Collision Damage Insurance Question
I'm currently checking out some car rental price. I think I can get the best rate on Priceline, but I have a question about the insurance. Priceline.com offers 'Collision Damage Insurance,' that I can add to my reservation. Is it cheaper to buy it through Priceline than to buy it from the car rental company itself when I go to pick up the car?
With the collision damage insurance offered by priceline, the coverage is for Coverage Limit of only $35,000.
While, at $11 a day, it is cheaper than the coverage offered by the car rental companies themselves, it appears that it is a reimbursement type coverage.
Under PAYMENT OF CLAIMS it states:
CLAIMS NOTIFICATION UPON YOUR RETURN: Report Your claim in writing as soon as possible to AIG International Services. Provide Your travel dates, and details describing the nature of Your loss. Be prepared with the Collision Damage Insurance Policy Number above, the name of the travel agency or rental location, rental agreement that shows proof of travel, the amount the Insured is charged, a police accident or incident report. Upon receipt of this information, You will promptly be forwarded the appropriate claim form to complete.
This says to me that you would be billed (on your credit card) for any damages done to the car, by the car rental company, and then you would be required to submit a claim in order to be reimbursed.
I would check the terms on this to make sure.
If you purchase the Loss Damage Waiver from the rental car company itself, you would fully waive any responsibility for any loss or damage to the rental car (as long as you have fully complied with all the terms and conditions of your rental contract) and you would not have any out of pocket expenses if something happened to the car.
Also, keep in mind that the Collision Damage Insurance from Priceline would NOT cover theft of a rental car, but the LOSS Damage Waiver sold by the car rental company does.
Hope this helps!
More Resources:
Car Rental Insurance Overview
CDW and LDW Coverages
Category Article car rental Insurance
