Rental Car Insurance - Should You Get It?

When planning to apply for rental car insurance a lot of questions come to mind. These questions confuse us as to whether to apply for it or not. Furthermore, one wants to know whether the auto insurance at present covers the rented cars or not. The insurance for a rented car will cover theft or a damaged rented car and you will not be held liable for it.

When you are to apply for rental car insurance you need to consider a few things. Firstly you should check with your own personal auto car insurance and see whether it will cover the rented car or not. You should also find the auto rental insurance type that is covering you with the help of your credit card company.

It is more likely that the auto car insurance will cover the rented car if you have rented it for the purpose of leisure and not for business. The existing auto insurance coverage and the deductibles will apply to the car rented. Remember if it is providing coverage then find out the type as well. Also, check for the offers by auto car insurance as they will be less expensive than getting it from a rental company.

It is advisable to apply for a rental through your credit card. This will give you a variety of insurances depending on the bank providing the credit card, card type etc. In general, the insurance will only cover for the damaged car and not the property, personal belongings or liabilities.

These are few things that you should consider and ensure that you get firsthand knowledge before you decide to get rental car cover.

Car Rental Types in Hawaii

Hawaii is a place of beauty and wonder, and with a climate most dream to experience everyday you bet there is a lot to see. Depending on who you're taking to Hawaii you are presented with a plethora of vehicle rental options that will each bring a different trip perspective. There's something for everyone in Hawaii weather it be for the kids or an afternoon drive along the coast with the whole entire family.

Everyone typically will rent a car when they travel to Hawaii and this for the most part is the best and most affordable option. With gas prices on a rise there are plenty of hybrid's for rent so that will put less of a strain on your travel costs. The island has dozens of scenic routes covering most of the cities both along the coast and through lush forests and mountains. People of all ages will enjoy all that Hawaii has to offer from the seat of a car.

If you're looking for adventure and wanting to go off-roading, then Hawaii is the perfect 4x4 destination in America. If you've always wanted to take a rental car to the extreme without worrying about getting in trouble then I suggest you rent a Jeep. Maui has a large 4x4ing scene and there are dozens of adventure trails perfect for exploring the sights most won't see on the open road. If you have teenagers coming with you then this is the perfect option.

A lot of weddings and groups travel to Hawaii so that usually means you need a lot of transportation. Forget renting a few cars and look into getting a Van. If you got a sports team or large family going a Van makes a much more affordable transport option because it makes sharing the rental and fuel charges sharable.

Before you choose any of these 3 options make sure to talk to your travel agent about driving restrictions as well as insurance options. Remember to drive safe and have fun!

Car Rental Transport - Things to Consider

Car rental in New Zealand is definitely the preferred transportation option when it comes to getting around the country. Although there are other means of transportation available, it is far more convenient and flexible to have your own vehicle hire. The roads in New Zealand are well maintained and well sign posted so tourists will have no problem navigating their way around the country. However, it is important that you carefully choose the vehicle hire company that you are going to use.

Naturally, you will want to ascertain that you are not only getting the best deal, but are also travelling in a rental vehicle that is well maintained and safe. Here are some tips that you might want to consider when picking the right car rental company for you.

A reputable firm should offer a range of car rental options including a selection of hatches, sedans, station wagons, people movers, minibuses and luggage trailers. Everyone has different needs when it comes to renting a vehicle. For example, if you are travelling with a group of people, you may want to rent a minivan that is big enough to accommodate everyone in your group. Also, if you are bringing a baby with you, the car rental company in New Zealand you choose should be able to provide you with a car seat for infants or kids.

They should also offer competitive rates. Given the number of competitors vying for the same clientele, you have a great deal of choice. Finding a car rental company in New Zealand that not only offers affordable rental rates, but inclusive insurance and tax in the full rental price helps you plan your holiday budget with much more precision. No one wants to book a vehicle for hire and then find out at the pickup depot that things like insurance and tax (things you assumed were inclusive), actually are not. This digs into your holiday budget and disrupts your spending plans.

Aside from the dependability of the vehicles provided by the car rental company in New Zealand, check for additional services such as free pick up from the airport, a range of drop off and pick locations across the country, road assistance, maps / GPS hire, travel guides, availability of tools and spare tires. It is important to know that you will be able to count on the vehicle hire company to extend a helping hand just in case you encounter a road accident or car troubles, wherever you are in the country. If you are travelling the whole of New Zealand, look for a car rental company in New Zealand that can arrange ferry tickets for you, again saving you time and helping to give you a better idea of your holiday budget.

As you begin your search online for vehicle hire in New Zealand, remember to look for a company that meets all the considerations mentioned above. It is important you feel safe and confident with the car rental company you decide to book with as part of your holiday.

Handicap Van Rental

Handicap vans (also called wheelchair accessible vans) are made for people who are confined to wheelchairs. There is either a ramp or chair-lift which make getting into the van very easy. Getting into and out of cars can take a long time and be very stressful. Handicap van rentals help save you time and reduce your stress levels! Unfortunately, handicap vans can be extremely expensive to purchase, so renting one is often the better option. This guide will tell you about the different types of handicap vans you can hire and also look at how to find great deals on wheelchair accessible vans.

Types of Handicap Vans
Full size handicap vans are great for people who want some storage space. They usually have side cargo door lifts, rear door lifts and under vehicle lifts. At the other end of the scale are minivans. These are very small, compared to the full size versions, and have little space to store goods. They usually have a fold out ramp to assist in getting into the vehicle. It you only want to rent a van for city driving, then a minivan should be large enough. However, if you want to transport a large amount of goods then a full size van is the better option.

How to Find the Best Price
When looking to rent handicap vans you should visit some of the website of the major van rental companies and compare the deals they offer. You can also do a quick search for some coupon codes which will save you 5-10% off the total cost. There may even be some coupons available to purchase on eBay. Make sure you do plenty of research to find the best deal.

Driving Rental Cars From Canada to the US

Many travelers have questions when it comes to international travel rules and regulations. Especially since the advent of tighter border rules as a result of Homeland Security in the US, it's important to know ahead of time what the rules are before traveling between Canada and the US for any reason. One such question is whether or not you can drive a rental car from Canada into the US? Some Canadians think that it's ill advised or even illegal to take a rental car across the border. However, read below as this article may clear up some of the common misconceptions about this.

The good news is that most Canadian car rental companies will allow Canadian and American customers to take Canadian registered rental cars across the border in the United States for personal or business travel. It's not illegal to do this and it doesn't require any special type of permission to travel from Canada into the United States. Before doing so, however, it's important to check with the rental company to see if the mileage rates will be the same since in Canada the mileage is metric while in the United States the mileage is standard measurements. If you are driving a Canadian vehicle, it's probably going to be a good idea to choose unlimited mileage on your contract terms, otherwise you will be stuck trying to figure out the mileage to avoid any mileage over limit fees upon return of the vehicle. It's also possible that the insurance laws may be different in the states in which you are traveling to in the US so be sure to check ahead of time to make sure the vehicle will be carrying enough liability in the event of an unexpected car accident. Keep in mind that car rental companies are never responsible for legal fees, fines or tickets in the event of a DUI or other vehicle related offense. You should also note that in order to cross into the US via Customs, you will need to have proper identification for yourself as well as any passengers in the vehicle.

When returning to Canada from the United States it's important that the vehicle is checked in through Canadian customs. You will show them your Canadian driver's license, the vehicle registration ID card and the Canadian insurance certificate upon return. Be prepared to spend some time in Customs, but not as much as you would as a US Citizen. This is in adverse to someone traveling from the US into Canada with a US registered vehicle, which requires swapping out at the border for a Canadian licensed vehicle. That can be an inconvenience and stressful for any traveler.

