When looking for a new credit card...

[The_Tick]

There is one perk out there that you want to make sure that you look into....

We like to cruise. So we recently opened a Royal Carribian Visa. We transfered a small balance over and we are good to go.

The best part about this card? (Besides helping us get free cabin upgrades on the cruise ships....)

Free rental insurance!

I rent between 5 and 6 cars a year. When I rent a car for BYU football weekend it normally costs me 150.00 for a 4 day rental. Add insurance to the rental and it easily runs 250.00 for full coverage all together.

6 rentals a year and that is over 600.00 wasted.

The new card gives me free rental car insurance. As long as I pay in full for the rental up front with the card, and deny all insurance through the rental agency, I get full coverage. FOR FREE!

Also free flight insurance and cruise insurance.

Good stuff!

[Jeff Lebowski]

I believe most auto insurance policies cover rentals as well. Check with your agent before travelling.

Rental car insurance is a major scam.

[Cali Coug]

I believe most auto insurance policies cover rentals as well. Check with your agent before travelling.

Rental car insurance is a major scam.

No kidding. I have been admittedly tempted to get the insurance and then drive into a lake.

[The_Tick]

I believe most auto insurance policies cover rentals as well. Check with your agent before travelling.

Rental car insurance is a major scam.

Yes and no.

They cover the damage that is done to the vehicle or the damage that is done to other vehicles.

They do not cover "Loss Damage" and this is where you get bent over.

Let's assume that you rent a car from National for 50.00 a day. You choose to not take any extra insurance on the car. You are fully insured at home.

You get in a car crash and the rental is totaled. Your auto policy will cover the replacement of the car. But lets just assume that it takes National 30 days to replace the car... You are now on the hook for 1500.00 plus tax for "loss damage". You caused them to lose out on 1500.00 worth of money.

No auto policy covers that.

Some Credit Card companies will though. My new one does and I am digging that part of it.

[realtall]

Yes and no.

They cover the damage that is done to the vehicle or the damage that is done to other vehicles.

They do not cover "Loss Damage" and this is where you get bent over.

Let's assume that you rent a car from National for 50.00 a day. You choose to not take any extra insurance on the car. You are fully insured at home.

You get in a car crash and the rental is totaled. Your auto policy will cover the replacement of the car. But lets just assume that it takes National 30 days to replace the car... You are now on the hook for 1500.00 plus tax for "loss damage". You caused them to lose out on 1500.00 worth of money.

No auto policy covers that.

Some Credit Card companies will though. My new one does and I am digging that part of it.

Is this something that the rental companies put in the fine print of the car rental agreement? It wouldn't surprise me.

[The_Tick]

Fairly sure it is in there.

I only rent with Avis. They always make it crystal clear.