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Originally Posted by ExitRowAisle
my biggest concern with rental cars is getting blamed for cosmetic damage that previous drivers caused. After having a near miss with this type of scenario several years ago (picking up a car at night that had recently been washed makes a visual inspection next to impossible), I've been opting for the CDW because I don't want to have to submit a claim with my auto insurer for damage I had nothing to do with.
You never HAVE to submit a claim to your own insurer for cosmetic damage to a rental car; and the only time it might make sense to do so is when the cost of repair exceeds your deductible. Most personal gold or platinum credit cards will cover you up to the amount of the deductible on your personal policy. You do not have to file a claim with your personal insurer for this "secondary" coverage to kick in. (You would be required to send to your credit-card company a copy of your personal car insurance policy, showing the amount of your deductible.) So what you have to figure out is this: does the risk that you will be held responsible for rental-car damage in an amount that exceeds your deductible make the cost of Amex's premium insurance a good buy for you?
Last edited by guv1976; Mar 24, 2007 at 10:29 pm