As with any car rental situation, it's important to have all the proper documentation readily available to avoid any possible difficulties in your travels. In addition to having your driver's license, you will need a passport issued in your country of origin. You will also need to keep the rental paperwork and any vehicle insurance cards available in order to show Customs you are driving a properly registered and insured vehicle. Be sure to ask the rental agent in Canada about all required documentation before you make this trip to save yourself a great deal of hassle. This will enable smooth passage between the custom's departments of each country. If you have any problems with this process, most rental companies include a toll-free number that you can call to obtain more information or to help manage any issues that may arise.

Car Rental in Chonburi

The region of Chonburi is often overlooked by tourists visiting Thailand  but it is well worth considering as an alternative to the more popular regions.

The city of Chonburi can be reached easily from Bangkok by taking the Bang Na Trad Highway 34 which will take you direct to this beautiful region of Thailand.  The distance from Bangkok is approx 80 kilometers . Chonburi city is considered an international world class tourist city and has experienced rapid growth over the past few years so you will find good hotels and first class restaurants.

Driving Tip: Always keep a few hundred Thai Baht in your car  should you be stopped by the Thai police for a traffic violation also handy for the many tollways that you will encounter.

Do visit Ang Sila a typical seaside fishing village just 5 kilometers from Chonburi center.  Ang Sila is famed for its seafood in particular oysters and mussels.  It is also the place to buy a solid stone pestle and mortar,  please note you luggage allowance as these mortars are heavy  but do come in different sizes. Well worth setting aside some space and will last a life time unless dropped.

Bangsaen beach which  is also close by is a very popular destination for Thai's  on a day trip to  from  Bangkok.  The nearby Nogmom market specializes in dried seafood such as dried squid , dried shrimps and salted fish all an acquired taste.

Jomtien beach south of Pattaya offers 4 kilometers of clean sandy beaches,  this area of Pattaya is peaceful and is favored by both Thais and foreigners. Nearby Pattaya can be visited during the day for shopping or in the evening to experience  the nightlife on offer in walking street.

To visit all the worthwhile locations in Chonburi it is advised to rent car, ensure the car that you rent comes with first class insurance with either a low or zero excess. Budget Thailand offer a zero excess package which will allow you to drive worry free.

An Independent Look at Rental Car Insurance

When you step up to the Rental Car Counter the Rental Agent is going to ask you if you want to purchase insurance for the rental vehicle. If you say no they will ask you to initial next to each coverage that you decline. The decisions that you make in these few moments could have a dramatic impact on your financial situation. Deciding if you need to purchase the auto insurance offered at the Rental Car counter before you arrive can keep you from incurring a serious financial loss or wasting your money on insurance that you already have or do not need. One of the questions that we are asked most as auto insurance agents is "Do I need to purchase the auto insurance offered at the rental car counter when I rent a car?" The answer to this question is maybe. You may be able to provide coverage for the rental car using insurance policies you already own or you may decide you need to purchase additional protection. In this article we are going to give you the information that you need to make these crucial decisions.

When You Rent A Car There Are Several Ways To Secure Coverage For It Without Having To Purchase Coverage At The Rental Car Counter.

Transfer Coverage From Your Existing Auto Insurance Policy - If you are going to be renting a car and you have an existing auto insurance policy you should take your insurance I.D. card with you when you rent the car. The car rental company may require it and it can save you a lot of time and aggravation if you are pulled over by the police in your rental vehicle. The coverage and deductibles on your own auto insurance policy will automatically transfer to cars that you rent as long as you are not using the rental car for business purposes or renting in another country. You should check the declarations page of your personal auto insurance policy to find out if you currently carry Property Damage Liability, Comprehensive and Collision coverage. Make note of your Property Damage Liability limit and your Comprehensive and Collision Deductible. If you are renting a car in another country you should definitely consider purchasing coverage at the rental counter as most personal auto insurance policies only cover their owners in the country where the policy was written.

Damages to your rental car will be covered by the Property Damage Liability portion of your personal auto insurance policy if you are renting the car for pleasure use. However, if you were involved in an accident that is covered by your auto insurance policy and your car is in the shop being repaired. Damages to the replacement car that you rent will be covered by the Comprehensive and Collision coverage portion of your personal auto insurance policy. That means that you will have to pay the deductible for these coverages if you damage the rental car.

Use Coverage Provided By Your Credit Card - Most major credit cards advertise rental car insurance as one of the benefits of owning their card. The truth is that the coverage that these cards provide usually only pays after your personal auto insurance policy limits have been exhausted and only if you used their card to pay for the entire price of the rental. The level of protection with credit cards seems to change on a daily basis so we recommend calling your credit card company to determine your exact level of protection for rental cars. When you talk to the credit card representative ask them for information about Liability, Comprehensive and Collision coverage for rental cars. It is best to get this in writing as it is not unheard of to get several different answers from the same credit card company. You should also ask if there are any exclusions. Many credit cards exclude coverage for luxury or exotic car rentals.

Purchase A Non-owned Auto Insurance Policy - If you rent cars frequently but you do not have your own auto insurance policy you can save yourself a lot of money by purchasing a "Non-Owned Auto" Liability policy. This policy provides you with the same type of protection as the Excess Liability coverage offered at the rental car counter. These types of policies usually cost around $300 a year and will cover you when you are driving any private passenger automobile. This policy only provides protection for Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability. It will not pay for damages to your rental car so you will still need to purchase the Collision Damage Waiver or use one of the coverage methods we discussed earlier.

If you are unable to secure coverage by using any of the methods listed in the previous chapter you should seriously consider purchasing coverage at the Rental Car Counter. It can be hard to get an honest advice about these coverages from the rental car agent because they are paid a commission every time they sell it to you. Don't worry; we have provided you with all of the help you need below.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - This protection is also called the loss damage waiver (LDW) by some rental car companies. It is often referred to as insurance but this is incorrect. It is actually a waiver of responsibility. When you purchase this protection the rental car company waives your responsibility for damages or theft of the rental car. If something were to happen to the car you would simply file a quick claim form when you returned the car and the rental car company would pay to repair or replace it. The price for this protection usually ranges from $15 to $25 depending on where you are renting.
Caution: This coverage may become void if you cause an accident while breaking the law. This includes excessive speeding, driving off road or driving while intoxicated so be careful when you are driving a rental car or any car for that matter.

If you carry a minimum limit such as $10,000 for Property Damage Liability coverage you may want to consider purchasing the Collision Damage Waiver because this low limit may not be enough to pay for repairing or replacing the rental car. Remember you could also be held responsible for damages to other peoples car's or property if you are involved in accident and found to be at fault and Rental car companies will charge you for loss of rental income for the car that you damaged. These are all important factors that should be considered when deciding if you should purchase the Collision Damage Waiver.

Another advantage to this coverage is that there is no deductible. This can come in handy if you were involved in an accident that is covered by your auto insurance policy and you are renting a replacement car while your car is in the shop being repaired. You see in this scenario any damages to the rental car would be covered by your Comprehensive or Collision coverage which means that you would have to pay the deductible.

Excess Liability - Car rental companies are required by law in most states to provide a minimum amount of liability protection for renters of their vehicles but this is rarely enough to protect your interests if you seriously injure someone in an accident. The liability portion of your personal auto insurance policy will transfer to your rental car so you have adequate limits of bodily injury and property damage liability on your personal auto insurance policy we would not recommend purchasing this coverage. This coverage would only pay after your personal auto insurance policy limits are exhausted. This price for this protection is around $10 to $13 dollars per day for 1 million dollars worth of excess protection.

