Car rental insurance questions

The Coffee Shop
1

Looking to rent an SUV for 11 days in Canada during August. Will be travelling with a friend. My initial thoughts are to forget about the LDW/CDW etc because I planned to book the car using my gold VISA. But my friend was talking about us taking out extra driver fees. Thing is, presumably if my friend is driving and has an accident then paying using my VISA would no longer cover us?

I was looking at what was included in the VISA insurance policy. It states that rental vehicle excess is up to $5,000. Also states legal liability up to $2,500,000. Looking at the clauses though I got a little confused and was hoping those wiser / experienced in this field could chip in?
** Rental vehicle excess** We will reimburse *you *for any excess or deductible which *you *become legally liable to pay in respect of loss or damage to a *rental vehicle *during the rental period provided: ¡ö the *rental vehicle *must be rented from a licensed rental agency; and ¡ö the Cardholder was operating the vehicle within the local laws of the country/city; and ¡ö the hiring agreement must incorporate the standard comprehensive motor insurance normally provided by the rental agency covering loss or damage to the rental vehicle; and ¡ö *you *must comply with all the requirements of the rental
organisation under the

Does the highlighted item mean you have to take out the rental company’s LDW etc? I was under the impression the credit card companies don’t cove you if you take out rental company insurance?

Also, assuming I had no personal motor vehicle insurance does their coverage span the initial $5,000?

** Legal liability** We cover *your *legal liability during your journey. By legal liability, we mean *your *responsibility to pay compensation for negligently causing: ¡ö bodily harm or death to someone other than you; or ¡ö loss or damage to property owned or controlled by
someone other than you.
We will pay for¡­ We will pay for *your *legal liability if: ¡ö the event that gives rise to it: ¨C happens during the journey; and ¨C is one that *you do not intend or expect to give rise to your *legal liability. We will also pay all *reasonable *legal fees and expenses if: ¨C we incur them on *your *behalf, or
¨C *you *incur them after we agree in writing.
But we will not pay for¡­ We will not pay for *your *legal liability that arises from: ¡ö bodily harm to, or the illness or death of: ¨C any *relative *or travel companion; or ¨C *your *employee. ¡ö *you *owning or occupying any land or building (unless the building is a residence and *you *occupy it as a tenant or lessee, or in some other temporary way); **¡ö *****you ***owning, controlling or using a motorised vehicle, an aircraft or a watercraft (other than a non-motorised **watercraft used on inland waterways). However, if **you do not own or control the transport and are using it just **as a passenger, *****you ***are not within this exclusion; ¡ö *your *business, profession or occupation; ¡ö loss or damage to any property that is owned or controlled by you; ¡ö any fi nes or penalties, including punitive, exemplary, liquidated or aggravated damages. These are damages a judge may order a person to pay as punishment.
They are different

Does the above highlighted item mean you’re not covered for liability if using a rental car?

Thanks for any clarification.
Mike

2

I could answer that if it was only you driving the car in the US and you have your own US insurance. But the Canada thing plus your buddy driving too, I’ll just give you a bump and hope someone else sees this that can answer for you.

3

Thanks Chuck,

I just got on the phone to the credit card company who could not clarify my questions so put me through to Zurich (who underwrite the card’s insurance).

They told me I have to take out the rental car company’s third party and collision damage insurance to be eligible for the $5,000 excess protection of the card. I also asked about the legal liability protection and they said I would already be taking out the car company’s third party insurance. Sounds like there’s bugger all benefit to having this particular Gold Visa.

He tried to tell me that north american credit cards are different and possibly do have the ‘car company insurance vs credit card company insurance’ choice.

I guess my last choice is to see whether personal automobile insurance covers me for rental vehicles overseas.

Mike

4

…My initial thoughts are to forget about the LDW/CDW etc because I planned to book the car using my gold VISA…

I used to think that until my last rental. Usually I rent through National where I get free LDW/CDW coverage but had to use Hertz. I was driving on an expressway and a rock cracked the windshield. That is the last time I will not by covered by LDW/CDW coverage. If I do not use National then I will pay for it myself. Lot cheaper in the long run.