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News and notes from around the interweb:
- InsureMyRentalCar.com says “Nearly half (46%)* of rental car companies are charging over $175 for a week’s Collision (CDW) and Loss Damage Waiver (LDW).”
They’ll sell you a policy. If you have an American Express card you can buy premium rental car protection for a flat fee too. Either is better than buying it from the rental company most of the time.
I don’t do either, I prefer getting it as a free throw-in from a premium credit card. Premium credit cards can cover rental car damage, lost luggage, costs you incur during flight delays, roadside assistance, and more.
Most premium cards offer secondary coverage (their coverage pays eligible charges your own insurance doesn’t), while some like Diners Club (can’t currently apply), Chase Sapphire Preferred, and United Explorer provide primary collision coverage (f you damage the rental vehicle your own insurance may not even need to know).
- Via Dans Deals, you can get a free 2 year Gold membership to Regus BusinessWorld with code diners08bus. These are free business lounges around the world you can use. The free ‘Gold’ unlimited plans are much harder to get than they used to be, most people don’t use these anyway but those who want a place to work that isn’t Starbucks they can be useful.
- ScoreBig.com has launched direct points-earning (3 to 22 points per dollar) with Southwest. They’re the broadest-based live event ticket platform which awards miles. Previously they worked primarily through shopping portals to incentivize purchases, this deal is in many cases more lucrative and cuts out the frustrations some people have with shopping portals.
- Two bi-planes landed on top of each other. The pilots are safe.
Where can I buy liability insurance for car rentals? I think that’s the problem in Ireland.
Stannis, a decade or so ago, I got a Diners Club specifically for Ireland car insurance. I don’t what today’s options are, but that’s what you need to be looking for.
There is no problem with Chase and Ireland car rentals now. I have a Chase Sapphire card and, if you call Chase, they will send you a letter via email that you can present at the counter to prove you have valid CDW coverage for Ireland.
I have yet to see a credit card protection or insurance purchase add on that covers you for liability. These only cover damage to the car and loss of use. This is where your personal car or umbrella type insurance comes in.
In my limited review, the prices at ScoreBig are well in excess of what you can find on stubhub. The latter has a better interface (including a mobile platform) and a rewards program of its own (essentially a rebate that can be used for future purchases).
Is the primary coverage on the United Mileage Plus Explorer good for additional cardholders, too?
One thing I’ve always wondered is if award bookings through Chase for rental cars includes any insurance. I don’t rent enough to ever have any free rental days or anything, and booking through Chase with the discount helps take the sting out of the cost (even though I know it’s not a great value for the points). But is there any insurance included?
Discover announced that they’re terminating 24/7 travel assistance, delayed baggage insurance, and emergency roadside assistance next month.
The usual auto insurance coverage that comes with as a preferred card benefit doesn’t work in South Africa–by law, the renter must purchase coverage (including liability) through the government funds. The Amex flat $25 policy is great for oddball expenses that are usually not covered elsewhere–flat tyre caused by driving off-road through the bush, windshield damage, animal encounters–so I stack my coverage.
does coverage work if I use a coupon code when I am renting?
I used the Regus lounge at the 29th floor of the Exchange Tower in Bangkok – great atmosphere to do some work and highly recommended membership.
The above Regus hack doesn’t seem to work for a US address, well at least for me it’s not working. Have to have an Australian address!
Thanks!
Regus lounge offer worked using Firefox browser. Please disregard the previous post!
Just did a FL drive out from Miami Beach using Enterprise. Yes, my Amex card wouldn’t cover liability on the car and it’s required in FL. The coverage was $21 daily, which is supposedly the cheapest, according to the CSR.
Now I jump on the 528 toll road up near Orlando, since I plan to go west on I-10. I swear there was a booth every couple of miles. Made the stupid decision to use a ‘freebie’ route and between the traffic and stop lights, it sucked. Learned of a time saving route in MS and supposedly cut 1-2 hours, instead of going north when I-10 meets I-55.
I’ve never had an issue using my credit card insurance renting in South Africa with Avis or First car rental. The only time I had an issue was with Europcar in Cape Town who insisted on seeing something from my credit card company that the card included CDW, otherwise they would add on a scam of a fee for it. Nowhere prior to, during, or after making the booking was this mentioned. Thank god for smartphones!
Got an email from Regus today (6/12) saying…
“The application you submitted has been declined as the offer is no longer valid.”
Despite getting approved via email on May 18…
“Thank you for joining Regus Businessworld. Your welcome pack, including your membership card, will be mailed to you shortly. To start enjoying your benefits right away, simply print out this email as proof of your membership and show it to one of our team on your visits.”
Dropped me from Gold to Blue