We're going to the U.K. in May and plan on renting a car, probably from Nova, for two weeks. My friend, who will be arranging the car rental, checked with his U.S. insurance company (State Farm), who said they don't cover international rentals. Is this typical? Will CDW be enough?

Hi twin,

>My friend,... checked with his U.S. insurance company ...who said they don't cover international rentals. Is this typical? <

Yes

>Will CDW be enough?<

Probably not. Read the excess liability portion at the bottom of the page on which they gve you the quote.

You will still have a liability of about 600 GBP. For extra cost you can reduce it to 100GBP.

Check your credit card. If you refuse the CDW, they will act as your insurer.

Zero liability.

PS,

If Nova won't let you refuse the CDW, check with www.autoeurope.com

Yes - most US insurance policies cover only the US and Canada definitely not Mexico - or anywhere else. (I believe you can add internatinal insurance on as an extra - a friend of mine looked into this - but its tremendously expensive.)

Thanks for the information - I appreciate it!

I'm looking to do the same thing in the UK. American Express said to decline the CDW and theft and their insurance kicks in. They do not cover liability. Second driver must be included on the rental agreement to be covered.

Hertz (that's who I'm renting from) offers CDW, but there is a deductible -- can't remember if it's $1,000 or 1,000GBP. But, if I understand it correctly, you can get super CDW in addition to the standard CDW that eliminates the deductible.

Charging to a major credit card can save you a substantial amount, so check with your card company to see what coverage you'll get.

Yes, definitely check with your CC company and find out whether or not the CDW the CC offers is "primary" or "secondary" to any auto insurance you ALREADY HAVE.

Some CC insurance only kicks in AFTER your own auto liability has been billed/exhausted.

I think you'll find many auto insurance in the U.S. not offering coverage outside the States and Canada. Does anyone out there have an insurer that does?

I have been doing exhaustive research into this recently as I will be travelling to Ireland later this year...one of 6 countries that it is almost impossible to get CDW coverage in other than paying thru the rental company.

From what I have found out, there is no US car insurance company that will cover outside the US/Canada/Mexico.

Travel Gaurd insurance has an auto CDW policy for about $9 per rental day but I did come actross a thread that mentioned that collecting on the policy was difficult and the people ended up getting a refund as they were not covered when they had been told they were. If you check them out be sure to get it IN WRITING that where you are going will be covered!

Your AMEX (if accepted?) may have a CDW if you use it on all the rental fees.

Mastercard Platinum cards come with an "MC Assist" program that offers CDW up to $50,000 when used to rent your car less than 15 days. You must bring a letter showing the proof of coverage with you to show at rental. (MC assist customer service will do this for you when you request)

I am using that and then purchasing a "super CDW" that will cover bumper to bumper and lower the deductable to $100 instead of $1200 should anything happen. (beware that some of the companies, even with super CDW do not cover tires, rims or windshield).

From what I understand, you will probably not have quite so hard of a time as the UK does not have the road and driving reputation that Ireland does.

Good luck, I hope this helps!
Have a super trip!

I'm getting a price of $885 from Nova Rentacar for a mid-size, automatic sedan (similar in size to a Ford Contour) for 15 days. The cost includes standard CDW. To add the "super" CDW damage/theft waiver will cost us $10 a day. I think $1,035 sounds like a decent price, especially for an automatic.

twina, am I missing something? What did you find out when you called your credit card company? If you haven't why not, since that's the good advice you've been given by several people.

I won't go throught the whole thing, but when renting in the UK last year for just one week, we checked with our credit card who insisted they would give us full coverage at zero deductible if we declined the CDW with Avis. We did, immediately saving us a couple hundred dollars. And when we had a major wreck, we saved even more as our credit card paid for everything. The deal with Avis that would have cost us a couple of hundred dollars to begin with also would have charged us another $500 for deductible. You are likely to get a MUCH better deal through your credit card at no charge than paying unnecessarily for that CDW and extra insurance.

>Mastercard Platinum cards come with an "MC Assist" program that offers CDW up to $50,000 when used to rent your ......I am using that and then purchasing a "super CDW" ...<

Before you do that, check with your CC company.

It is my understanding the your CC covers you only if you **decline** the CDW.

Patrick - My main problem is I'm not the one arranging the car rental but I'm the one who gets to find out all the details and then try to explain it to my friend who will be using his credit card to rent the car. If his CC company covers the CDW, all the better. If not, I'm trying to make sure I understand what coverage is available. It's just the way we divided up who got to do what in planning the trip. Unfortunately, this is also the friend who thought the Cotswolds area was four hours or 250 miles from Gatwick....

Hi Ira
>It is my understanding the your CC covers you only if you **decline** the CDW.<

According to the fine print (of which I have read and re-read)since I will be declining the CDW from the rental agency and using my MC platinum, I will be covered. The fine print actually states that I must decline the Collision/Damage Waiver offered by the rental co. (it does not say anything about additional insurance)

The additional insurance is to cover what the master rental program does not. (namely tires, rims and "mechanical faliures caused by wear and tear, gradual deterioration, or mechanical breakdown, damage sustained on any surface other than a bound surface such as concrete or tarmac&quot

Dan Dooley told me that the add'l insurance would cover this, but of course I will be sure this is correct IN WRITING before parting with my $$$.
I guess I have read too many horror stories with the rental companies in Ireland to trust anything to the whim of fate!

we shall see...

Hi 12,

>The additional insurance is to cover what the master rental program does not. (namely tires, rims ........<

This is quite unusual.

Check with your CC company. AFAIK you must decline all damage insurance.

The rental agency provides 3rd party insurance.

Thanks Ira,
I will check and get back to you on what I find out...(big sigh)...this run around is soooo tiring!
I'll be in touch.

Hi Ira,
Did not mean to take so long to get back with you. I finally was able to reach someone at Mastercard. (I actually pretended I had a claim in order to get through the "press this" garbage to a claims agent) According to MC I must decline the CDW insurance offered by the rental agency. If I want to purchase personal Liability, fire and so on I will be able to do so. I was also told that this would hold true on the zero deductable, full coverage that Dan Dooley was offering as it would cover items that MC does not.

Mastercard does not cover tires, rims or damages sustained on unpaved roads. If the added insurance will cover this I was told all would be well. They are sending me a letter of coverage and the disclosure statements.

Of course all of this was by phone so as I stated before I will most definitely be verifying this in writing.

Another interesting fact...the MC Assist program will renew itself with Mastercard in September 2005. As of right now all of this holds true BUT this can all possibly change in September. The recording also said that any info on changes could be heard up to 60 days before Sept. by calling 1-800-MC-ASSIST. If anyone is travelling after September 1st, be sure your info is up to date!