I think not having liability is a problem since your U.S. car insurance company doesn't act as primary insurance once you drive outside the country. That would mean you're driving without insurance in AUS and I think our VISA cards only offer Collision -- CDW. This is good to know -- if the savings is coming from exlcusions of insurance coverage that we need to purchase back...

I just got off the phone with VISA benefits -- the agent told me that Liability is something we need to purchase separately from AVIS if we're renting internationally. In the VISA benefits package it says to decline CDW/LDW but she said the LDW doesn't stand for liability, it stands for Loss Damage Waiver. She said that the words Collision and Loss are used interchangeably and to not confuse Loss with Liability which is separate.

So, i guess I need to contact AVIS since my quote also says that Liability was "declined"...

No insurance?
 

So I just talked to my insurance guy and he said that no company except USAA for the military provides liability insurance while driving outside the US or Canada. His understanding is that platinum cards provide no liability insurance either.

So it seems that every time I've rented a car internationally in the last 10 years I've been driving without insurance.

Now I'm looking at the Avis site and I don't even see any liability insurance offered? Anyone know what the deal is?

Not necessarily. I know for a fact that in Germany, (unlimited?) liability insurance for car rentals is mandated by law, and all rates for car rentals quoted there must include it.

I think (but don't know) that may be the case in other EU countries.

First, welcome to FT! I have saved many a $$$ using flyertalk. But, I have noticed the same thing, L282800 ("L", not "A") seems to have no effect anymore on a recurring rental for me.

I currently have a reservation using that code with a lower price for June, will that be honored?

ezmonee??

Here is Avis' response to my inquiry about renting a car in Spain with liability insurance:

"Thank you for contacting Avis.

Avis rates include, at no additional cost, compulsory car insurance and complementary public liability insurance and surety with unlimited guarantees, as well as insurance coverage for car damage by fire.
Not included in damage to the car due to collision, theft, acts of vandalism, or any theft of personal property, death or injury to the hirer or passengers traveling in the Avis car.

If we can be of further assistance, let us know.

Thank you for choosing Avis.

Shirley/21430322
www.avis.com"

I've been checking some other rental companies and at least one states that the rental includes mandatory liabilty insurance. I assume that if its mandatory and included at one, its mandatory and included at all.

Looks like I'll just book with the D005927 AWD and assume it includes liability coverage.

I don't know if I would just assume that.

I have searched the forums but couldn't find an answer to my question:
I do not own a car, so I don't have any kind of insurance, yet I have a credit card that entitles me to free CDW/LDW whenever I rent a car. When I rent a car in the US - am I covered for liability insurance by the renting company?

Yes, at least according to the email that AVIS sent me above, the liability is built into the price with them -- your CC would function as primary insurance for collision since you don't have any other car insurance policy (if you're just named on another policy, I don't know if that counts as having insurance but maybe check on this with VISA/MC).

Avis insurance in Australia
 

From Avis CS:

Yes when renting in Australia the Avis vehicles come with Unlimited Public Liability and property damage.
Public liability covers injury or death to persons outside the Avis vehicle and Property damage covers damage to property other than the Avis vehicle or renter or passenger's property.

Thank you for choosing Avis.

Stella/12570323

Thanks Stella, but what about the US?

Email her and ask - she responded to me in less than an hour.

My apologies... hehehe... I thought u were Stella. Didn't read it right... Can u plz give me her email address?

Avis homepage>Customer Service>Reservation Questions (or something like that).