Personal Accident Insurance - If you or your passengers are injured in an accident or as a pedestrian this coverage will pay for your medical expenses and ambulance fees if needed. If you live in a "no fault" state, have health insurance or carry medical expenses coverage you probably already have this protection and do not need to buy it from the car rental company. Check your auto insurance and health insurance policy to find out for sure. A claim for this type of loss on your personal auto policy will not cause an increase in price so if it is covered on another policy there is really no benefit to buying it from the car rental company. The price of this protection usually runs from $2 to $5 a day depending on where you rent.

Personal Effects Coverage - This is coverage for theft of you or your passenger's personal items such as cameras, camcorders or Laptop computers. This protection may also be provided on your homeowners or renters policy if you have one so you may not need to buy it from the rental car company. However, homeowners or renters deductibles are usually $500 or higher and all of your articles may not be covered. Check the declarations page of your policy for your deductible and the exclusions section to find out if the items you are taking with you are covered.

One of the benefits of purchasing this coverage from the rental car company is that you usually do not have to pay a deductible. You simply file a claim when you return the rental car and you are reimbursed for the theft of your items. You will usually need to prove ownership of the items that you claim were stolen by providing the rental car company with receipts or other proofs of ownership. You should also ask the rental agent if any exclusions apply to this coverage prior to purchasing it. The price for this protection is $2 to $5 dollars a day.

It is better make all of your rental car insurance decisions before you step up to the rental counter. Nobody should be forced to make snap decisions on issues of this much importance and now you don't have to. We hope that you have found the help that you needed in this handbook. I love to get feedback on this article so please send your questions or comments to info@theautoinsurancebuyersguide.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Rental Cars: Do You Make This Costly Car Rental Mistake?

Doesn't it seem confusing sometimes just to get a rental car? There seems to be so much paperwork and so many decisions to make.

For example, should you get the collision damage waiver or not? Should you buy additional insurance coverage from the car rental company?

If you've ever watched people at the rental car counter, you know these are questions that most people struggle with. Sometimes you can decline additional insurance on car rentals, but there are specific instances that you should always buy the insurance. But how do you know?

One of the biggest areas of confusion is the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) offered by the car rental company at the time of rental. It covers damage to the rental car if you are involved in an accident.

The CDW isn't exactly insurance, and it only covers only damage to the rental car. It doesn't cover property damage or personal injury. If CDW is purchased, the car rental company waives some or all of its right to gain from you for physical damages to the car.

So should you purchase the CDW the car rental agency pushes at you? Experts say that most people don't need it but purchase it anyway. This is a very costly mistake!

You can save yourself a lot of hassle and unnecessary cost by doing three things. First, check your own car insurance policy to see what coverage carries over to rental cars. Second, see if the credit card you are using offers any coverage for renting. And finally, check the options the car rental agency offers in its own policies.

Many car insurance policies include all-inclusive and collision coverage to damages to rental cars. There is no sense paying for more if your policy includes this coverage, right? Just verify the details with your insurance agent before you decline the car rental company's additional insurance options.

Typical car insurance policies provide liability coverage that extends to car rentals. If you injure someone in an accident while driving a rental car, your policy will often cover you. If your car insurance policy does not provide these coverages when you are driving car rentals, be sure to purchase additional insurance from the car rental company to protect yourself.

In addition, many credit cards offer coverage for rental cars. If your credit card includes coverage for car rentals that have been damaged in an accident, you don't need to buy any other additional insurance coverage the car rental company offers you.

Finally, read the car rental policy carefully and decide whether or not your car insurance or credit card covers you. Then discuss the car rental's coverage with the agent. Always make an informed decision. Don't give into pressure by the car rental agent.

Deciding whether or not to pay for additional insurance coverage the car rental companies offer can be a tough decision. Check with your credit cards and existing car insurance policy to see if they provide rental car provisions, and if they don't, you'd better consider spending the extra money for additional insurance for your own protection.

You shouldn't pay for anything that you really don't need! On the other hand, you don't want to have inadequate coverage in the event of an accident with rental cars.

Car Rental Ratings 2009 (Not the Companies, The Cars)

Now that 2009 is behind me, I took a minute to think about every car I rented, and boy has this been quite a travel year for me. As businesses start to look around and ask the question, "So, Now What?", I have been on the road more than planned. A big part of being a road warrior is knowing how to get from the airport to your real destination. Trains, buses, taxi's, limos and rental cars all can meet the need depending on where you are going.

As an airline pilot twice a month, there isn't a lot of wiggle room. You stand there and wait for whatever the airline told you is your form of travel. If that company doesn't show up, you can take a cab and hope the airline pays you back. As a business adviser and owner the rest of the month, the cost of transportation is part of the fee I charge my clients. Since I own the company I have a lot more flexibility in what I do as long as my wife sees the price after we get paid. My basic plan is easy. If I have more than 8 hours of time to kill or my wife goes with me, then I rent a car. Sadly that is most of the time I travel. I also carry my own portable GPS since I can pre-program the routes or places I want to go before I start the trip.

I start out on Expedia or Travelocity and then book the second cheapest car I can at Hertz or Budget. I have tried other companies in the past and it wasn't worth the hassle to save $3 a day. During 2009, I rented 15 times, and all but once my basic plan worked out. I learned this trick in 2007 when renting from Hertz. If they have an abundance of "premium" cars, you can usually get a great deal at the last second on the upgrade. The flaw is using your "gold" membership to get the one class upgrade. Hertz automatically assigns the upgrade and you get what you get.

In 2007 when Hertz had the Shelby GT350H available, I was chomping at the bit to rent one. The online price was over $300 a day, so I decided to rent the $39 a day economy car. When I got to the counter, I happened to get Todd, a manager of the LAX Hertz counter. I asked why there were so many GT350H Mustangs sitting outside. He said no body was renting them, and the negotiations started. He of course did the right thing for Hertz and started at $299 a day. We eventually settled much lower at a price that made me very happy to rent such a cool car, he even threw in a years membership to the #1Gold program.

The Shelby was an absolute blast to drive, and other than being a little stiff in the suspension arena for my wife, the GT350H was a perfect car for a Southern California work week. Cruising Beverly Hills famous Rodeo Drive shopping district, the Shelby felt right at home. I have reserved an economy car every trip since and all but once got some kind of good deal on the upgrade. I don't know if Hertz and Budget keep customer notes, but I usually buy the gas and return it at about a quarter tank. If I get a cool car I usually will wash it too.

In 2009 the economy rental upgrade plan failed one time. Sure enough it was a vacation with my wife. We selected economy from Budget at the Nashville Airport, and I couldn't talk the guy out of any deals except a Ford Crown Victoria land yacht. We ended up with a Kia Spectra. The spectra had manual windows, a feature I didn't even know still existed on US spec cars. The entire week we joked about driving a "spec" as in the old commercials the car was so small. It was easy to park at least.

Several times in 2009, I ended up with various versions of the Ford Mustang. What was impressive about the Mustangs was the overall quality. Not one had a rattle or drip, and the most recent rental was a Mustang convertible with 24,000 miles on it. Another successful upgrade from a reserved "economy car". We dropped the top and visited my friends at Truspeed in Costa Mesa before running up into Central California then back for a topless tour on the Pacific Coast Highway. My wife joined me on that trip making the convertible all the better.

All of the Mustangs offered a very nice drive for a car guy, and the 2009 models have better seats than the 2008. I can't put my finger on what is different, I just felt better after the 3 hour ride up the central valley on I-5. The multi-layered top on the convertible is just quiet enough to talk on a cellular with a headset at highway speeds which is a nice bonus. Both the GT and the standard Mustang Coupe we rented were quieter than my F-150 at all speeds, never mind easier to park. The GT and GT convertible were met with about the same response at the Shelby GT350H, except no one scratched the Shelby or the convertible. The valet at the Four Seasons added a nice bumper stripe to the Bright Red Mustang GT. All three got the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) test this year, and the GT convertible is the hands down winner. Cruising PCH with the top down is the quintessential California experience. I got lucky with three trips up the coast in one year.

