Rental cars...

OK so maybe Im just really really stupid BUT since Ive never rented a car before, Im really confused..

DH and I are looking to rent a car when we go down to GA in a couple of weeks...

All the places tell us to bring proff of INS. And Im like INS> of the vechile I drive here in NY, and they are like YES!

I always thought your INS followed your car... not you... so how the heck is my ins. gonna cover me?

Re: Rental cars...

I THINK it has to do with just being sure you are an insured driver.

Re: Rental cars...

If you don't show the rental company a valid license, valid credit card and in some states proof of insurance...then they have no reason to believe you are over 25 and are going to pay them.

PS Rental Car Insurance is a rip off, they will say clearly "Do you want our insurance..." then they all of a sudden start to mumble... "or use your own?"
Also don't get suckered into the gas thing, just fill it up yourself.

eta: As for your insurance question, I always thought the person was insured not the vehicle. We are both correct, in NY the car is insured with drivers listed and were I grew up in Ohio the person was insured an could drive whatever car they wanted *as long as they knew the owner*.

Message edited 2/11/2007 8:43:31 AM.

Re: Rental cars...

ETA - now I found something that says insurance follows the vehicle, not the person, but I still do not think you can be uninsured and rent a car for some reaosn

Message edited 2/11/2007 8:57:05 AM.

Re: Rental cars...

I am on hold with Geico, if they don't know then I will switch carriers.

Re: Rental cars...

Geico said in the state of NY: Both are insured, but if I wanted to drive mrswask's car then her carrier is the first insurance. Geico would be secondary and call her insurance to let them know I am insured. As for out of NY, he had no idea.

eta: Polish up the Bentley, mrswask...I am on my way over to test out the theory.

Message edited 2/11/2007 9:07:58 AM.

Re: Rental cars...

Posted by Emily

Geico said in the state of NY: Both are insured, but if I wanted to drive mrswask's car then her carrier is the first insurance. Geico would be secondary and call her insurance to let them know I am insured. As for out of NY, he had no idea.

eta: Polish up the Bentley, mrswask...I am on my way over to test out the theory.

Re: Rental cars...

Posted by Emily

Geico said in the state of NY: Both are insured, but if I wanted to drive mrswask's car then her carrier is the first insurance. Geico would be secondary and call her insurance to let them know I am insured. As for out of NY, he had no idea.

eta: Polish up the Bentley, mrswask...I am on my way over to test out the theory.

Re: Rental cars...

OMG- i think I more confused


They are not saying I have to buy their ins. they are just saying that I will use my own..

But Im just confused.. because wouldnt my ins. cover my altima? not some rental car is GA?

Re: Rental cars...

In NY state, your insurance follows the vehicle and all the passengers inside. Even if a person not on your insurance is driving your car they are still covered. When you take your car out of state, only the insured person and members of your household in the vehicle are covered. As for rental cars, your insurance will cover it.

Re: Rental cars...

we rented a car in florida a couple of months ago to drive to ga and we did not need any proof of insurance - we used hertz if that helps

Re: Rental cars...

we;ve rented MANY cars and never brought proof of insurance with us. the credit card we use protects us for that, we never buy any extra insurance from Hertz. also, DON'T buy the gas from them. you get a full tank and just bring it back on full. they always charge more money per gallon when you buy the gas from them.

example: we were just in GA 2 weeks ago and the Hertz price per gallon was $2.05 but but the pump price was around $1.86 a gallon.

Message edited 2/11/2007 10:07:43 AM.

Re: Rental cars...

I always get the liability insurance. I never used to, but a friend who worked for a rental car company told me once that it is the best $10 a day you can spend. They don't maintain the cars the way they should and if there is any damage, you just walk away. The aggravation of getting your car insurance involved is a nighmare, according to him. I also know people who have tried to go through their credit card companies when there was damage and it was also a nightmare. For me, the extra $75-$100 is worth it.

We got the insurance when we went to Aruba, someone left a huge dent in the side of the car when we were parked and we didn't have to deal with it. I don't buy the theft insurance, though, just whatever will cover accidents.

I agree with the gas thing - we were in CA 2 years ago and forgot to fill up and the rental car gas fillup was over $4.00 a gallon

Message edited 2/11/2007 10:11:54 AM.