Q:Chase Sapphire & car rental insurance in Australia
Jan 15, 2015, 1:12 pm
#1
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Q:Chase Sapphire & car rental insurance in Australia
Hi guys,
Most car rentals seem to have fairly high deductibles/excess in Australia - over $5,000 seems common. It appears that the Sapphire's primary insurance doesn't kick in if you accept LDW/CDW, but I don't think we can actually decline this in Aussie rentals.
Has anyone had any experience with this? Or would like to give input? Thanks
Most car rentals seem to have fairly high deductibles/excess in Australia - over $5,000 seems common. It appears that the Sapphire's primary insurance doesn't kick in if you accept LDW/CDW, but I don't think we can actually decline this in Aussie rentals.
Has anyone had any experience with this? Or would like to give input? Thanks
Jan 18, 2015, 8:01 pm
#3
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I just moved your thread to Oceania since you haven't had any luck in Chase.
The fact that it's a Chase card w/primary coverage may not be as important as Australian laws. I'd be surprised if you couldn't waive the CDW. I'd call Chase and obtain a letter with the "fine print" and their guarantee of coverages.
The fact that it's a Chase card w/primary coverage may not be as important as Australian laws. I'd be surprised if you couldn't waive the CDW. I'd call Chase and obtain a letter with the "fine print" and their guarantee of coverages.
Jan 20, 2015, 7:49 pm
#4
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I just moved your thread to Oceania since you haven't had any luck in Chase.
The fact that it's a Chase card w/primary coverage may not be as important as Australian laws. I'd be surprised if you couldn't waive the CDW. I'd call Chase and obtain a letter with the "fine print" and their guarantee of coverages.
The fact that it's a Chase card w/primary coverage may not be as important as Australian laws. I'd be surprised if you couldn't waive the CDW. I'd call Chase and obtain a letter with the "fine print" and their guarantee of coverages.
Feb 9, 2015, 4:36 pm
#5
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OP, as you suspected, It is not possible to decline LDW/CDW in Australia. Given this, suggest you contact Chase to see whether their insurance covers the excess, as the previous poster mentioned.
May 16, 2015, 1:41 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2005
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A related question...
I read the following clause in an Thrifty agreement:
In reading multiple card agreements none of them have language that excludes their insurnace for 'htting an animal at night'. Nor do any have language that says 'we will not cover you for an accident occuring at a time when the rental agency excludes coverage'
Note, this text doesnt says 'it isnt permitted'...just 'you arent covered'. Hence an card policy that says "Or you use the car in a manner or in a location that is not permitted by the rental agency"
Likewise, card agreements will occasionally say 'if you drive it somewhere they do not allow'...but nothing about WHEN.
Thoughts? Rather rent Thrify versus Avis as Thrifty has a $0drop fee...
I read the following clause in an Thrifty agreement:
Any damage sustained to a vehicle taken
into NT or WA as a result of a collision with an animal between the hours of dusk and dawn will not be covered by Thrifty’s loss or damage cover. All damages and recovery costs will be the responsibility of the hirer.
into NT or WA as a result of a collision with an animal between the hours of dusk and dawn will not be covered by Thrifty’s loss or damage cover. All damages and recovery costs will be the responsibility of the hirer.
In reading multiple card agreements none of them have language that excludes their insurnace for 'htting an animal at night'. Nor do any have language that says 'we will not cover you for an accident occuring at a time when the rental agency excludes coverage'
Note, this text doesnt says 'it isnt permitted'...just 'you arent covered'. Hence an card policy that says "Or you use the car in a manner or in a location that is not permitted by the rental agency"
Likewise, card agreements will occasionally say 'if you drive it somewhere they do not allow'...but nothing about WHEN.
Thoughts? Rather rent Thrify versus Avis as Thrifty has a $0drop fee...
May 17, 2015, 4:37 am
#7
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There is a high loss rate from collisions with kangaroos at dawn/dusk so that is a pretty significant exclusion. Windshield damage is another area to look for (a long trip in WA/NT will almost guarantee a stone chip on windshield and car companies often charge a few thousand for that). Having good insurance is a must (my travel insurance covers it and costs <$500/year as well as covering flights/baggage loss/medical evacuation etc.) Most card insurance is pretty useless for Australia/NZ, fwiw. You can get $0 excess for a rather high price, not sure it is cost effective.