Our most recent rental deal was an Infiniti FX-35. This time I was willing to pay the $300 a day for an SUV to get up to the Lake Tahoe area for a combination work and play week. The weather up there is very unpredictable so having all wheel drive is a huge bonus. Sorry, I don't buy chains for rentals, to much risk of damaging the car. Sadly there weren't any AWD cars available at all on the web reservations systems, so we selected a mid-sized front wheel drive. At the counter my Hertz #1 Gold reservation wasn't there, my car had been given away since we were late. Max at the Gold service counter was quick to apologize and offer a free upgrade. I asked for an SUV, and he said he couldn't give me an upgrade that far, but would look into it. They did have one SUV that canceled and was ready to go. Max gave us a great price, so we grabbed it an ran like the wind.

The Infinity FX is a very solid SUV. I had rented one in 2008 and didn't remember anything about it for some reason. Maybe because we had just purchased a Mercedes ML CDI, or Maybe it was just a one night rental so I didn't get time to really look at the car. I really couldn't say much about that rental in 2008, nothing good, nothing bad. This time was a little different. The newer model FX-35 had a seven speed automatic with paddle shifting capability. The funny part was even when you used the paddles, it would start to shift on its own in 10 or 15 seconds. The dash would read the gear position for about a minute then it would go back to D. Running up the hills to the Lake Tahoe area in AWD due to the snow the FX-35 was shifting constantly. I tried to override it and leave it in 6th but couldn't figure out how.

One of the problems with paddle shifting is everyone has a different way to do it. The FX-35 up shifts on the right and downshifts on the left, similar to our ML. With the ML it takes one shift past the top gear to return to automatic mode. My BMW requires that you move the shift selector to sport and back to return to full automatic mode. I am sure the FX-35 has a way to select Manual and leave it there, but I couldn't find it.

The FX-35 is like a rolling PS-3 with leather seats and seat heaters. Every button I pressed came up with a new toy. Not one button in the car was labeled SAT or XM, yet when I pushed the button marked "Radio AM/FM" 3 times I got XM. That was a sweet bonus. Classic Vinyl replaced the static of Sacramento radio while running up the mountain roads. We figured out the FX-35 also had seat coolers just in case you are thinking of renting one in Phoenix Arizona, mid summer. I don't think my ML has that, I will have to check when it warms up. The range of adjustment for the FX-35 seats was impressive. It took a little getting used to the drivers seat going full back every time you opened the door, and moving forward when you got in. The back seat passengers needed to get out quickly, preferably before you pressed the stop button. Oh yeah, the keyless was a nice feature. I like that on our ML also.

On solid pavement the handling of the FX-35 was crisp and clean with very nice feed back. On slick and icy roads the handling was reasonably sure footed with the exception of dead stop acceleration. Even with the "snow" button on, you could be just a little heavy on the right pedal and get the back end to come loose. This is an odd feature for an AWD vehicle with traction control. The traction warning light would come on just as the back end got loose and you are busy wondering where the thing is going.

The unintentional excitement came on the patchy road where there was a mix of clean pavement, ice and snow. The traction control and anti-lock would get in a fight and the car would pull right or left or get loose even when driving very timidly. Our 2000 Chevy Astro AWD van does better in those conditions. The only thing I saw different on the dash was the "icy" indication. In the heavy snow, the FX-35 returned to normal and tracked very nicely.

The final note for the FX-35 was the fuel economy. For a normally aspirated vehicle it was uncommonly high. The trip from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe to Reno was less than a half tank including a full lake tour on New Years Eve. In Reno I made the mistake of filling it up and washing it. I returned it with nearly ¾ of a tank after paying the $65 tank fee. Maybe that is why Hertz gives me the deals, they make up for it in the gas I buy them.

The only real let down of the FX-35 was finding an oil puddle after we parked it in the garage for two days while riding up to the ski resorts with family.

So here is my Rental Car Ratings for 2009:

Ford Escape ***, Great little SUV, but little and not very powerful. Nice fit and ride. Good for two adults and no kids on a short trip.

Ford Mustang ***, Great car, not to peppy, average MPG

Ford Mustang GT ****, Great car, fun to drive just enough trunk for a week and two people. This car gets on it when you want it too. I started to wonder if Hertz has tracking in the cars more than once.

Ford Mustang GT Convertible ****, More fun to drive, very solid car, easy to operate top and gauranteed to put a smile on your face when cruising a coastline in the sun. Wear SPF 50, you might forget how long you've been out there.

Jaguar ****, Fun to drive, very easy car to get around town in, good trunk room and comfortable back seats for clients. MPG better than expected for such a nice car.

Mercedes C320 **, Nav system is horrible, just like my ML at home. Reasonably quick car, MPG average, fit, finish and ride quality were typical Mercedes.

Infiniti FX-35 ***, Add the fourth star if you need AWD, otherwise there is more fun stuff out there. Great Fuel efficiency, didn't have NAV, used the big NeverLost which is kinda in the way.

Ford Explorer ****, Great AWD vehicle for snow trips when they are available. Just enough room for a weeks worth of stuff for four people. MPG isn't the FX-35 but not to bad either.

Jeep Liberty, ** same size as the Ford Escape, less power, same gas mileage as Mustang GT, and not nearly as fun, very comfortable seats for long drives but the wallet shock isn't worth it.

Kia Spectra *, good fuel economy, poor seats for long drives.

One over all observation. American muscle is still just that, brute strength which always gets a smile when merging or passing on a lightly traveled highway. The Japanese models had the most toys and the best driver to car to driver interface. The German cars clearly still have the focus on the driver to road interface the driver to car interface still needs work. The Mercedes C300 did have excellent road feel, but for the fun the slightly heavier driving Mustangs win.

The one upgrade I haven't been able to talk any Hertz rep out of is a great deal on the new Corvette ZH model. It doesn't matter how many are sitting on the lot in LA, Orange County or Miami, the price doesn't seem to come down to my territory ever.

Hertz Rental Cars - Quality, Value, and Ease at Convenient Locations Worldwide

Hertz rental cars are truly a travelers best friend. They are a life saver, especially at airports, there is nothing worse than having to deal with the hassle of fighting to get a cab at the airport and then the rates are astronomical, in some cases you can get a deal from Hertz rental cars fro two days on a clean, comfortable full size sedan for the same amount of money you would spend on one taxi ride from the airport to your hotel. Plus when you rent a car you have the convenience of being able to go wherever you want whenever you want and not having to depend on buses, taxis, trolleys and shuttles.

The best thing about Hertz is the fact that they have outlets at all the major airports around the US and Canada. You can pick up any of the amazing offerings of Hertz rental cars right from the terminal. In some of the larger airports they even have smaller counters located near the most active gates.

Plus when you buy one of the high quality Hertz rental cars you can use Hertz coupons. Most of the airlines and a lot of the major hotels offer coupons for Hertz rental cars. These coupons can offer you up to half off the rental fee during your stay.

Hertz has thousand of locations all other the world not just at airports. Locations located in shopping area, tourists areas, residential areas, and at train and bus depots. Downtown locations, uptown locations and midtown locations, if fact just about everywhere, you can find a fast, easy and economical Hertz. Every location is staffed with knowledgeable, friendly, and professional agents to help you with your selection from the wide section of Hertz rental cars.

There are many different ways to get great saving and discounts with Hertz coupons. There no club to join or special identification cards needed. All you need is a computer and a printer. Just go to one of the Hertz partner companies and make a reservation for services and then print out the coupon. When you arrive at your rental location just present the coupon to your agent and they will apply the discounts to your rental invoice. That's it, super easy and no hassles, just like everything else with Hertz.

