comment #1

Josh Massey says ...

Depends - did you buy their insurance? If not, whatever your deductibles are on your regular car insurance will likely transfer over (your comprehensive coverage, not collision). So if you have a $500 deductible on your personal car, you're probably out $500.

(Yes, I work for an insurance company).

comment #2

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Josh -- would you mind sending your phone # to email Jeffrey?

comment #3

WilliamShake2 says ...

Jeff,

If you have your own vehicle then you're covered under that policy if you didn't purchase insurance for the rental.

If you don't have your own personal auto then you're shit out of luck if you didn't purchase insurance for the rental car.

If the latter is your scenario, the rental car company could sue you for the actual cash value (based on the year, model and make with X number of miles) of the car at the time it was stolen.

If they decide to sue you they really can't do anything if you don't have any asets. They can get a judgment against you but it will be useless. The worst it can do is show up on your credit reports.

If they just towed it then let this be a lesson: If you don't have your own car then you MUST purchase insurance on any rental car (if you get into an accident you'll have to pay for that to). TRUST me; just pay the insurance on rentals, it's not worth the gamble of a lawsuit.

I do a lot of this type of civil litigation in NY so I know this stuff and I am a HUGE fan of this blog.

Hope this helps.

comment #4

poseidon72 says ...

Williamshake 2- YOUR telling us that the rental car company dosent have its own fire and theft insurance on the car. If its stolen its not the customers fault. Isnt it much easier filing there own claim than to sue the customer. That just doesn't make sense.

comment #5

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Amex used to cover it if you used their card, so I always used it even though I've also got my own.

If you decided to save yourself the $10 per day even though you had none of your own, hate to say but you just became a cautionary tale for everyone else who might be tempted to test fate the same way.

comment #6

mccool says ...

Pray it was towed:

From the Dollar website, general T&C's...

A. Loss or Damage to the DOLLAR Vehicle: The renter and any additional drivers are absolutely liable for any loss or damage to the rental vehicle, even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown, whether due to theft, fire, hail, flood, collision, vandalism, or any other cause, subject to limitations imposed by the law where the vehicle is rented. This liability will not exceed the full value of the vehicle, plus:

Actual towing and storage charges;
Loss of use;
Diminution in value, regardless of whether the vehicle is repaired or not;
All rental charges through the date you report the incident if not returnable or the return date, whichever is later;
Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by us as a result of the loss or damage to the vehicle;
A reasonable administrative fee; and
Pro-rata license plate fees, all as allowed by law.

D. Optional Protection Package: At the time of rental, DOLLAR offers for purchase at the option of the renter, Loss Damage Waiver ("LDW"),...

1. Loss Damage Waiver ("LDW"): If the renter purchases one of the optional LDW plans, DOLLAR will agree to waive the renters responsibility for loss or damage to the vehicle in full or in part (depending on the LDW plan accepted). LDW is not insurance or an insurance product.

LDW does not apply if: (1) the renter uses the vehicle in violation of the rental agreement; (2) the renter fails to remove the keys, or close and lock all windows, doors and trunk, and the vehicle is stolen or vandalized; (3) the renter fails to notify us and the police immediately after the loss; and (4) the renter fails to pay the charges under the rental agreement; or (5) other exceptions as allowed by the applicable state or provincial law.

Good luck.

comment #7

poseidon72 says ...

I always pay the extra per day charge and let there insurance cover any nightmares.

comment #8

JHR says ...

Never use a debit card to rent a car. Your Visa/MC/Amex credit cards offer a degree of protection to you in the form of insurance.

I have GEICO for my own cars, but once I asked them if they cover me on rental cars, and I seem to recall the answer to that was no.

If you do use a debit card, you should be sure to avail yourself of all the car rental company's crappy and expensive insurance. With a CC, you don't need any of it.

comment #9

JHR says ...

This site is helpful:

http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/rental-car-basics.html

It does say that if you have private insurance for your own cars, you are probably covered when you rent, subject to the deductibles in your policy.

comment #10

JHR says ...

Sorry for the 3rd post in a row, but I remember what GEICO told me - I had asked if they cover me when I rent a car in Europe, and the answer to that was no.

