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Originally Posted by NJUPINTHEAIR
Furthermore, even though a person pays with their AMEX, that payment is to Priceline, not the car rental company -- I believe thatn PLN uses its own MC.
Inasmuch as the entire car rental needs to be paid on your credit card -- and none of it is -- then you will not even be getting secondary coverage for the rental.
Bottom line -- if your personal rental policy covers car rentals you are covered but only up to the limits of that policy, and you are likely see your premium increase if you do get into an accident.
If on the other hand, you personal rental policy does not cover car rentals, and you rent from PLN and pay with a credit card, well, then, you are
SOL and if there are serious personal injuries, you had better be consulting with a good bankruptcy attorney!
I think you are confusing two different kinds of liability here. If one's personal auto insurance does not cover
third-party liability while driving a rented auto, it hardly matters whether one rents directly from Hertz, Avis, etc., or goes through Priceline. No credit card provides third-party liability coverage, so if your personal insurance doesn't either, your potential exposure is enormous, unless you purchase SLI from the rental company, or rent with a corporate or association ID number that provides enhanced liability coverage at no extra charge. (At participating Avis locations, Avis provides complimentary 100/300/25 liability coverage to renters who use the AARP discount ID.)
On the other hand, most premium credit cards provide complimentary LDW for car rentals charged to the card. Coverage is usually primary outside of one's country of residence, or secondary in one's home country. But even secondary insurance will cover you if the amount of damage to the rented vehicle is less than the deductible on your personal policy.
I would not make any assumptions about whether Amex, Visa, or MC would cover a Priceline or Hotwire rental. Check with the card issuer, and get it in writing.
And if you rent cars frequently and want primary LDW from a credit card, get a Diner's Club card for, I think, $95/year.