Originally Posted by
xinerevelle
I tried to submit to AMEX (Skymiles Platinum) but was told that since I had primary coverage through my own insurance ($500 deductible), they wouldn't cover it unless I showed that I had submited it to my insurance co first.
That's interesting. When I was in the UK, I guess my AMEX insurance was primary. As an American, it would have been secondary in the US.
And with the deductable -- not to mention a likely disclaimer excluding tire damage in your personal automobile policy -- you likely would have no insurance coverage for tire damage in the US.
Seems kind of unfair -- especially since you don't know what condition the tires are in when you get the car. If you get a flat, I guess the best thing to do would be to try to get a quick patch. Isn't that still only about 15 bucks? I'm not familiar with the gunk you could spray into the tire that might get you back to the depot (where you could ask for a new car for some other reason).
Interestingly, in Britain, I couldn't find a garage willing to patch the tire for me (I tried 3, as I thought at the time I was going to be on the hook for the tab). Since it was only a nail hole on a brand new tire (I was the first person to drive the car), I was a bit surprised. They said it "wouldn't be safe." I don't know if the Brits have higher tire safety standards than in the US.
