Hertz - Dang it! Hit in the parking lot...

People in Virginia can't drive.

So my Mazda6 got hit in the front while I was sleeping. No idea who did it.
The bumper is scratched up and there is some molding separation but it's noticable.

Do I even bother telling Hertz when I return the car? And if I do, what's the claims process.

I would inform them. Did you get LDW (either seperately or as part of a corporate rate)? I don't know how the claims process works.

Yup, I just checked on the Intranet and we have LDW through the corporate agreement as well as through the credit card company.

Yup, I just checked on the Intranet and we have LDW through the corporate agreement as well as through the credit card company.

Fill out the Hertz accident report form when you return the car and that should be it.

Fill out the Hertz accident report form when you return the car and that should be it.

Wooohoooo! An excuse to leave earlier....I like it :eek:

People in Virginia can't drive.


This is true! :mad:


So my Mazda6 got hit in the front while I was sleeping. No idea who did it. The bumper is scratched up and there is some molding separation but it's noticable.

Do I even bother telling Hertz when I return the car? And if I do, what's the claims process.

If you have the insurance and all that stuff, absolutely! Or you could do what everyone else in Virginia does, duct tape the bumper and pray no one really notices it. :eek:

Call up the 800 number on the rental jacket. They'll take the usual info down, ask if you're ok, ask if the car is still drivable, if you want a new one, and what forms you have to fill out when you get to the airport and that you should get there earlier than usual.

The one time I had a "hit and run" accident with a Hertz rental (similar situation to yours.....hit in a parking lot), the manager was a bit annoyed that I didn't call the police when I noticed the damage and get a police report. Otherwise, they had me complete an accident form when I returned the car and that was it.

My situation was different but is illustrative of the claims process.

I backed into a post in a parking lot scraping the rear bumber of my "upgraded" kia amati. All my fault, no reason to claim otherwise.

I pondered what to do for the duration of the rental and ultimately decided I'd rather not have that guy on my shoulder scolding me for months for trying to slip back unnoticed.

So I filled out the claim form and took a minor tongue lashing for not having the police come verify that I hadn't hurt the post.

Waited about six weeks and got a 5 page letter from the claims center in K.C. explaining the extent of damages and exactly what was needed for repairs.

The cost was way less than my deductable so I paid it out of pocket. Honestly I have to say I was prepared for a padded price, but everything listed was in my mind reasonable and fair.

Wish I could complain about "those bad guys" but in this case I honestly can't.

Lihu'e 1k

The cost was way less than my deductable so I paid it out of pocket. Honestly I have to say I was prepared for a padded price, but everything listed was in my mind reasonable and fair.

Wouldn't your credit card's rental collision insurance have covered the cost of the damage?

Wouldn't your credit card's rental collision insurance have covered the cost of the damage?

Most credit card insurance, except Diners Club, is secondary. They would hit your insurance first, if you have insurance, then they pick up the excess. I feel that this is worthless as your premiums may increase if you file a claim on your personal insurance.

I had an accident in January and the repair estimate from Hertz included a $136 administrative fee. It was only around $350 for parts and labor. Luckily Diners Club said they would handle all the damage to the rental car.

Most credit card insurance, except Diners Club, is secondary. They would hit your insurance first, if you have insurance, then they pick up the excess. I feel that this is worthless as your premiums may increase if you file a claim on your personal insurance.

Not true. That explanation sounds like what agents at Thrifty and Enterprise say to try to get me to buy their optional LDW. :p

Credit cards' collision insurance covers all costs up to the deductible on a renter's personal insurance. So if you do $350 worth of damage to a rental car, and have a $500 deductible on your own car's collision insurance, the credit card covers the $350 and your insurance is untouched. If the damage is $750, the CC will pay for the first $500 and you'll have to file a claim with your own insurer for the remaining $250.

If you don't own a car at all, or own an older car without collision insurance (like me), then Visa/MC/Amex collision coverage is primary, generally up to $50,000.

Wouldn't your credit card's rental collision insurance have covered the cost of the damage?

Ah, yes but it's a pay first then submit a claim for reimbursement kind of deal. That battle I'm still fighting, but that would be a other thread! These people I have nothing nice to say about!

Lihu'e 1k

Returned the car today...Had to fill out an accident report form. They said their office will contact me sometime. I guess now it's just wait and see.

Returned the car today...Had to fill out an accident report form. They said their office will contact me sometime. I guess now it's just wait and see.

Good luck! I fondly remember my experience at LAX back in the dim and distant past when, not paying attention while parking, I hit the right hand front wheel of a Mustang on a Sunset Strip kerb, bursting the tyre and damaging the rim. Out came a man to put on the spare (I couldn't get the standard jack under it once the tyre was deflated), then I trotted back to LAX where a very nice lady told me they didn't have a Mustang to replace it with for me so was a convertible okay? I said something like "that's very nice of you, seeing it was my fault". "These things happen" she said, rang someone up and off I went with the roof down and not a penny worse off :D

Sorry to bump it up...but might as well keep it in one thread :)


Got a letter from HCM (Hertz Claim Management) stating that they determined that I was driving the car when it was damaged (Duh!) and LDW is included in my CDP however, I must prove to HCM that this was indeed a business rental either by submitting my expense report or having my supervisor/manager write a letter.

Seems easy enough...