel cost for the whole trip!

Some rental companies are better than others.

But then the same company at a different French location charged me for CDW even though I told the clerk I didn't want it. I can't read French and I was told to initial on the contract. Got the bill and complained to corporate HQ. Got mye money back. I guess ultimately it is still better than others.