In response to the reader's letter "Rented Car and Declined CDW" (Nov. '02, pg. 14), regarding damage being covered by his credit card after an accident in France, he is. of course, correct.
A word of caution, however -- most credit cards will respond for the damage to the rental car, as he found, but what the credit card may not do is cover him for his liabilities to third parties should he be to blame for the accident.
Equally, a number of foreign car rental companies may not provide free liability coverage, and if they do it will be only a minimum level of coverage, mainly to protect themselves if they are enjoined in a suit as a result of the renter's negligence.
It is therefore critical, before opting out of any coverages offered by rental companies, especially abroad, to very carefully read the fine print both of your credit card regulations and the rental agreement regarding coverage for your liability to third parties.
My advice is to rely on your credit card if it covers damage to the vehicle that you rent, but buy the extra liability coverage offered. If it means you have to buy the CDW to get that liability coverage, then those extra dollars may be well worth spent: Better to pay them than to languish in a foreign country (even in prison) unable to leave until you satisfy a third-party suit with money that will come out of your own pocket.
The car rental company that my wife and I use in the UK, Carquest Rentals (phone 011 44 1 444 471 289 or e-mail cars@carquestrentals.demon.co.uk), provides Extra Cover for [pounds sterling]5 per day for all damage to the car, with no deductible and with unlimited Third Party liability protection plus Personal Accident coverage to driver and passengers up to [pounds sterling]10,000 per person -- cheap at twice the price!
Carquest Rentals' representative meets you at the arrival terminal at either Heathrow or Gatwick, the paperwork is completed in the terminal, and the representative then takes you to the car, which is in the short-term parking lot close by. Then you are on your own!
You return the car to a location on the outskirts of the airport, and a shuttle bus takes you to your departure terminal -- all very smooth.
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