The best thing is Hertz coupons are honored at every single Hertz location all over the world and are good on just about every Hertz rental cars. You can get great savings on top model cars from name plates you trust like Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Volvo. If you in the mood for something on the wild side you can even rent a Mustang, The legendary all-American muscle car. Now Hertz even offers a chance at world class luxury by carrying premium sedans and sports cars from the top name in the upscale American auto market, Jaguar.

Its even faster when you make your reservation in advance, that way they can make sure that the car you want is in stock and you might even get additional discounts fro booking weeks in advance. With all these discounts and convenience you, on your next business trip you could find yourself renting a jaguar or mustang for the same price as a four door family sedan, wont that make the trip a little more worth taking.

Hertz coupons are honored in any location around the world. And the best thing about the coupons is that you get to choose from awesome rides like Volvo, Ford, Mustang, and even Jaguar. If you have your coupons with you, you can make your reservations at Hertz by calling them up during their office days or weeks before you need to use the car. This way they can prepare your ride for you and make sure that it isn't already reserved. If I were you, I'd call their office for reservations immediately. Imagine, a couple of Hertz coupons will let you ride a Jaguar!

Preparation For Using Airport Car Rental

Airport car rental is an airport service which provides car to be rented by people. It is offered to make them easier to get transportation. For example, it will be difficult to get car or taxi in the night. So, to face this problem, airport gives service to help them to reach the place anytime and anywhere safely.

It is good for you to plan it earlier. Because you have to be ready to take a bad risk that probably happens to you. Actually, after you have arrived in airport, you will use rent car and start to continue your trips. It will be okay when you have to drive in the night. You do not have to wait for a long time to get transportation.

But, you have to know before you drive, you have to prepare your complete license. When you forget to bring all of them, you will get trouble with the cop. I do believe that you want to get the best trip right?

Be sure that the car is in a good condition, you will be fine to drive it. Just imagine when you get trouble with the car. Ensure yourself. Sometimes, car body cannot be a good standard. Check the machine so that you will know about car condition exactly.

Drive the car in the right way. Obey the rules. When you broke the rules, be ready for the worse thing that will be happened to you. For example, you drive in a high speed that will make trouble in the road. It is bad when you have to get an accident.

Basically, a good car rental at airport will bring you to comfort and coziness. It serves people professionally. Pay attention on car size. You have to make it suitable with you. You just need a small car if you go alone.

You can prepare your insurance to protect you from the worse thing that will happen to you. For example, thieve stoles car or you get an accident on the road. But, it will not too bad when you have good insurance. So, prepare all of the preparation as well as you can.

Western Australia Rental Agreement Contract

In order for you to rent out your property in Western Australia you will need to have a Western Australia rental agreement contract in place. This agreement contract is governed by the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 and Residential Tenancies Act 1987. In the Act it will outline the responsibilities of the landlords and the tenants. The Act has a broad coverage of the rental agreement including new rental, renewal, extended, assigned or transferred the lease contract to some one else, Residential Parks rental (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006, hotels and motels rental, holiday homes, age care facilities including hospitals and nursing homes.

Most landlords when they want to rent out their property they normally engage the services of an agency to do it for them. The agency will assign a property manager on the specify property and the will deal with all aspect property rental. However in some cases certain landlord would like to manage the property themselves.

If you would like to rent out the property yourself then here are a few steps you can follow to get started.

1. Before the tenant can starts moving into your property make sure that your property is properly insured. Although this is not require by the Act but it will save you a lot of headache and $$$ down the track if you have choose the wrong evil tenant whom manage to cause lots of damages to your property.

Download and print out 3 copies of the property condition report. The property condition report should contains a very detail description of the property, for example it should describe the state of the oven, the stove, the doors, the ceiling, any damages that already exist before the tenant moves in and etc.

All of the below mention forms are require by law so make sure the tenant have all the require forms.

2. Download the Form 24B - Periodic Agreement OR Form 24A - Fixed Term Agreement and have it signed by you and your tenant. The form only contains general terms however if you want to put any additional conditions to the contract then put into in the addendum form. The addendum forms allow you to put in terms such as routine inspections, water consumption, carpet cleaning, pets, furnished properties, vacation - repairs and cleaning, keys and many other things that you can think of.

3. Download the Schedule 2 - Information for Tenant form and give it to your tenant.

4. Download the Form 1 and 8 - Lodgement of Security Bond Money.

5. Record water and electrical water meter reading before tenants move in (There is no form for this, you just needed to write the meter reading down to a piece and store it safe somewhere so that when the tenant move out you can work out how much to charge them).

You don't have to part with your hard earn money to get these forms. Just simply download it for free at Free Western Australia rental agreement.

Do You Want to Know About the Terms and Terminology of a Car Rental Contract?

A car rental Auckland agreement or a contract is not just a bunch of papers. It is legal contract that spells out the terms and conditions for your rented vehicle. The contract and its terminology vary from company to company, but there are standard terms which you will find in the contract and are listed commonly in it. Always keep your contract in the glove compartment of the rented vehicle. It shows your legal possession of the vehicle. It is advantageous if you know the industry terms and the method the fee is charged.

Rental Agreement Number: The number which is required if you need to call the location to modify your or extend the length of your rental.
Car Number: A serial number that designates the rented vehicle on the contract.
Mileage In: It shows the value of miles at the pick- up time and the drop off time. It is used to calculate the no. of miles in a day or per rental to determine cost. In case you have limited miles and you have crossed the limit, you will be required to pay the mileage cost. Knowing approximately how far you will drive will allow you to select the company that offers the most favorable mileage terms.
Fuel in or Gas In: This indicated the level of your gas tank at the pick up time. You will require returning the vehicle with same amount of gas. Compare the price with actual gas gauge. Companies that do not charge for the initial tank may ask you to return the car with a full tank. If you don't, you'll be charged the rental company's price for gasoline. It's often much higher than a local station.
Pick up Location, Date, Time
Return Location, Date, Time
Vehicle Inspection Report (This may be a separate sheet): Any dings, scratches and damage to the car rental Auckland . The vehicle will be inspected upon return.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Companies may urge you to buy this option. Although they call it "collision damage" coverage, it's not technically collision insurance. Rather, it is a "guarantee" that the rental company will pay for damages to your rented car. By declining the waiver, you accept responsibility for any damages. For example, coverage may be revoked if you damage the car when driving it in a negligent manner, on unpaved roads, or out of the state in which you rented the vehicle. Some companies void their CDW coverage if a driver drinks alcohol or if a non-authorized driver operates the car.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): It pays a death benefit and a portion of your medical expenses if you're in an accident.
Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) or Personal Effects Protection (PEP): it safeguards your luggage against damage. If your homeowner's policy covers your luggage and other belongings while you travel, you may not need this protection.
Regulations for the vehicle: A Lists of the terms and/or conditions of your rental with regard to the vehicle, its cargo, the use of the vehicle and additional drivers. These terms may include stipulations that you are expected to comply with.
Refundable Charges: Refundable charges may be required when you pick up your rental car. The charge varies from company to company.
Additional Driver Fees: When you share the driving with another person or when a driver is under a certain age (often 25), you need to pay certain amount.
Out-of-state charges: These charges are assessed when you drive the car out of the state in which it was rented.
Others: These include, applicable airport fees, taxes, surcharges, other government imposed fees, personal protection options, LDW/CDW, special equipment and upgrades.

Car Rental Lowest Rates Vs. A Good Bargain

Many people approach Car Rental as a lowest-price-possible contest rather than to concentrate on the value of the deal they eventually would get, in terms of what type of car, what's included (air conditioning, automatic gear shift etc') as well as what type of service they are buying.

