Do you have a US credit card? Many of those provide rental auto insurance as a benefit (my primary card does). Mind you, I'm still currently a US resident although I'm not sure that affects this.

 

Thanks! Alas, my card companies say that they don't. One is a small regional bank and the other is a local credit union.

 

I think I may have a partial solution. Just talked to an insurance broker in my US state. She thinks that she can get me a 6-month term no-vehicle-owned liability policy. I'll still have to get the CDW some other way as it won't cover collision, but it's a start.

 

Presuming you are taking out travel insurance when visiting the US, some travel insurances also have an option for car rental cover/insurance.

The rental agency wants $15+ per day for supplemental liability. That adds quite a lot to the total cost. Sounds cheap to me.

 

some travel insurances also have an option for car rental cover/insurance.

Thanks! In fact, it turns out that the CDW on offer here is actually travel insurance.

Sounds cheap to me.

The rental agency liability coverage would add about 65% to the cost.

I may have been a bit spoiled by renting cars from a certain grand magasin here in France, at about 1/4 the cost of major US car rental operations.

 

An American here, yes travel insurance typically has a "rider" policy to cover rental cars.

Personally, I purchase the insurance from the agency like Enterprise that says they don't care if it's crashed and burned in a canyon, just drop off the key....no questions asked. Peace of mind has a price and my mind says pay it.

 

...USA car rentals automatically provide absolute-minimum liability insurance. In the state I'm to visit that's only $50k. Maybe I'm too much of a worrier, but that seems risky.

No, you're not and yes, it does

It reminds me of this very expensive car accident, one of the worst ever in France in terms of cost to the insurance company who picked up the bill (3 billion francs in 1976): an old car driven a bit too fast by a young driver swerved out of control and got stuck on a railway line. A goods train ran into it, derailed, smashed into a bridge and fell into the canal.... seems absolutely unbelievable but sadly true.

Sorry for the thread drift!

 

With an estimated minimum of 6 million illegal immigrants that will soon be driving American highways with fictitious credentials, no insurance, no idea of what they're doing or where they're going added to road rage and crazy Americans, you better buy supplemental insurance. The illegals but junker type cars and get them registered to a fake name. If they crash into someone and they're able, THEY RUN ON FOOT and leave the scene. Couple of days later they buy another junker under a new Jose' whatever and they're back in the road again. Buy insurance. American hospitals are EXPENSIVE.

 

With an estimated minimum of 6 million illegal immigrants that will soon be driving American highways with fictitious credentials, no insurance, no idea of what they're doing or where they're going added to road rage and crazy Americans, you better buy supplemental insurance. The illegals but junker type cars and get them registered to a fake name. If they crash into someone and they're able, THEY RUN ON FOOT and leave the scene. Couple of days later they buy another junker under a new Jose' whatever and they're back in the road again.

And all bikers are dumb-ass ******** with an IQ in the low 50s.
Sorry, just lumping and entire group of people together for no real reason because of my own prejudices...

 

If you're American and have a moment to reply, I'd appreciate hearing what you do for rental car insurance when you go back to the USA for a visit. I'm planning to spend about 5 weeks there soon, and I'm trying to figure out what to do about car insurance. I have a USA virtual mail drop, but my official country of residence - used on my 2022 income tax forms - is France. I no longer have USA auto coverage. My Mutuelle de Poitiers auto policy here doesn't cover me for rental cars outside the EU. I read that - by state law - USA car rentals automatically provide absolute-minimum liability insurance. In the state I'm to visit that's only $50k. Maybe I'm too much of a worrier, but that seems risky. I haven't had liability coverage at less than $1m for decades. I found Loss Damage Wavier insurance (probably third party) for a more or less reasonable price through one of the airline/hotel/car websites, but so far, zilch for liability. The rental agency wants $15+ per day for supplemental liability. That adds quite a lot to the total cost. Many thanks for any suggestions.

I recommend that you purchase the requisite insurance to cover you in the US. It’s too much risk not to. With that said,i you will probably save at least $15 per day by not renting a car at the airport. Airport locations charge more & have more fees than renting from the same agency away from the airport. Grab an Uber to your hotel and pick up a rental away from the airport.

 

US citizen residing here in the country. Best not to skimp on full coverage insurance, since for one it is illegal to drive without insurance here in all but virtually 1 state (NH), not to mention driving is full of risks to both you & other motorists. We just came back from the UK last week and insurance on our rental was hefty too, but i would not have it any other way. The hubby drove & had a few scrapes to the expensive car we rented. Thank goodness we had excellent coverage.

