It is a common practice for some people to rent a car especially when they are on a business travel. These people simply approach the car rental counter, pays for the rental amount but some of them refuse to avail of rental car insurance or waivers because they were thinking that such offers may only be additional expenses for them.
Many travelers do not pay for such coverages as they are uncertain and confused about it. Some believe that they are unnecessary and are only a devised scam by car rental companies to gain extra profit from the consumers.
However, one may never tell when an accident or mishap will happen. There may be some avoidable instances to save the rental car from nicks and wrecks, but certainly there are occurrences beyond the driver’s control that may lead to the car’s breakage or damages. Despite a number of people disagreeing with the necessity of driving an insured car, there are still lots of car users who ensure both their physical safety, the car’s and their financial security.
A Few Words About Insurance
It’s best to know for every car renter, that such insurances are a way of securing his or her finances should an accident occur. Paying for repairs or worse is for the replacement of an entire vehicle may be more devastating than the misfortune itself.
If you are opting to rent a car, make sure that prior to the rental, you have already inquired from your agent about the personal auto policy that covers a rental car. If you have a credit card, ask your company what coverage if offers. Should a personal auto policy not include a rental car coverage, be polite in asking for the for additional rental insurance. It would also be wise that if you are a renter who finds that the information provided by a rental company is doubtful, the state insurance department may be consulted.
Aside from rental car insurance, other options offering similar plan are Loss Damage Waivers (LDW) and Collision Damage Waivers (CDW). Coverage for whatever loss or wreck to a rented vehicle is included. Such policies are in actuality are unregulated and are not insurance policies which is why it is essential to first read the waiver before deciding. Reckless driving such a driving under the influence of alcohol or causing an accident, may result to the waiver’s dissolution. These waivers are a means to protect the rental companies from renters who may be careful in driving their own cars, but not rental cars. A Supplemental Liability insurance is also another alternative that covers item which are not included in the renter’s own insurance policy for rental car. Personal Accident Insurance deals with expenses brought about by injury or death.
As a conclusion, a rental car insurance, though at the onset of a car rental may seem additional cost on the part of the consumer is not really a scam or a rip-off. In actuality its saves the car rental drivers from more serious expenditures if the rental car is damaged. It is true that there are less chances of having an accident set upon you or the rented car. However, accident is neither planned. Therefore, it is better to be safe and secured rather than be sorry in the long run.
Frauds, that could have been avoided
Some travelers have frightening stories to tell; about how their car rental resulted in severe financial loses. Others remember being turned away from the car collection point, without the car that supposedly they have booked many weeks earlier.
These sad cases are not limited to the US. It happens in many countries, all over the world. And if you have thought that dealing with a large car rental company is safer than with a small, street corner operation, you are badly mistaken.
And just when you were thinking that small car rentals must be better, I’ll have to disappoint you. Some fly-by-night operators set out to scam innocent victims, who put too much faith in the integrity of small business owners.
As has been frequently reported, they will give you a car that has numerous dents and scratches, only to demand that you pay for the paint job, to rectify the damages that you haven’t done. Unless, you have checked the duco thoroughly, before signing the rental agreement.
Another common trick is to give you the keys to the car that is not road worthy. If the engine stalls somewhere 100 miles from the car yard, you’ll have to engage an expensive towing service, normally not covered under the car rental agreement with smaller renters. On some occasions, you may even be blamed for causing the breakdown, and asked to contribute to the repair costs. Such thing happened to me in Bangkok during my last business visit.
So, you are warned. In case you decide to rent a car in Bangkok or any other foreign city, a proper car insurance may reduce a chance of things listed above happening to you, impeding the time spent behind the wheel of a great car.
