Rental car insurance ? is it worth it ?

[bigrojo]

renting in cancun at trifty and driving to playa.
will want to drive to tulum and xel ha maybe even chichen itza
should I get the rental car insurance ?
how much did you pay?
what can I expect?
any help appreciated

see ya at the tequila barrel on the 18th

bigrojo

[FiremanDerek]

Originally Posted by bigrojo

renting in cancun at trifty and driving to playa.
will want to drive to tulum and xel ha maybe even chichen itza
should I get the rental car insurance ?
how much did you pay?
what can I expect?
any help appreciated

see ya at the tequila barrel on the 18th

If you are feeling adventuresome, and have always wanted to experience what it is like to spend time in a mexican jail, then by all means drive uninsured in Mexico. Maybe a better question is, "Do you drive uninsured in the US ?" I sure hope not. Actually, I'm pretty sure Thrifty won't let you rent one of their cars without at least purchasing liability insurance.I think Thrifty charges $11.00 a day for it. You'll find that out when you go to pick up your car. It is required by Mexican law. As for the collision coverage, most of the stuff offered still makes you liable for the first $1000.00 in damage. Most Platinum and Gold VISA/MC cards will reimburse you if you have to out of pocket for collision damage.At least buy the liability stuff.If the cost is killing you, consider living adventurously and use the local taxis and bus system. Probably cheaper in the long run, though you are putting your life in someone elses hands.Good luck,and have a great trip.]

[denisea]

Originally Posted by bigrojo

renting in cancun at trifty and driving to playa.
will want to drive to tulum and xel ha maybe even chichen itza
should I get the rental car insurance ?

You'd be crazy if you didn't... it only takes one time.

Originally Posted by bigrojo

how much did you pay?

We never pay... we use the insurance that's available through our Platinum Visa or Mastercard that we use for the rental. This is done by waiving the insurance coverage at the time of the rental.

Originally Posted by bigrojo

what can I expect?

As far as what? I'd recommend that you read a previous thread started by sydeslpr titled Rental Cars and Visa Cards thread which discusses everything you did or didn't want to know about insurance on rental cars when using your credit card... click here.

[Banzoomba]

Originally Posted by denisea

We never pay... we use the insurance that's available through our Platinum Visa or Mastercard that we use for the rental. This is done by waiving the insurance coverage at the time of the rental.

I was a claims adjuster for Alamo rental car for 8yrs....Credit Cards claim to offer this coverage but they have so many technicalities and escape loop holes built in that in my time in the bussiness....when there was a claim people would get very frustrated trying to use the CC coverage...never did the CC coverage acutally pay for a claim. I would always suggest getting the coverage offered by the rental company for piece of mind.....Claim rates are always higher for people on vacation because you are driving in unfamiliar territiory in a unfamiliar vechile and you brain is in sight-seer mode.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Banzoomba

I was a claims adjuster for Alamo rental car for 8yrs....Credit Cards claim to offer this coverage but they have so many technicalities and escape loop holes built in that in my time in the bussiness....when there was a claim people would get very frustrated trying to use the CC coverage...never did the CC coverage acutally pay for a claim. I would always suggest getting the coverage offered by the rental company for piece of mind.....Claim rates are always higher for people on vacation because you are driving in unfamiliar territiory in a unfamiliar vechile and you brain is in sight-seer mode.

One of our readers. Rented from Hertz. Used the Platinum Visa insurance. Demolished a police car. Totaled the rental car, though it was still drivable. I did not get to see the police car but I saw the very sorry looking Tsuru when I got back to the Hertz car lot to drop of my car. Insurance wise everything worked as advertised. Even the Mexican police where friendly and helpful.<o =""></o>

By all means get the insurance that you are confident with.

…….and if you are going to pass the car in front of you be careful about that left turn signal. You may have just indicated that it is ok for the cop behind you to pass. And you would not want to pull out and have his car climb up the side of your car and roll into a ditch.

[Mikey]

We've never had it....But this year we will be doing the Platinum Visa thing...So many of them are uninsured here and driving. You just have to be carefull.

[FiremanDerek]

Originally Posted by Mikey

We've never had it....But this year we will be doing the Platinum Visa thing...So many of them are uninsured here and driving. You just have to be carefull.

I don't mean to be a killjoy guys, but if you call your VISA/MC customer service and ask them what type of insurance the card extends into Mexico, the answer is either "none" or "collision only." That means if you hurt a person while driving, and you do not have liability coverage, you are in load of caca. You will also most likely end up in a Mexican jail. If someone can tell me that their credit card extends liability coverage in Mexico, I'd love to be corrected . I'd also like to know what card it is.
Sorry if I seem a little edgy about this, but my oldest daughter was severely injured in a van rollover accident on the way home from a Mexico mission trip two years ago. Another girl in the van died of head injuries, and one had a broken neck.Our church was severely underinsured. If you think that something like this could never happen to you, so did I. My daughters' medical bills alone were over $400,000.00.I don't want any of my fellow forum members to face this predicament.Mexico is the wrong place to play russian roulette about insurance.
Ok. I'm off my soapbox now.