 

Last year I was in Chicago and rented a car with full insurance. The cost came to $170 a day, I only needed it for a day. I said that was too expensive and the clerk asked me if I had any loyalty cards, I didn't, but just jokingly said "I have a Walgreen's card", and he looked on his list and sure enough my card enabled me to a discount of $70. Unfortunately the small cars hadn't arrived yet and I got stuck with a Lexus, which I was not happy about, a 5 minute lesson and I was on the road, terrified. Didn't like it at all, but got back to the rental place without any incident, but never again.

 

If you're American and have a moment to reply, I'd appreciate hearing what you do for rental car insurance when you go back to the USA for a visit.

I'm planning to spend about 5 weeks there soon, and I'm trying to figure out what to do about car insurance.

I have a USA virtual mail drop, but my official country of residence - used on my 2022 income tax forms - is France.

I no longer have USA auto coverage.

My Mutuelle de Poitiers auto policy here doesn't cover me for rental cars outside the EU.

I read that - by state law - USA car rentals automatically provide absolute-minimum liability insurance. In the state I'm to visit that's only $50k. Maybe I'm too much of a worrier, but that seems risky. I haven't had liability coverage at less than $1m for decades.

I found Loss Damage Wavier insurance (probably third party) for a more or less reasonable price through one of the airline/hotel/car websites, but so far, zilch for liability.

The rental agency wants $15+ per day for supplemental liability. That adds quite a lot to the total cost.

Many thanks for any suggestions.

I have advice, but first I guess I have to sign up to for this site. Used to be a member I thought but guess not.

 

I have not read all replies, but here is what should be some good info:
You can use loss damage waiver but only covers damage. Usually low coverage and expensive. If you have a Visa or Mastercard, use it to rent the car and you will be covered for damage by one of them and not bad coverage either - free. Liability you will have to purchase from the rental car company when you arrive to pick up the car...no way around that. Also you have to have a US license or if not living in the US and have a foreign license, you will need that one AND an international driver's license which you can get online and have it sent by courier to your EU address. You can find out how to obtain one in France or wherever you are online locally. US citizens can get one online in the US. My favorite place in the US - most organized and good website super service is International Driving Permit Online | Apply Driver’s Permit | Driving Document & Permit . Also the AAA issues them as well, but as far as I know as of 2021 they only issue for one year. The link above has choices up to 5 years. Hope this helps

 

You can find out how to obtain one in France or wherever you are online locally. US citizens can get one online in the US. My favorite place in the US - most organized and good website super service is International Driving Permit Online | Apply Driver’s Permit | Driving Document & Permit . Also the AAA issues them as well, but as far as I know as of 2021 they only issue for one year. The link above has choices up to 5 years. Hope this helps

Thanks for that. Have you actually used the site you linked to obtain an IDP? I was not aware that any organization other than AAA could issue them.

 

This links to a discussion on the Rick Steeves site for US residents who asked about the International Automobile Association. International Driver's Permit by IAA - Rick Steves Travel Forum

The consensus was the IAA was probably not legitimate because in the US only AAA (American Automobile Association) and the AATA (American Automobile Touring Association) are authorized to issue International Drivers Permits. AAA issues only for one year. Another red flag: numerous grammar and typo mistakes on the website, for an organization supposedly based in the US.

No matter what my country of residence, I’d want to be sure whatever driving permit document I obtained was legitimate.

 

Thanks for all the responses!

Be careful about credit card CDWs (collision damage waivers). Don't assume that your credit card will provide coverage. Some do; some don't. Call and ask.

No clue where Mr. A. Biker gets his information, but I've had my share of auto accidents over 50+ years of driving and I've never been in one caused by an undocumented immigrant. Or a documented one, for that matter.

I have been run into by teenagers, drunk drivers, and inattentive people.

Two of them were uninsured. One was a teen in his father's expensive BMW. The other was an unemployed and apparently desperate young woman. I don't know what happened to either, but the law isn't usually kind to such people, especially when they don't have wealthy BMW-owning fathers.

For this trip I signed up for travel insurance which provided CDW. I got it from the big travel website through which I bought my airline ticket and rented the car. That cost $10 per day, much less than from the rental car company.

An independent US insurance agent sold me a 6-month term "no vehicle owned" liability policy with a large US insurance company. It was just over $100, a fraction of what the rental firm would have charged. They emailed me an insurance card. Good thing, because the rental agency asked for proof of insurance.