There are many other ways to protect yourself when renting cars, says
insurance expert Robin Ingle. Call your own insurance company before leaving home to see if you have, or
can add, coverage for rental cars. If you are relying on your credit card, make sure you are clear, before
leaving home, about what kind of coverage you have and exactly how much. If a call to the credit card company still leaves you confused, ask for
details in writing. Take car rental staff very seriously when they ask you to check the rental
car for scratches and damage before leaving the lot. Otherwise, you risk being
charged for dings you might not have made and they can end up on your credit
card even after you've arrived home, warns Ingle.
The expert also says to call your credit card company's 1-800 line as soon after an accident as
possible. They will take you, step-by-step, through what documents are needed
as part of the claim. Ingle warns that he's seen cases where it can take a year
to get some key documents, so get copies of as many as possible before getting
on your plane home. Past rental agreements can be obtained through the websites
of major rental companies such as Hertz and Avis, if you rented the car within
the last six months.
Excerpted from TheStar.com.