[jwp0077]

Information from the U.S, dept. of state on car insurance in Mexico


Insurance
Mexican auto insurance is sold in most cities and towns on both sides of the border. U.S. automobile liability insurance is not valid in Mexico nor is most collision and comprehensive coverage issued by U.S. companies. Therefore, when you cross the border, purchase auto insurance adequate for your needs in Mexico. A good rule of thumb is to buy coverage equivalent to that which you carry in the United States.
Motor vehicle insurance is invalid in Mexico if the driver is found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Regardless of whether you have insurance, if you are involved in an accident, you will be taken into police custody until it can be determined who is liable and whether you have the ability to pay any judgment. If you do not have Mexican liability insurance, you are almost certain to spend some time in jail until all parties are satisfied that responsibility has been assigned and adequate financial satisfaction received. There may also be criminal liability assigned if the injuries or damages are serious.
On many of the toll highways you may be automatically covered by the insurance that is included in the toll fee. This can provide added coverage for you in certain situations.
Rental Cars

Renting a Car in Mexico
The standard insurance included with many car rental contracts in Mexico provides only nominal liability coverage, often as little as the equivalent of $200. Because Mexican law permits the jailing of drivers after an accident until they have met their obligations to third parties and to the rental company, renters should read their contracts carefully and purchase additional liability and comprehensive insurance if necessary.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_2139.html

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by denisea

You'd be crazy if you didn't... it only takes one time.


We never pay... we use the insurance that's available through our Platinum Visa or Mastercard that we use for the rental. This is done by waiving the insurance coverage at the time of the rental.


As far as what? I'd recommend that you read a previous thread started by sydeslpr titled Rental Cars and Visa Cards thread which discusses everything you did or didn't want to know about insurance on rental cars when using your credit card... click here.

I think that if you check with your credit card company, you may not be covered in Mexico for car rental insurance coverage.It is best to call your credit card company first just to check. Not even a Platinum American express card covers your car rental insurance in Mexico. American Express does however offer an additional plan that will cover your rental car (as long as you charge car rental on AE and it is a reasonable $25 per car rental). I get the liability coverage just to be safe-that will keep you out of jail should you hit something or someone. Anyway, I know a good body shop very close to Chedraui.

[denisea]

Originally Posted by absoluteal

I think that if you check with your credit card company, you may not be covered in Mexico for car rental insurance coverage.It is best to call your credit card company first just to check.

For the past 7 years, we've checked directly with out credit card issuers when we've planned to rent a car in MX... and we've indeed been covered each and every time. Of course, there are exceptions to the coverage provided and the types of vehicles covered. However, unless you plan on renting an exotic (expensive) vehicle, which odds are the average vacationer won't be (and even if they wanted to probably couldn't because they don't have cars like that available in Playa), and if you do your due diligence (homework), I'm confident that you'll find that coverage is available through the use of your credit card(s). Now whether it's acceptable coverage and/or enough coverage to satisfy your particular comfort level will be for you to decide.

Originally Posted by absoluteal

Not even a Platinum American express card covers your car rental insurance in Mexico. American Express does however offer an additional plan that will cover your rental car (as long as you charge car rental on AE and it is a reasonable $25 per car rental). I get the liability coverage just to be safe-that will keep you out of jail should you hit something or someone. Anyway, I know a good body shop very close to Chedraui.

Hmmm... you mean AMEX is not everywhere you want it to be? The Platinum Visa and Mastercard Insurance is based on charging your car rental to your Visa or Mastercard. If you pay cash or charge the rental to a credit card other than Visa or Mastercard, you will not be covered. Basically, each credit card has it's own auto rental insurance coverage. In order to activate coverage, you must waive the CDW coverage when offered at the time of rental. You are not covered for PAI... so it's wise to purchase that insurance at the time of your rental. If you click on the link provided in my previous post, you can see the research that was done by a group of us here on the forum... it was a lengthy process and the sytem was accidentally put to the test when Blueseas had a very serious left turn signal incident while in Playa, which served to prove our credit card car rental insurance research had paid off and was indeed correct.

[denisemc]

Originally Posted by absoluteal

I think that if you check with your credit card company, you may not be covered in Mexico for car rental insurance coverage.It is best to call your credit card company first just to check. Not even a Platinum American express card covers your car rental insurance in Mexico.

I was told by VISA customer service that the only countries currently excluded from the collision coverage provided by VISA are Israel, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Jamaica.

Not sure if denisea has already published this link, but it has all the fine print about this insurance:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/b...iver%20Program

[MN Annie]

Every year (about February) our credit card company sends out a small, folded flyer with details all the services for the current year. In there, it lists all the provisions of its insurance plan.

Our credit card does include this insurance. I take this flyer with me whenever we travel, as a reminder of what is covered.

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by denisemc

I was told by VISA customer service that the only countries currently excluded from the collision coverage provided by VISA are Israel, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Jamaica.

Not sure if denisea has already published this link, but it has all the fine print about this insurance:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/b...iver%20Program

Excellent info...Thanks

Originally Posted by bigrojo

renting in cancun at trifty and driving to playa.
will want to drive to tulum and xel ha maybe even chichen itza
should I get the rental car insurance ?
how much did you pay?
what can I expect?
any help appreciated

see ya at the tequila barrel on the 18th

bigrojo

My first trip to Playa 2 years ago we rented a car at the Cancun airport from National and drove down to our resort at the Riu Playacar. Our main reason for renting a car was transportation to and from our hotel and for one day trip to Tulum to avoid any type of tour bus. My rate was $39 a day and I DID NOT buy the insurance. We drove down and had ZERO problems the entire stay. We even drove the car into down town Playa Del Carmen and parked on the street. Maybe we were lucky but it worked out just fine for us.

We rent every time we go. Instead of using the Visa coverage, the last few times we took the best insurance from the rental. A Tsuru was $74USD for the day from Hertz, but the coverage was $0 deductible, and they signed/guaranteed 100% coverage in every regard, even if I'm at fault.

A bit pricey, but worth it IMO. It's not like I'm renting it once a week all year long.