So - Anyone have experience they can relate to us? Particularily rentals in Latin America - this is where I use this most, always use a VISA or AMEX and decline the optional coverage hoping I'll get the coverage from the CC company if needed - anyone need it?

Here's my take - and I may be wrong. The CC company provides a secondary insurance. They will only cover what is not already covered by your primary car insurance (and neither typically covers the exotic cars that people occasionally rent in Vegas or Hawaii). That's why it's more relevant for international travel since most primary insurance companies don't cover anything in foreign countries, but the CC company still will cover those rentals.

hello
I actually work at a car rental place and from my expirences i can tell you this :
1. yes we offer what is called l.d.w-wich means loss damage waiver-its not insurance-its a waiver that releases you from any responsibility due to our car- you total our car, you sign a paper and walk away, thats it, no insurance contacted, no change in your personal insurance, nothing. Yes here we are pushed to sell this, me personaly i dont as im supposed to because im not a pushy person. I do understand it is pricey at times, but in the long run it's better
Also with AMEX- they do not cover loss-of-use, no one covers loss-of-use. AMEX will tell you they do, but then when it comes down to it, they dont. The reasoning is :
1. they will need a fleet log, that car rental companies are not required to cary, that and on our end ( the car rental company) that is confidencial records we do not give out. Therefore, AMEX can tell you they cover because who is actually getting hurt from this- you the customer, not the rental place because the customer will end up having to pay the fee's if they want to keep it from going to collections.
Just keep in mind- no personal nor credit cards cover loss-of-use, read the fine fine print on everything. Also when renting a car, your personal insurance is the primary and the credit card you use is the secondary- whatever your insuarance will not pay for-then the credit card kicks in, keep in mind that your personal insurance will go up though. This is not just with American Express, this is with all credit cards. Visa, mastercard, capitol one, etc. read the fine print people

zsilak said:anyone have any suggestions for someone who does not own a car thus does not have any primary insurance but wants to rent for a week- mid-size suv- I am looking at renting with my am ex hhonors plat card.....ctrain said:BTW, lets say you only have liability on your auto insurance.
So if you get into an accident, since your insurance won't be doing anything, do you just go straight to your CC ???
I only carry liability car insurance, and my "secondary" credit card coverage did eventually step up (when a deer broadsided my Alamo rental), but only after I submitted a claim, and it was formally denied --

When renting in Europe, I usually use AutoEurope and get the LDW package. Once there, I'll often add the Super LDW which begins to add up but it covers absolutely everything including tires and glass which most cards exclude (the last time I looked). One time my GF caused serious damage to rear of car in France and we just went to nearest EuropeCar and they immediately gave us a replacement without any hassle.

jaimelobo said:schmello87 said:Also when renting a car, your personal insurance is the primary and the credit card you use is the secondary- whatever your insuarance will not pay for-then the credit card kicks in, keep in mind that your personal insurance will go up though. This is not just with American Express, this is with all credit cards. Visa, mastercard, capitol one, etc. read the fine print people Hmmm, spoken like a Car Rental Company Shill. You are wrong, Primary Insurance is offered, here are the features of AMEX Premium Rental Insurance program:

- Get up to $100,000 of primary coverage for damage or theft of a Rental Car
- Get up to $100,000 for Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverage (up to $250,000 for California Residents)
- Receive coverage for medical expenses and personal property for you and your passenger
- Covers most vehicles typically available from a Rental Company, from smaller economy sizes to large luxury sedans

Here's the full details
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We are trying to book a car in Ireland and thought that the AMEX "Premium Car Rental Protection" would help.
Got to the Web site and learned otherwise.
" Coverage is worldwide except vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand".
This lack of coverage is confirmed when I called AMEX.
Similar lack of CDW coverage is also confirmed when I called M/C (I have a Business Profession card).
Hence, one has to pay Extra to purchase the CDW while renting a car in Ireland and other Exception Countries.