Damage Collision Fee Waiver for USA - Car rental

[nicky286]

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Hi
Im renting a car in USA from 19 Dec - 1 Jan 16
I will be getting from enterprise car rental. I have Westpac Black Altitute. I asked them they cover 5500 Rental vehicle excess. I not sure that Collision Damage Waiver and excess is the same thing
I do not understand/sure whether I need to take Damage collision fee waiver or not?

Can you someone please assist?
Thank you in advance

 

[opusman]

LDW (loss) and CDW (collision) both reduce your liability in the event of loss or damage to the car from basically the full price of the car, to some set amount (e.g. $5000).

Excess reduction is what then reduces your liability further to say $300.

In Australia LDW/CDW are mandatory but in the US you may have to pay extra for it. The $5500 coverage your credit card provides is to cover the excess, but you still need LDW/CDW which the card does not offer.

 

[nicky286]

LDW (loss) and CDW (collision) both reduce your liability in the event of loss or damage to the car from basically the full price of the car, to some set amount (e.g. $5000).

Excess reduction is what then reduces your liability further to say $300.

In Australia LDW/CDW are mandatory but in the US you may have to pay extra for it. The $5500 coverage your credit card provides is to cover the excess, but you still need LDW/CDW which the card does not offer.

So I need to take CDW with them?

 

[dfcatch]

Yes you do - you should take "full insurance" on your USA rentals.

Australian CC excess coverage will not apply at all as the entire US rental insurance system is different.

If you had a US CC with Primary Rental coverage - that would be different.

 

[UP4014]

Yes you should, also check you travel insurance policy as can cover excess.



Matt

 

[nicky286]

Yes you should, also check you travel insurance policy as can cover excess.



Matt

Excess confirmed covered $5500

 

[dfcatch]

Excess confirmed covered $5500

You need to understand that in the USA - they do not have "excess" in the sense that we do in Australia.

Therefore - almost all policies that cover "excess" will not help you.

 

[N860CR]

If you book a US rental car via the australia website of hertz etc, you'll usually get an all inclusive rate which we as Australians need in 99% of cases. It's more often than not a "dump it and waive goodbye" situation which is always a nice feeling with a rental car

 

[Dr Ralph]

I get the walk away option when in the US. Have had a couple of minor scrapes and when i took the car back they couldn't have cared. Not even a form to fill in.

 

[Dr Ralph]

If you book a US rental car via the australia website of hertz etc, you'll usually get an all inclusive rate which we as Australians need in 99% of cases. It's more often than not a "dump it and waive goodbye" situation which is always a nice feeling with a rental car

This is the way to go. Much cheaper to rent this way than anything in Australia.