Hey there, fellow American traveler! So, I’ve got this credit card that hooks me up with some solid rental car insurance, which is awesome because who wants to shell out extra cash for insurance, am I right? But here’s the kicker – seems like in Europe, rental car companies play by different rules. They don’t give you the option to decline their Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) like they do back home. Nope, it’s all bundled up in their “basic package” that you’re forced to take. And trust me, it’s not a sweet deal. You’re looking at a hefty deductible (over 2000 euro) and they want you to drop a deposit ranging from 1000 to 2000 euro. Talk about a buzzkill.
Of course, they don’t stop there. Oh no, they’ll try to upsell you on additional insurance, which costs an arm and a leg, sometimes even more than what you’re paying for the rental itself. So here I am, standing at the rental counter with a bunch of questions swirling in my head. First up, if I say no to their pricey add-on insurance, will that CDW included in their “basic package” mess with the coverage my credit card offers?
And here’s the real head-scratcher – can I even opt out of that mandatory CDW in their “basic package”? If not, how do I make sure that it doesn’t throw a wrench into the insurance from my credit card? And what if, worst-case scenario, that mandatory CDW ends up canceling out the coverage from my credit card and there’s absolutely no way around it? Are there any rental car companies in Europe that don’t stick you with this mandatory CDW nonsense? And hey, what about in Southeast Asia?
I’m all ears for any tips or tricks you might have up your sleeve to navigate this rental car insurance maze. Thanks a bunch for any help you can throw my way.