Originally Posted by honu
So which is it: the III.com assertion that rental companies have to provide the minimum required in each state (which is, admittedly, usually pretty low), or what the rental companies reps say, that no liability insurance is included whatsoever, no even the minimum required by law?
They have to provide the minimum required by law, no exceptions. Avis, et.al. all have their own captive insurers which protect them to the tune of 100mil + in liability limits, and sublimit to the minimum amounts required in each state (US) or province (Canada) when the vehicle is operated by a renter.
Avis is protected regardless (because if you cause damages, of say, $1,000,000 and only took the minimum limits, the third party can claim against Avis for the difference (after your financial resources were exhausted). All that money you pay in "insurance" gets sent off to support their captive insurer.