Originally Posted by
jrlevine
I'll be visiting New Zealand this December (and taking six segments on NZ, two long ones and four short ones so it's not totally off topic.)
Credit cards in the US all provide insurance for rental cars, and they all have an asterisk saying except in New Zealand. What's the liability when I rent a car in NZ and turn down all of the optional insurance? For that matter, is there optional insurance? Any suggestions? Preferably other than taking the rental car company's over priced this-isn't-insurance insurance? Tnx.
The asterisk you're referring to is only for Amex. US issued Visa will most certainly protect you in NZ and Australia for the "excess", which is the local equivalent of CDW. I'm pretty sure Mastercard is the same as Visa.
The excess will be specified on your rental contract. Use your Visa, decline the excess, and if you wreck the car, you'll be billed for the damages up to the excess and then Visa will eventually return your money once you send them all the documents they need. It took me about 6 months for a check because Avis at ZQN did not "try harder" to get me their invoice for the smashed windscreen.