Renting A Car

When traveling by plane to my destination I am without my car.  Being without a car in the USA is very difficult unless you are staying in a city with public transportation.   Where I travel a rental car is usually required.  Everyone who has ever rented a car knows the ensuing dilemma:  do I buy the insurance, how much and which kind?

 

This brings me to my tale.  I traveled to California for my cousin’s funeral, which will be a separate blog.  After I arrived at LAX, I needed to travel to Corona Del Mar, Big Bear, Anaheim and finally back to LAX.  I needed a rental car. 

 

I reserved a rental car online and I had already decided to purchase the physical damage aka Loss Damage Waiver, LDW, for the rental.  What I still need to decide is the liability.  If you purchase their liability, any at fault accident you may have with the rental car, the liability coverage will come from the rental car insurance and not my own insurance.  Armed with most of the information about coverages, I approached the counter at the rental car.

 

I decided to buy their additional or supplemental liability coverage since I was traveling in several affluent areas of California.  I purchased the LDW, liability along with supplemental liability.  Does that sound like over kill?  The “basic liability” is similar to PA’s basic coverage: $15,000 for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person and $5,000 for damage to property.  Since I believe PA’s basic coverage required by law is too low for adequate protect, I believe CA’s is also too low, hence the purchase of the Supplemental Liability for up to one million dollars of coverage.  I carry an umbrella in PA I wanted the same liability limit in CA. 

 

I incurred those extra charges for the rental car.  The rental started at $105.00 by the time taxes, fees and insurance were added, the cost of renting a Chevrolet Malibu tallied $409.00.  The rental company, Advantage, also added a refundable $200 deposit to the charge for a grand total of $609.00 for five days.  I wanted to cry.  I felt hoodwinked, bullied and conned all at the same time. 

 

I needed the insurance coverages; I wanted the insurance coverages.  I just did not want it to be so expensive.  It seemed so imbalanced.  Ah, you say I did not need the insurance coverage?   I beg to differ.

 

 If I were in a car accident, let us assume no other parties involved, the coverage would have to come from my own automobile insurance.  I have a deductible of $500 for collision and I would be responsible for any down time for the rental.  Down time for a rental is NOT covered under my own auto insurance; remember they have my credit card so that charge would go directly on my credit card.  If I do not have collision coverage on any of my own cars then the rental would not have collision coverage and I incur the whole cost of the damage and down time immediately on my credit card.  Some rentals demand payment immediately, remember my credit card, and have you settle with your insurance company.  If the car is totaled it is the cost to replace the car!

 

Let us look at an at-fault accident, mine, and another vehicle.  The liability coverage I purchased comes into play in this instance.  I am now responsible for not just the damage to the rental vehicle, I am also responsible for the damage to another car and possibly a person.  If someone is injured, there could be a lawsuit; I stayed in areas where homes were valued at $15,000,000.  I could let my automobile insurance answer this claim by not buying the liability or supplemental liability or have the rental car company address this claim by purchasing the liability and supplemental liability.  I prefer the rental car company answer this.  Therefore, I paid for the coverages.  It did not make me feel any less conned or hoodwinked by some car rental person.

 

Back to my tale, I parked my rental car across the street from my cousin’s house in Corona Del Mar.  The street has 4 houses, all worth over $5,000,000 each.  The house that was across from the car was valued at $15,000,000.  The next afternoon I came out to the car to drive to Big Bear for my cousin’s funeral and I could not open the driver’s door.  I tried again and the door would not budge.  I investigated the area that was stuck and then I saw the dented panel and door.  Someone struck the car while parked and left no note. 

 

I had to be in Big Bear!  I called the police while traveling to Big Bear.  I had to come to them to make a complaint so they could view the damage and no, an email picture would not be acceptable.  I was not coming back to Corona Del Mar.  I called the rental company to explain that I called the police but I could not go the station to fill out a report where there were no witnesses.  The rental person said you purchased the LDW, no problem you will have to fill out a report when you return the car; end of story.

 

I made it to Big Bear in time.  I did not fill out a police report; it really seemed useless to do so since there were no witnesses and I wanted to spend time with my family.  I was still apprehensive when I returned the damaged rental car.  I pulled into the return car area, was given a form to complete regarding the details of the damage – hit and run of a parked car, was told a claim agent would call the next day and there was no charge or problem. 

 

I received the call when I was home.  The claim agent said you have the LDW insurance I just need you to repeat what happened.   That was it.  I still have not received my refundable $200 deposit; I am waiting on that.  There are no other charges on my card like deductible or down time of the rental.  While I am not happy with the cost, I am happy with the outcome.  My advice is buy the LDW and liability; it saves in the long run.