By the way, I see from a (much) earlier post of yours that you had been a graduate student in the U.S. If you ultimately received a degree, have you checked to see whether your alma mater has rental-car contracts and, if so, whether alumni are permitted to use the contract "leisure" rates for personal travel?


This would not resolve the insurance issues, but might result in your getting a lower rental rate than what is available to the general public.