I know there's a lot on here about CDW, but nothing recent, so here we go again.

I got a letter from Amex asking me to "enroll now in Premium Car Rental Protection". For $20 per rental that I charge to the amex card, I would get "primary coverage" for damage & theft. It covers most foreign countries but not Italy.

Here's where I'm confused:

1. I thought Amex already covered me for the CDW if I charged the rental on my card. Why do I have to "enroll" and pay $20 for each rental?

2. Where does my personal auto insurance come in? (I have USAA and I believe they cover me in other countries)

As an aside, the ONE time I gave in and purchased the CDW from Autoeurope, they said there was damage to the car when I turned it in so I thought, "great! Glad I bought the ins. cause now I'm covered, no hassle, right?" Wrong. Found out later there was a $500 deductable on the ins. through Autoeurope.

So, what to do?

I'm glad you asked! I was wondering the same thing, hope someone can help us!

My AMEX card did NOT cover me for CDW (they changed the rules a few years ago, as I recall, to exclude foreign rentals). I signed up for the Premium Car Rental Protection. It's a good deal as far as I'm concerned, as CDW cost at least $10 a day.

My gold VISA provided primary CDW overseas (it was secondary to my personal auto coverage domestically), my personal auto policy DID NOT provide collision coverage with an overseas rental, and they recommended liability coverage through the auto rental company or a "local insurance provider". At the rental counter I asked and the liability coverage was for death or medical coverage for my passanger. We decided we would not be suing each other in case of an accident and we have our own medical and death insurance. The only coverage I opted for was theft from the car at a very low cost - since all our belongings would be in the car during the three day rental.
I would call my auto policy insurer to find out exactly what they cover - I was surprised by the answers I was given.

Interesting point about liability insurance. I can't find where any policy covers liability abroad as we know it in the states.

Everyone I've asked has indicated that since we don't live there or own property there it's not an issue. Plus, the courts are not as lawsuit friendly as ours.

Any thoughts on that?

No. I tried to get a feeling from our mutual insurer regarding liability, but was just told to contact a local carrier - no real direction on how to do that. So, I was considering buying the additional liability coverage at the counter "just to be safe" but when we told it was basically death and medical to those within the car, felt that was unneeded.

In France liability is always covered in the rental price--CDW isn't. We just use our gold or platinum cards for the CDW.

"We just use our gold or platinum cards for the CDW."

Sorry if I wasn't clear, but that was pretty much my point: I thought my platinum card DID cover CDW, so I was curious as to why they were trying to sell me the same thing at $20 a trip.

It's Amex that is doing the policy selling, not VISA or MC.
Liability is covered in your rental agreement--CDW is not so we use VISA to cover it.

Why don't you call Amex and ask them that? It sounds to me like the difference may be the deductible and that you won't have to file a claim with your own insurer. I think the key is the word "primary". Most credit cards that do cover car rentals are secondary coverage (all have been I've seen). That means, they only cover what other policies do not, and you have to file with your own auto insurer.

In my case, I don't even have collision insurance on my own car because it's not worth that much, and I don't believe in filing small claims, so it sure wouldn't cover me abroad.