The thing is, Car Rental market is very competitive one and rates differences for comparable quality and service are relatively small, sometimes as small as $10 to $20. These minuet price differences are going to vanish in the wind when you consider the long lines and lost time at the cheapest renter counter, drop charges for remote destinations, late return fines, and gasoline inflated rates as well as other service charges you didn't think about when you shopped for the "best deal".

Don't get us wrong, we don't like to pay higher prices more than you do. We do recommend to shop around and check the various rates available, especially when it's so easy to do it via the Internet at comparison sites.

All we say here you need to consider other things beside the price and when you compare please make sure you compare apples to apples and not apples to pears.

Things to consider when ordering a rented a car

Who is using the car, are you by yourself on a business trip or you are traveling with the whole family? How much luggage are you going to have, does the car you are thinking about is big enough to have you all plus all your hand luggage and big suitcases? If not, consider to change to a mini van or a car with extra large trunk.

Do you need an Infant seat or a child booster? make sure it is mentioned clearly with your order, usually there is a shortage of these seats and they are provided for extra charge. Check the state laws for where you are traveling.
A new law in Denver for instance, requires Booster Seats for all 4 and 5 year olds who are not 55 inches tall.

Do you actually need the car in the town or city at the first few days? If not, consider to take a taxi, a bus, a train or the hotel shuttle into the city and when it's time for you to go out of town and travel around, then, rent the car from the city location and by that save up to 15% on Air-Port charges as well as on city parking fees.

Are you going to a very warm and humid destination? If yes, it's recommended to order a car with air conditioning, usually the price difference is negligible, the problem is that it's not available in all destinations like in some European countries.

Most major rental car companies allow for unlimited mileage in the same state, but it's a good idea to check their policy before confirming. Many smaller local independent companies charge mileage after 100-200 free miles per day.

As mentioned before price is not the only factor to consider when choosing a car rental company. If you choose a very small, no-name company, don't expect them to provide you with service across all nation or continent, what would you do if the car is needed to be replaced or serviced for some reason?

Frequent or Preferred Renter Programs and affiliations

Frequent renter programs, Like airlines and hotels, major car rental companies track their customers' rental histories and offer preferential service to loyal customers. Most of the major companies offer frequent renter programs that are similar to airline frequent-flyer programs and hotel frequent-guest programs.

Preferred renter clubs, Most major car rental companies also offer preferred renter programs or clubs (one example is the Hertz #1 Club). When you belong to one of these clubs, you get preferential treatment, including automatic upgrades when those cars are available. You can join these programs at any time, even if you are a first-time renter with that company.

While basic-level club memberships are often free, higher-level memberships (as in the Hertz #1 Gold Club, which allows you to bypass the rental counter) generally come with a price tag. What most people don't realize is that it's often possible to avoid the membership fee by simply writing or calling your car rental company and asking them to waive it. They will do it because the car rental industry is very competitive, and they want your business

If you're still faced with a steep rate, try getting discounts based on your affiliations with organizations like AARP, AAA or others. These discounts are usually not great, but they are better than nothing.

In addition, always check for corporate rates if applicable to your situation.

Car Rental Insurance

Some of the Insurance terms seem to be confusing, let's try to clear them out first.

CDW - Collision Damage Waiver.

LDW - Loss Damage Waiver.

PDW - Physical Damage Waiver.

PAI - Personal Accident Insurance.

PEC - Personal Effects Coverage.

ALI - Additional Liability Insurance.

Many of the Credit Cards have most of these coverage, therefore it's not mandatory to purchase excessive coverage. It's better to check this issue with your travel agent, insurance agent and your credit card company a head of time. Some Car rental companies require that you show proof of insurance.

Also be aware that your personal insurance probably doesn't apply to your rental car when traveling overseas. All this is somewhat complicated and at times confusing because there are no industry standards for terminology and policies vary by locations.

Important things to check and do before leaving the Air-Port

After a long flight and the waiting in lines for your luggage and afterwards for your keys at the car rental counter, it is understandable you just want to take the rented car and drive away to your hotel, but wait! Here is a list of things you must check first.

Start by making a careful check around the car, look for any small dents or scratches, in case you find some, don't be lazy, go back to the office and ask a representative of the rental company to write down all of these dents, ask for a copy of that report. Other wise you might be responsible for damages you didn't perform.

Open the trunk, make sure you have a spare tire, a jack and set of tools, there is noting more irritating than to find out in the middle of nowhere that you don't have a jack when you need to replace a flat tire.

Many car companies will provide you with an extra key if you ask for one. This can come in handy for some of us who are absent minded.

It is recommended to spend some time to get acquainted with the cars' features and switches, make sure you know where the lights switches are, how to operate the windshield wipers, the air conditioner and even set your favorite radio stations as well as set your side mirrors. It might be quiet frustrating to fight with the new switches while driving, when all of a sudden it starts raining.

Make sure you have a map and it's better to spend few more minutes and plan your driving route.

Last but certainly not least, If you have a lot of luggage, don't park the car in the parking lot and go for lunch, in many countries, this is an easy target for
the thieves, It's better to buy some sandwiches and beverages in the air-port, or stop somewhere along the way for refreshing but never leave the car unattended.

In case you are involved in a Car Accident

These are the most important pieces of information to collect from the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephone number, insurance details, and drivers' license number.

Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicle's make, color, brand and license plate number.

Try to pinpoint the exact time and location of the accident. If the police get involved, ensure that you receive a copy of their report. Don't forget to inform your insurance agent immediately and notify the car rental company.
They will let you know about their accident procedure.

If you purchased insurance through the car rental company, they will have to make the claim. If there is damage to the rental car, there will be much paper work to complete

Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should be taken care of ASAP.

Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The car rental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents.

Exchange information with the affected parties.
Try to record everything on the scene. Your notes should include details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel.

Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you will probably have a camera handy already.

File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company.

When returning the Car

Make all necessary arrangements to return the car on time, that includes looking the location in the map especially if you return the car in a foreign city.

Late return charges are high and arbitrary, secondly, if you are late, you probably won't have the time to fill the car with gasoline yourself and the rental company will charge you exorbitant inflated gasoline rates.

In case you return the car in a city location on Sunday, it might be that the station will be deserted, it will let you in via automated gate, make sure to take the card and leave it over the dashboard, this is your recorded time of arrival.

In addition, lock the car, take the keys plus your rental contract and insert them into the designated box.

Car Rental Insurance - A Necessary Expense

It is a common practice for some people to rent a car especially when they are on a business travel. These people simply approach the car rental counter, pays for the rental amount but some of them refuse to avail of rental car insurance or waivers because they were thinking that such offers may only be additional expenses for them.

Many travelers do not pay for such coverages as they are uncertain and confused about it. Some believe that they are unnecessary and are only a devised scam by car rental companies to gain extra profit from the consumers.

However, one may never tell when an accident or mishap will happen. There may be some avoidable instances to save the rental car from nicks and wrecks, but certainly there are occurrences beyond the driver's control that may lead to the car's breakage or damages. Despite a number of people disagreeing with the necessity of driving an insured car, there are still lots of car users who ensure both their physical safety, the car's and their financial security.

It's best to know for every car renter, that such insurances are a way of securing his or her finances should an accident occur. Paying for repairs or worse is for the replacement of an entire vehicle may be more devastating than the misfortune itself.

If you are opting to rent a car, make sure that prior to the rental, you have already inquired from your agent about the personal auto policy that covers a rental car. If you have a credit card, ask your company what coverage if offers. Should a personal auto policy not include a rental car coverage, be polite in asking for the for additional rental insurance. It would also be wise that if you are a renter who finds that the information provided by a rental company is doubtful, the state insurance department may be consulted.

