What kind of insurance should a foreign renter buy when renting from Hertz in the US?
Jan 12, 2016, 11:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
What kind of insurance should a foreign renter buy when renting from Hertz in the US?
I have a friend from Norway who is visiting the US for the first time next week.
She will be staying with me for a week before continuing to NYC and Boston.
When she arrives at ORD, she plans to rent a car from Hertz. As a foreign
visitor, what type insurance/waiver or any other extra coverage can she buy
from Hertz? I assume extra liability insurance and loss damage waiver
are essential? She has no rental car coverage on either of her credit cards.
(Visa and MC issued by Norwegian banks)
Thanks!
She will be staying with me for a week before continuing to NYC and Boston.
When she arrives at ORD, she plans to rent a car from Hertz. As a foreign
visitor, what type insurance/waiver or any other extra coverage can she buy
from Hertz? I assume extra liability insurance and loss damage waiver
are essential? She has no rental car coverage on either of her credit cards.
(Visa and MC issued by Norwegian banks)
Thanks!
Jan 13, 2016, 1:01 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,596
AFAIK you can get any of the insurance offerings as a foreign renter. Hertz's are listed here:
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reser...ES&EOAG=MSPT11
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reser...ES&EOAG=MSPT11
Jan 13, 2016, 2:16 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,197
She should book in her own country, where the rates will be lower than a walk-up, and probably stick with the included insurance (LDW and third party liability will be included in the rates).
Jan 13, 2016, 12:30 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
UK website, but didn't see any rates that included LDW. She doesn't
own a personal car because her has a car that her company leased for her.
I assume the title and insurance are all under the UK company's name,
and probably never extend to personal rental in a foreign country(US).
Jan 13, 2016, 12:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal
Posts: 586
It seems that you might have to pay the outrageous Hertz CDW fee if she doesn't have a credit card or insurance that can cover her. It might be cheaper to buy LDW + civil liability online from various providers such as icarhireinsurance that cater to UK residents. However, some providers might not be very trustworthy and might not honour your claims if an accident does happen.
Jan 13, 2016, 12:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
If she books through the hertz.no site, it'll automatically include LDW (which covers the rental car) and LIS (Liability Insurance Supplement), which covers damage to other cars or persons in a crash where your friend is responsible.
That should cover her fine.
That should cover her fine.
Jan 13, 2016, 1:02 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
for her to cancel the reservation that she made on Hertz.co.uk and
rebook on Hertz.no?
I know her pretty well, but I didn't think it would be wise to let her borrow
my own car for a week or two.(for insurance reasons) Or am I being rude
to her?
Thanks!
Jan 13, 2016, 1:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
If she made a reservation on hertz.co.uk, it very likely included the same insurance coverage. She should check the email she got from them. Under Included, it should mention Loss Damage Waiver and Liability Insurance Supplement. If she looks up the reservation on the website, it should provide the same information.
Jan 13, 2016, 1:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal
Posts: 586
It should be fine with your car insurance if it's a one-time thing. Just make sure that she doesn't compensate you directly with cash so that you aren't violating your car insurance by "renting" out your vehicle. It would also depend on how you rate her driving abilities. An accident claim will most likely raise your insurance premium.
Jan 27, 2016, 1:45 am
#10
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,732
While I do have rental car insurance via a credit card and usually use that card for payment, it can be much less hassle some in case of a claim if you got the coverage via Hertz than having to deal with your own foreign insurance provider and the rental car firm. YMMV.
Jan 27, 2016, 7:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
My understanding is that whereas most US car insurance policies include coverage for the policyholder when renting vehicles, most European car insurance policies are specific to a vehicle. The US rental agencies know this and automatically include LDW and LIS in most rates that are booked through their European websites.