But in the US, my GEICO insurance, backed up by whatever the Visa CC gives, is all the coverage I need.

And FYI - when you rent a car in Europe, your CC coverage is all you need - do NOT buy the extras sold by the rental company.

comment #11

WilliamShake2 says ...

poseidon,

No, the rental company will not subsidize the insurance costs or their separate policy will be excess.

If you get in an accident and didn't buy insurance and don't have your own vehicle, the rental car company will usually collect from the insurance company of the other vehicle assuming the other vehicle is at fault. If there is policy out there, the rental car company will attempt to collect from it rather than collect a judgment from someone with no money. You'll usually be o.k. in that situation unless it is very clear that the accident was your fault.

However, the stolen vehicle is the worst scenario. The car is gone forever and there is nobody to collect from except the renter. If the rental company decides to collect against you (and they will at least send an initial letter with notice to collect) your best bet is negotiate with them to settle for a small fraction of the cost of the vehicle or monthly installments. The companies are not stupid, they will take what they can get, if they know you have no $$, they will attempt to work something out.

If you just ignore them they can sue you. Which can eventually lead to collecting a judgment that is forever a public record and will show up on credit reports for the rest of your life.

So again; get the insurance if you don't have your own vehicle. If you do have your own car, don't let the rental company rip you off by buying the insurance (which they always offer).

P.S.-sorry for turning this into the most boring thread ever.

comment #12

Josh Massey says ...

Phone number sent.

And yes, as an insurance agent, I often get asked "should I buy the rental company's insurance?" And the answer is always no, IF they have comprehensive/collision on any one of their own vehicles.

comment #13

Jason says ...

@WilliamShake2 This is not the most boring thread ever. It's tax season, and there's a CPA out there, somewhere, with a cowboy hat in their closet.

comment #14

Robert Cashill says ...

Yeah, bring back the fatties and the Sirk hate...well, the chubs anyway...

comment #15

bfm says ...

Good luck Jeffrey!

comment #16

MALONE says ...

I'm sure Bush stole it...

comment #17

DeeZee says ...

Red Queen captures pawns.
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So I guess the Arthur remake's gonna be like the Alfie remake.
http://tinyurl.com/ygebfpb
Snyder re-titles his kids' flick to come off less geeky.
http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/03/guardians-of-gahoole-now-called-legend-of-the-guardians.html
Wasn't this called Excess Baggage?
http://tinyurl.com/yk3slz2
Congrats, Mike.
http://tinyurl.com/yku8eg4
Titans 'featurette.
http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2010/Clash-Of-The-Titans/trailer.php
Naomi Watts interview @ http://www.darkhorizons.com/interviews/1541/naomi-watts-for-mother-and-child-
Worst Oscar moments?
http://tinyurl.com/ykh5j3s
Jimmy revving his motor ball?
http://tinyurl.com/yfxroqg
Gene Simmons' kid gets caught pulling a Tarantino.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-03-01/incarnate-simmons-addresses-alleged-bleach-copying

comment #18

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

You know, there's probably a great sitcom pitch in a scenario where Jeff, D.Z and LexG are all living under one roof. The OCD guy who shares with a manic-depressive the guest house behind the New England cottage of their curmudgeon uncle.

A typical episode ends Waltons style with these shouts over the summer crickets:

"K-Stew!"

"Tarantino!"

"Shut up you two blobbo Hispanic party animals!"

David Poland is the world weary market owner who has to referee them when they come in for supplies. The pilot episode has Owen Wilson as the Zen spouting handy man.

Wednesdays, on Spike TV.

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comment #20

gogocrank10 says ...

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comment #24

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Got

comment #25

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comment #27

blue heeler puppies says ...

Remorseful for any Third place in the strip, nonetheless POST don't forget just what GEICO laughed and said : Pondered inquired should they protect me personally after i book an automobile within European countries, and also the response to that has been absolutely no.

Nonetheless the united states, our GEICO insurance policies, supported through whatsoever that Mastercard CC offers, is actually the many policy I would like.

In addition to FYI : once you book an automobile within European countries, your own CC policy is actually all you want : wait to purchase that tasks distributed because of the procurment organization. pictures of tapeworms in cats

comment #28

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comment #29

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