Originally Posted by
Metal_Zen
MADPhil, yes, I hear you.
This is my concern.
I'm just saying that is the reality of how many people in my situation would think.
I really would like clarification on exactly what my best course of action is, foregoing that I will ever get this information from credit card companies and rental agencies.
Right now, I'm looking at paying more on a 7 day one-way rental from SJC to LAX than my airfare from Narita to LAX, if I include supplemental liability coverage (assuming that anything else is actually covered from credit cards at all).
If you can see it from my perspective, you might be able to see why I call thsi a "quagmire".
Have you considered getting an "Associate" membership with AARP? There's no minimum age, and I believe that using the AARP discount codes at U.S. Avis and Budget gives you (minimal) third-party liability coverage. That should at least satisfy the California requirement of having liability coverage -- although the low coverage limits would not go very far if you we're involved in a serious accident.
If you have a legitimate, continuing connection to the California address on your license, I encourage you to contact a Travelers Insurance agent in California, and get a quote for a non-owned-auto liability policy. My current six-month premium for $500K/$500K/$200K coverage is $32. That's not $32 per month; it's $32 for
six months. Rates in California might be higher than they are in upstate New York, but it only costs you a phone call or two to find out.