Originally Posted by
number_6
There is a high loss rate from collisions with kangaroos at dawn/dusk so that is a pretty significant exclusion. Windshield damage is another area to look for (a long trip in WA/NT will almost guarantee a stone chip on windshield and car companies often charge a few thousand for that). Having good insurance is a must (my travel insurance covers it and costs <$500/year as well as covering flights/baggage loss/medical evacuation etc.) Most card insurance is pretty useless for Australia/NZ, fwiw. You can get $0 excess for a rather high price, not sure it is cost effective.
On a prior trip to Australia (driving SYD to Thredbo) the first roo I saw, I hit. (Arguably it was already dead on the road) It was after dark. So I do know this is a risk. No car damage with that one, just a rather abrupt hop of the left side...
The question was 'does supplemental card insurance or purchased insurance cover you if the rental contract excludes certain TIMES from THEIR cover'. I suppose it will be a legal question where I will just need the rental contract and the card's policy and I can parse that and move forward.
In the US, when a contract is drafted by one party- and the other party has to accept that as drafted- if there is ambiguity in the langauge the interpretation is AGAINST the party drafting the text. Is this true in AUS? (I know, in the weeds here...)
Oh, I did once learn the hard way that AMEX doesnt cover Australia. $4000 on an expense report. Sigh.
PS I may in fact have some trip insurnace as well, which would likely have a rental car component. Not that I plan on an accident, but I guess thats why they call them accidents