Aside from rental car insurance, other options offering similar plan are Loss Damage Waivers (LDW) and Collision Damage Waivers (CDW). Coverage for whatever loss or wreck to a rented vehicle is included. Such policies are in actuality are unregulated and are not insurance policies which is why it is essential to first read the waiver before deciding. Reckless driving such a driving under the influence of alcohol or causing an accident, may result to the waiver's dissolution. These waivers are a means to protect the rental companies from renters who may be careful in driving their own cars, but not rental cars. A Supplemental Liability insurance is also another alternative that covers item which are not included in the renter's own insurance policy for rental car. Personal Accident Insurance deals with expenses brought about by injury or death.

As a conclusion, a rental car insurance, though at the onset of a car rental may seem additional cost on the part of the consumer is not really a scam or a rip-off. In actuality its saves the car rental drivers from more serious expenditures if the rental car is damaged. It is true that there are less chances of having an accident set upon you or the rented car. However, accident are neither planned. Therefore it is better to be safe and secured rather than be sorry in the long run.

Is Car Rental Insurance Right For Me?

Sadly, the insurance that comes as 'basic' from the car rental company may not quite cover all the risks. To begin with, in some countries you may find that the rental price actually includes little or no insurance at all and the rental company will offer it to you as a chargeable extra. Even if car rental insurance is included in the rental price, you may find that it contains limitations that you're unhappy with.

It is worth examining closely the third-party liability cover (the insurance that covers claims from others than you have injured them or damaged their property) to make sure that it is not capped at an unrealistically low maximum payout. This does not apply in the UK where cover must be unlimited by law but in some countries the cap could be set at a level far below potential court awards.    

It is also likely that the CDW (collision damage waiver that covers damage to the rented car) will have exclusions that mean it will not pay if areas of the car such as the wheels, tyres, roof, windows and undercarriage are damaged. The costs here could be high following an even trivial accident.

Finally, the car rental insurance policies provided by the rental companies will probably contain excess. The excess is an amount of money that you could have to pay towards the cost of an accident and claim. Typically it is set between 500 and 1500 pounds. If you have an accident that costs say 1000 pounds to repair and the policy has 750 pounds excess, then you'll have to pay that 750 pounds.

If you find these things unacceptable, what can you do about it?

The car rental company will offer additional forms of insurance that mean they will increase the amount of third party cover, reduce or remove the excess and possibly increase cover to the excluded areas of the vehicle. When purchased from a car rental company, these forms of insurance can cost several times more than when they are purchased from a specialist insurance provider through the Internet.

The specialist providers sell a range of policies to cover some or all of the above gaps. They work on the basis that if you have to pay the rental company for excess or damage to an excluded area of the vehicle, your direct policy will reimburse you.

A major advantage of car rental insurance purchased from a direct provider is that it is sold to you the policyholder and by the day or year. What this means is that it will cover you against the above risks for any cars rented during the period - subject to certain terms and conditions. If you're renting regularly this could not only save you very significant amounts of money but also lots of time as nobody enjoys the 'extra insurance' debates at the car rental collection desk. It may be a good idea to research the specialist providers further if you're looking for a good and flexible deal.

Rental Car Insurance - Need Car Insurance For Your Rental Car?

Traveling can be a whole lot of fun especially for holiday travelers looking forward to some rest and recreation. But whether you're traveling to attend a professional conference or to sip martinis off an island beach, one thing remains common besides hotel accommodations - rental cars. If you've ever signed your name on the dotted line for a rental car, you would, in all likelihood, have contemplated whether or not to purchase the car damage waiver offered. Do you need car rental insurance for your rental car?

Don't be so quick to say no even if your insurance policy covers rental cars. True, many travel experts will tell you paying car rental insurance is an unnecessary expense. They say so because some personal policies cover damage to a rental car. Premium credit cards may also come with accident insurance. All these notwithstanding, you are probably best off signing the agreement with your car rental company so that you absolutely won't be held liable if the car in questions is damaged or stolen. Here's why:

1. Not all policies cover car rentals outside of the country. Often, coverage is for US only. If you're renting a car in Paris or London even with the same rental company you use back home, you'd be burdened with charges when you don't carry car rental insurance and meet an accident while driving it.

2. Premium credit cards normally offer secondary accident coverage. Very rarely would you find a credit card that offers primary accident coverage. What difference does this make? A secondary insurer pays you only after you've filed claims with a primary insurer.

3. Your policies do not cover all charges the rental company makes on your credit card. Damage, from the point of view of the car rental company, is not only the cost to repair the vehicle in question. Understanding this is perhaps the biggest reason why the answer to the above question is a resounding yes.

What You're Liable For

When you meet and accident or lose a rental car without a CDW, your car rental company will charge you what the CDW would have covered. Here's a short list of mostly likely charges that will appear on your credit card (yes, they have that little detail, don't they?):

Cost of Repair - this is common and this is what your personal policy normally covers.

Lost Income - the amount of money the vehicle rental company lost while the vehicle is out of commission.

Diminution of Value - an estimated sum the car rental company would lose if it sells the vehicle.

Keeping Yourself Protected

Car rental insurance could be such a hassle, true. But if you'd rather be sure you won't encounter an even bigger hassle later, you'd let yourself get sold on the pitch and take the collision damage waiver or take out a car rental insurance. Otherwise, if you'd like to assure yourself it's not an unnecessary expense, read the agreement you're signing with your car rental company. Make sure you have coverage for what they'd hold you liable when you meet with an unfortunate event.

Rental Car Insurance - Should You Buy Rental Car Insurance?

Your flight landed an hour late. Now, you'll be late for that important meeting. You can already imagine your customers sitting around a conference table waiting impatiently. You step to the front of the line at the car rental counter, with six other exasperated businessmen behind you who are late for their meetings, too. The rental agent plunks the contract down in front of you, and circles all the places on the contract that you're supposed to sign or initial. Then she stares at you, as if to say, "Hurry up!" The print is small. The sentences are written in Legalese. You'd like to stop and read the fine print, but you can feel the people behind you getting more upset. You thought you were renting a car for $35.00 per day. With all the add-ons, the cost is now $70.00 per day.

Oh...the pressure...the panic! You cave in, signing and leaving your initials in all the right places. You take your contract and keys and head for your car, inwardly feeling like a failure and mad because you didn't stand up for yourself.

If the preceding story is too familiar, there's hope just ahead!

It doesn't matter if you're a regular car renter or just an occasional traveler who needs to rent a car, you'll likely face these kinds of choices at the car rental counter. Some folks just decline everything. Some folks purchase all of the coverage offered.

But...are you wasting bunches of money on unneeded coverage or leaving yourself dangerously under insured? Before leaving on your trip, I recommend that you make two phone calls - one to your auto insurance company and another to the credit card company you'll be using to pay for the rental car. You'll need to find out if you have automatic coverage for your car rental from each company, and the various terms and conditions for that automatic coverage.

FIRST...CALL YOUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY

In your personal or business auto insurance policy, there is coverage for damage to your auto. The Insuring Agreement in most policies says: " We will pay for direct and accidental loss to 'your covered auto' or any 'non-owned auto,' including their equipment, minus any applicable deductible shown in the Declarations."

Another phrase is VERY IMPORTANT!

"If there is a loss to a 'non-owned auto', we will provide the broadest coverage applicable to any 'covered auto' in the Declarations." Here's an example of how this would work for you:

You have two vehicles. One is a 2006 Toyota Camry with full coverage. It's worth $24,000. The other is a 1980 Chevy S-10 pickup worth $1,500 that you only use for trips back and forth to the local home improvement store, and you only have liability coverage on the pickup. If you rented a car and it got damaged, your insurance company would provide the full coverage for the rental car, which is the broadest coverage in your policy.

If you normally drive an older car with only liability insurance on it, there will not be any property damage insurance extended to the rental car. In this instance, you should either use the credit card's Collision Damage Waiver or buy the CDW from the car rental company.

