Originally Posted by
guv1976
If your personal auto insurance does not cover damage to rental cars, and assuming that you are not renting some exotic or very expensive (i.e. more than $50,000) car, then you are throwing out money by purchasing the Amex coverage. Just charge the rental to a credit card that offers LDW for free. While such coverage (other than that provided by Diner's Club) is "secondary," that only means that it is secondary to other available insurance. If you have no other available insurance that covers the damage to the rental car, then the credit card's LDW becomes primary.
I disagree completely that you are "throwing your money away" by purchasing Amex coverage. Every card has different restrictions on their "free" insurance. How many days you are covered for, deductible, limit of coverage, and gap insurance. That is coverage to recoup revenue lost when a damaged car is taken out of circulation to be repaired. You are responsible for the lost revenue while the car is being repaired. In my opinion, I would
never rely only on the "free" coverage offered by a credit card company. Yes, it's probably valid in most cases. But I'm not going to count on it when such inexpensive reliable alternatives (Amex) exist. You rent a car for 5 days. Amex primary coverage is $19.95 for the total rental period.. Isn't it worth a paltry $4 bucks a day to be completely covered with a confirmed insurance policy?