arbj

Hi,

I live in India and I am an Indian citizen, this will be the first time I rent a car outside India, I need advise on Insurance and damage claims.

I will be traveling to the USA on August first week. I plan to do some promotion work by visiting a list of factories around California, also a bit of sight seeing when time permits. For this I plan to rent a car from Hertz or any other suitable rental company, in Los Angeles, preferably near Westwood or Pico. I would be paying via credit card.

However I need to know some basic information on the kind of insurance coverage required. I am covered for personal injury abroad, I have a travel insurance as well as my personal medical insurance. I do not have any other kinds of insurance like personal liability etc., nor does my credit card offer any such features.

I need to know what other insurance coverages I will require if I get involved in an accident in the USA.

From studying the hertz website I found these basic Insurance coverages they offer.

1. Loss & Damage Waiver (LDW)

This coverage is required when the car is damaged, lost etc. As per Hertz website..."*However Hertz offers Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) an optional service, which for an additional daily charge relieves you of all financial responsibility for the loss or damage to the rental car, whether or not you have insurance to cover such damage, provided the car is used in accordance with the terms of the Rental Agreement.*"

So do this mean the car is fully covered?? I do not have to pay for anything in case of loss??

I also gathered from the internet that a personal liability insurance would also be required, this comes in play when another person makes a claim against me in case of an accident. Hertz offers something like this but I am not sure whether its personal liability insurance.

I got this extract from the Hertz site....

"*Hertz' liability protection is secondary to any other insurance coverage available to you. If you do not have liability insurance and/or the limits of liability of the insurance coverage available to you are not sufficient to cover claims by others against you, and Hertz, as the vehicle owner, provides liability protection due to an accident, you will indemnify Hertz for any and all payments made.

However, Hertz makes available additional liability protection, which is primary, if the optional Liability Insurance Supplement, LIS, is purchased.

**Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS)**

Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS) provides coverage for you and other authorized operators of your rental vehicle for third party claims.

LIS is primary protection to customer’s personal policy and provides the first $1,000,000.00 of combined bodily injury and/or property damage protection for each occurrence regardless of the state in which the accident occurs. On rentals in California and Florida the maximum combined single limit is $2,000,000.00 for liability protection only*."

Is the above insurance coverage sufficient for damages occurring to third persons?? What about damage to public/private property ?? Is this also covered??

Your inputs would be appreciated.

thanks
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