I'm renting a car in the USA. Do I need extra insurance?

Chomeur

So the car hire voucher states that airport fee, one way fee, unlimited mileage, glass/tire waiver, theft waiver (subject to an unspecified excess), third party liability protection (for damage to cars only) and collision damage waiver (without excess) are all included.

What else am I going to be offered at the airport, and should I be trying to buy it online before I go instead? The only things that seem to be missing from the list are liability for personal injury to third parties (surely that's the most important?) and cover for the theft waiver excess. Any idea how much the theft waiver excess is likely to be?

Thanks for your help - it would be good to be clued up on this now rather than when I arrive.

gingerdad

i'd take out a separate CDW excess policy in the UK before you go

StuieUK34

I would cancel your booking whoever you booked with and start again.....

Booking with brokers in the UK = 0 excess, includes the main insurance u need to drive worry free.
You dont buy excess insurance (seperate CDW excess) for US rentals when booking through UK brokers (expedia, autoeurope, holiday autos, usrentacar, etc etc).

I rent a lot, and have been driven into, so apart from filling out a form, no monies taken when car goes back

zagfles

Chomeur wrote: »

So the car hire voucher states that airport fee, one way fee, unlimited mileage, glass/tire waiver, theft waiver (subject to an unspecified excess), third party liability protection (for damage to cars only) and collision damage waiver (without excess) are all included.

What else am I going to be offered at the airport, and should I be trying to buy it online before I go instead? The only things that seem to be missing from the list are liability for personal injury to third parties (surely that's the most important?) and cover for the theft waiver excess. Any idea how much the theft waiver excess is likely to be?

Thanks for your help - it would be good to be clued up on this now rather than when I arrive.

That is definitely the most important! Someone getting injured in an accident could sue for several hundred thousand or even millions if they're crippled for life. Most countries insist the car hire company provides full third party insurance, but in the US it's usually limited at quite a low value, out of step with their courts!

You will need SLI cover (supplementary liability), some excess insurers provide it. Make sure it's in the millions.

EveryWhere

https://www.carhireexcess.com/uk
https://www.insurance4carhire.com
https://www.bettersafe.com/car-hire-excess-insurance

all offer CDW(with no excess) & SLI