Confusion with USA Car Hire Insurance needs

mapika65

I'll start by apologising for my lack of understanding and knowledge! I cannot understand what extra insurance cover I'll need. I've listened to Martin's video. I've checked out the comparison site for excess insurance and am baffled. 

I've hired a car via AVIS for USA. It has 0 excess. 

It includes: 
Airport/city surcharge
Vehicle Registration Fee
Local Tax
Third Party Liability
Covered for loss or damage
Unlimited Mileage

I won't be covered for windscreen or roadside assistance. 

Does this mean I'll be fully insured if I have an accident? Do I need to buy windscreen cover?

How do I get breakdown cover? 

I will be driving it into Canada for a couple of nights. 

Thank you for your patience and I am sorry for not understanding this. 

DullGreyGuy

mapika65 said:

I won't be covered for windscreen or roadside assistance. 

Does this mean I'll be fully insured if I have an accident? Do I need to buy windscreen cover?

Yes and no... 

UK - private motor - legal requirement for unlimited cover for bodily injury and property damage
UK - commercial motor - legal required for unlimited cover for bodily injury and £1m property damage
US - California - legal requirement for $15,000 bodily injury and $5,000 property damage

Typically a hire car will come with the legal minimum or not much more for the state you are in and so you are road legal but if you cause a big accident you would be footing the bill for anything above what the insurance pays out  -  on PD it doesnt need to be that big an accident to go over $5k if your in california!

Most hire companies offer an optional extra to increase this, often to $1m, and similarly many third party car hire excess policies also include Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI) for anywhere between $0.5m and $2m

Do you need to buy windshield cover? Up to you, again car hire excess policies normally include it but seeing as you appear to have already paid to reduce your excess to £0 double paying may be more painful than the peace of mind.

StuieUK34

In simple speak, your on the right deal, so whether you book direct via the Renter firm (.co.uk website) , or whether you go through a reputable UK broker , the 0 excess is with the rental firm , so all good....

Do you need windscreen cover, keys and wheel cover ?  personally speaking, No....  unless your going off-road, driving through a target practise range, or into that "keys in a bowl" kinda thing!  

I rent a lot in the US over the past 20yrs multiple times a year, i've returned damaged cars too (i got hit twice!)......
My bookings are always zero excess, including when i rent muscle cars via Hertz which take a beating on the rear tyres....
never had any issues..

wondercollie

Are you driving in the winter?   Roads in North American are sanded with gravel after snowfalls.  Gravel flies and hits windshields.   My last vehicle didn't make it home from the dealership without getting its windshield chipped.

Check and see that you can indeed cross the border into Canada with a rental car, there may be additional insurance requirements.