Dave Peterson thought he did the smart thing. He landed in Dublin, Ireland with his family this past summer, lined up a rental car from Hertz, and shelled out more than four hundred dollars for what he jokingly called the “super duper insurance.”
He’d be driving on the left, navigating narrow country roads in Ireland, and he didn’t want to worry about damage. He pressed the rental car agent on whether everything was covered. Twice. He got the verbal green light and hit the road.
Nearly 800 miles later, the rental car went back without any major drama…except a bulge in the tire sidewall the family hadn’t noticed until return
Dave assumed the pricey insurance would handle it. It didn’t.
Turns out, the extra coverage they purchased specifically excluded wheels, tires, glass, and keys. That detail sat in the fine print they never stopped to read after a long flight and jet lag kicked in.
So instead of peace of mind, the Petersons walked away with an expensive over $600 for the damaged tire alone. The “everything’s covered” conversation at the counter suddenly meant very little.
Travel editor Peter Greenberg didn’t mince words in his warnings to drivers during a CBS Boston interview.
Every rental car policy has exclusions
It doesn’t matter which company sells it. If you don’t slow down enough to understand what those exclusions are, you could be buying what he calls “worthless insurance.”
He also pointed out that policies often start denying coverage right from the first clause if you don’t meet the conditions.
Rental car contracts routinely tuck key exclusions into the legalese. And there’s no universal standard among rental companies. Some cover tires, others list them as out-of-pocket.
Travel experts say drivers should start at home
Before reserving the rental car, call your own auto insurance company to see what applies out of the country.
Then ask your credit card issuer if they offer any supplemental coverage. If you decide to buy the rental company’s insurance anyway, go through a travel advisor who can help translate the policy language before you sign.
Peterson now hopes his auto insurer will reimburse the surprise bill. And while he accepts some blame, he’s sharing the experience for others who rent vehicles only occasionally. As he put it, don’t rely on anyone’s word while you’re standing in the airport trying to get moving. Stop and read the paperwork, even if your vacation’s waiting outside the sliding doors.