May 17, 2015, 11:28 am
#8
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There is a high loss rate from collisions with kangaroos at dawn/dusk so that is a pretty significant exclusion. Windshield damage is another area to look for (a long trip in WA/NT will almost guarantee a stone chip on windshield and car companies often charge a few thousand for that). Having good insurance is a must (my travel insurance covers it and costs <$500/year as well as covering flights/baggage loss/medical evacuation etc.) Most card insurance is pretty useless for Australia/NZ, fwiw. You can get $0 excess for a rather high price, not sure it is cost effective.
The question was 'does supplemental card insurance or purchased insurance cover you if the rental contract excludes certain TIMES from THEIR cover'. I suppose it will be a legal question where I will just need the rental contract and the card's policy and I can parse that and move forward.
In the US, when a contract is drafted by one party- and the other party has to accept that as drafted- if there is ambiguity in the langauge the interpretation is AGAINST the party drafting the text. Is this true in AUS? (I know, in the weeds here...)
Oh, I did once learn the hard way that AMEX doesnt cover Australia. $4000 on an expense report. Sigh.
PS I may in fact have some trip insurnace as well, which would likely have a rental car component. Not that I plan on an accident, but I guess thats why they call them accidents
Last edited by Exec_Plat; Jul 11, 2015 at 1:02 am
Jun 25, 2015, 2:37 pm
#9
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Sapphire CDW/LDW in Australia/New Zealand
I've been looking for a clear answer to the questions about coverage for a while and the comments online are quite conflicting at times.
I just got off the phone with the Sapphire Benefits customer service line (888-320-9961) so I thought I'd share what they told me here...
In countries such as Australia and New Zealand, they understand that many rentals include a minimum amount of coverage that cannot be waived. In these cases, the Chase-provided insurance becomes secondary and applies to the excess as long as you decline any additional coverage.
In other words, if you rent a car, and the included ($0 additional charge) LDW/CDW includes a $2000 excess, your Chase-provided insurance covers the $2000 should damage occur.
Hope this is helpful!
I just got off the phone with the Sapphire Benefits customer service line (888-320-9961) so I thought I'd share what they told me here...
In countries such as Australia and New Zealand, they understand that many rentals include a minimum amount of coverage that cannot be waived. In these cases, the Chase-provided insurance becomes secondary and applies to the excess as long as you decline any additional coverage.
In other words, if you rent a car, and the included ($0 additional charge) LDW/CDW includes a $2000 excess, your Chase-provided insurance covers the $2000 should damage occur.
Hope this is helpful!
Jul 23, 2015, 6:54 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 50
Thanks, stdatwmu, for your last post regarding rental car coverage in Aus with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
I'm just looking into it now for a couple of rentals in 2 months...my head is spinning, but I feel like I'm beginning to gain an understanding now!
I called Chase benefits who spewed out a bunch of stuff I didn't understand (obviously read from a script), then transferred me to Chase customer service who directed me BACK to the Chase benefits people AND to an online version of the 'Guide to Benefits' dated "2013"! (It's now July 2015, and I suspect a few things have changed since then, like primary rental coverage, for example.)
I also called a couple of Avis customer service numbers (one being the "international" customer service group), and they couldn't even tell me if the LDW automatically included on my existing reservations could be declined, or what the deductibles would be if I added the Excess Reduction coverage (for a low $24 AUD/day).
Is it the "Left hand not talking to the Right hand" syndrome, the Run Around Game,...or is it just ME?!
I'm just looking into it now for a couple of rentals in 2 months...my head is spinning, but I feel like I'm beginning to gain an understanding now!
I called Chase benefits who spewed out a bunch of stuff I didn't understand (obviously read from a script), then transferred me to Chase customer service who directed me BACK to the Chase benefits people AND to an online version of the 'Guide to Benefits' dated "2013"! (It's now July 2015, and I suspect a few things have changed since then, like primary rental coverage, for example.)
I also called a couple of Avis customer service numbers (one being the "international" customer service group), and they couldn't even tell me if the LDW automatically included on my existing reservations could be declined, or what the deductibles would be if I added the Excess Reduction coverage (for a low $24 AUD/day).
Is it the "Left hand not talking to the Right hand" syndrome, the Run Around Game,...or is it just ME?!