Ask your insurance company representative how much coverage you have on your car. Ask if there is a limit of value on your Collision coverage. If there is a limit, and you drive a 7 year old Ford Taurus that's worth $5,500...and you rent a new Cadillac Escalade that's worth $55,000...will your personal auto insurance cover the damage to the higher valued vehicle? REALLY important to know this...you could owe the rental car company tens of thousands of dollars to repair or replace a high value rental vehicle if you're not properly covered.

Find out the limits of liability. Make sure that your limits are higher than the minimum limits required by your state. Limits above $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident for Bodily Injury, and $100,000 for Property Damage are very inexpensive. Make sure that you limits are no less than that amount...higher would be better.

Find out what collision and comprehensive deductibles you have on your car, because those deductibles will apply when you rent a car and use your own insurance for rental coverage.

Make sure that you have Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage on your personal or business policy. If you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist, and the accident is his fault, recovery will be practically impossible. Likewise with a motorist who is underinsured. Best to have your own coverage protection.

Q: What if I don't own a car, and don't have car insurance?

A: If you do not own a car, you won't have an automobile policy. You should buy the rental car coverage, both the CDW and liability coverage. Or, you should use your credit card's CDW and buy the optional liability coverage from the rental car company. If you're a frequent car renter, however, you can still buy a "non-owner" liability policy. This solution might save you money over the coverage available through the car rental company.

Q: What happens if my personal property inside the car gets damaged or stolen?

A: Most Collision Damage Waivers provide coverage for theft of the vehicle, but not any personal property stolen or damaged inside the vehicle. Check your homeowners or renter's insurance policy because you may have coverage through them for your stolen or damaged personal property. A deductible will likely apply.

Here's a super important tip! Some people think that, if they purchased the Collision Damage Waiver or used the CDW from their credit card, and the rental car got damaged, they don't have to report it to their own insurance company. They are hoping that because the CDW covers the damage, it won't affect their own insurance policy....and they won't get a rate increase. WRONG!!! Don't be misled into thinking that you can get away without reporting your accident to your own insurance company. In most accidents, more things get damaged than just the rental car. Even if your accident is just you running into a guardrail, whoever owns that guardrail is going to look to you to pay for the damages. Also, other people might have been injured. You could have a large liability exposure, and you might need your personal or business auto policy to cover your loss. Your insurance policy includes legal representation if someone files a lawsuit against you for damages.

If you're going to use your own personal or business auto coverage, decline the Collision Damage Waiver on the car rental contract.

NEXT...CALL THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY

Ask your credit card company about the benefits they offer. Each company is different, and each level of credit is different. For example, a regular card might have different insurance benefits than a gold or platinum card. Ask the card company to send you your benefits IN WRITING. If you're in a hurry, ask them to fax or email it to you.

Some cards may only cover collision and comprehensive, and leave you uninsured for liability. Some cards only offer coverage when you rent from a certain rental company. Some restrict the number of days of coverage. Some cards don't automatically cover you and require you to sign up for a particular program. Still others limit the kinds of vehicles you can rent. (see below for some exclusions)

If you have more than one credit card, call each one and find out the card with the best benefits. Then, use that credit card to pay for your rental car, and use their benefits.

If you're planning on using the credit card company's coverage, you must decline the Collision Damage Waiver shown in the rental car contract. Otherwise, the credit card company's coverage will become excess to the coverage in the rental car company's Collision Damage Waiver. "Excess" means that any other available coverage would pay first, and the credit card coverage would pay any remaining portion of the loss.

Credit card Collision Damage Waivers cover:

o vehicle damage
o theft
o loss of use
o towing

See your credit card company's written CDW for all the details.

Collision Damage Waivers exclude:

o Injury to anyone or damage to anything inside or outside the rental vehicle.

o Loss or theft of personal belongings.

o Liability

o Loss due to intentional acts, like DUI, drug use or other illegal activities.

o Off-road operations. If you rent an SUV and take it off-road, no coverage.

o Rental periods of more than 15 days within your country of residence, or more than 31 days in a foreign country.

o Vehicles that do not meet the definition of "covered vehicles," such as:

- expensive, exotic and antique vehicles

- certain vans

- pickup trucks

- other trucks

- motorcycles and ATVs

See your credit card company's written CDW for all the details.

CAR RENTAL INSURANCE

Most major rental car companies offer these four coverages.

o Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This covers a rental vehicle damaged by an accident, vandalism, theft or loss of use. Costs range between $9 and $20 per day.

The most misunderstood part of car rental coverage is the Collision Damage Waiver, or sometimes called the "Auto Rental CDW."

Remember...the car rental CDW provided by the car rental company is not insurance. Insurance is regulated by each state. Collision Damage coverage is a waiver. The car rental companies agree to not hold the renter responsible if the rental car is damaged or stolen, and they guarantee that they will pay for certain damages listed in their coverage agreement.

In many cases, the waiver also provides "loss of use" coverage, which pays the rental company if the damaged or stolen car cannot be rented. In most states, car insurance policies don't cover loss of use. So, if you choose not to buy the Collision Damage Waiver, you might have a loss of use exposure if the rental car gets damaged. But if you're using your credit card's automatic coverage, it will pay for that loss of use.

Some car rental companies will require you to pay for repairs or replacement costs out of your own pocket up front, and then you have to get reimbursed by your own insurance company. Being forced to come up with thousands of dollars in immediate cash could ruin a vacation. You're protected from these up-front costs by the CDW. Read your rental contract CAREFULLY!

o Personal Effects Coverage. This provides coverage for theft or damage to personal items inside the rental car. Costs range between $2 and $5 per day.

o Supplemental Liability Insurance. This provides liability coverage up to $1 million. Costs range between $7 and $9 per day.

o Personal Accident Insurance. This covers you and passengers in your vehicle for medical expenses. If you already have personal health policies or travel policies, it won't be necessary to buy this optional coverage. It usually costs between $3 and $5 per day.

Corporate Travelers. If you're a frequent traveler for business, do one other thing. Check with your company to find out if they have a corporate travel policy. If they do, find out what that policy covers, and then simply don't buy duplicate coverage on the rental car contract.

Car rental outside your country of residence. Some insurers exclude coverage if you're driving in a foreign country. Some will cover you, but only a limited time. Some credit card companies cover car rentals outside your country of residence. Check with your insurance company and credit card company for specific details, and GET IT IN WRITING!

Q: Can I allow others to drive my rental car?

A: If you're using your personal or business auto coverage to cover your rental car, the chances are all "authorized drivers" are covered. An "authorized driver" is anyone listed on the policy. However, here's a BIG GOTCHA! If your teenaged son drives your rental car and he allows his girlfriend to drive the car, you're covered. If the girlfriend allows another person to drive, NO COVERAGE!

Some car rental companies have exclusions for young drivers. Some charge extra for young drivers. Find out this information BEFORE you arrive at the car rental counter.

Q: How do I file a claim if I've had an accident?

A: When you experience the damage or theft, immediately get a camera and take lots of photos of the damage, including any other autos or property that was damaged. Keep those photos! Notify the rental company IMMEDIATELY of the damage.

Report the damage to your own auto insurance company if you have personal or business coverage.

When you return the vehicle to the rental company immediately ask for:

o A copy of the accident report and any claim documents, which should show the amount you're responsible to pay, as well as any amounts that have been paid toward the claim.
o A copy of the initial and final auto rental agreements.
o A copy of the repair estimate or the paid repair invoice.
o A police report, if one exists.

So the bottom line is this:

If you have personal auto insurance, commercial auto insurance or corporate travel coverage, it is usually not necessary to pay for the Collision Damage Waiver or extra coverages offered to you by the rental car contract. Your situation may vary.

Get everything in writing, and make an informed decision. Then enjoy your car rental experience!