I know I'm kicking a really dead horse, but I need help!!!

[cypressgirl]

Back to the car rental question......How do you fellow forum friends handle insurance to cover the deductable. I called Am. Express and they told me that for 20. I would be covered for collision but not liability. I have my car currently booked through Conrad Sutton. His web site says his deductable is 1500. (ouch) I'm worried that if I get a newer car he's going to sock it to me for every little scratch. Caribbean Villa will rent me the same car for 30. more for the week and charge me 10. per day to get the deductable down to 500. I'm still not sure how the coverage covers the other guys car if the accident is my fault.

Anyway, am I making this more confusing than is has to be?? I'm still waiting to hear from my ins. co., but I have a feeling they aren't going to be much help.

Also, I'm traveling with 3 girlfriends and we will all be driving, but primarily me since they are all newbies.

Thanks for any advice.

[California Girl]

My insurance company said to just copy the declarations page from my car ins. policy and take that to the rental company. But of course I forgot to do that, so I took the $10.00 a day (I think it was $10!) insurance that Courtesy offered. I figured an extra $70 was worth it to get off the island without any hassle if something happened.

[Ksea]

Good question. I just called my agent (Allstate) he said to bring my auto ins ID card and the first couple of pages of my policy declaration. He said if I wreck the rental car, I will pay my normal deductible and then they will cover the rest. He also said I may be offered extra insurance to cover the deductible from the rental agent. As long as you are renting in a US territory, you are covered. Hope that helps!

[SarahD]

I know my Visa covers some, but for our last trip I called our auto insurer and she said I was covered and did not need any extra insurance from the rental agency. In fact she faxed me a document to take with me if it was needed.

Definitely check with your own insurance company first!

sarah

[PA Girl]

Be care when relying on Amex coverage.

Recently (Jan or Feb 07), Conde Nast Traveller had a rather in-depth Omsbudman about Amex refusing to pay for $15,000 damage that occurred to a cardholder's rental car.

This person had an accident on an unpaved road. The rental was paid for with an Amex card.

The cardholder argued and was supported by the rental car company and local authorities that unpaved roads were common in the area (somewhere in Western US) in which the accident occurred.

Amex would not pay the claim, saying the card member agreement clearly states (in tiny print I am sure) that it doesn’t not cover accidents that occur on unpaved roads.

Reading this made us think twice about declining the waiver. Thankfully, our regular insurance covers us (our agent provided me with the proper documentation for St. John Car Rental)

[waterguy]

Most ins. companys will cover the cost to fix the car b ut they won't cover the lost earning the rental car company will charge you when there car is in the shop and in STJ that can run into alot. with the cost of rentals and Island time to get it repaired.

[cypressgirl]

My husband did hear back from our ins. co. and they told him that it is covered as a third party something or other. So in short, we are covered fully, but they warned him that our primiums would be hit really hard for that type of claim. I'm thinking it would be better to rent from a co. that charges the 10. per day for a 500. deductable and just pay it out of pocket if there is an accident. I looks like some rental companies don't bother to fix minor fender benders. I think I'd rather rent a car that is a little beat up. Maybe Conrad is not the best choice for me.

Also, there will be 3 other women driving at times, depending on how liquored up I get, so I guess they all need to figure out what is best for them with their own ins. I have not had experience renting a car on STJ with multiple drivers from different families. Any tips there???????

[designbyroe]

When I lived on island, I had to just have liability......
Twice (same person) made a left coming out of Pollies' and got into the wrong lane and hit my jeep.
I owned my jeep so not that much issue.
My point is on STJ (at least in 2005) they let you drive and drink as long as you wear your seatbelt....
I think the harderst thing for visitors to the island to get it driving on the other side of the road when they have had a bit much to drink.........
So since there are what 4 ladies driving, take turns......
just pace yourself and it is all good..........
I think the only thing harder when inebriated is the switchbacks...........lol

[RickG]

RickG sez go with Conrad. All of the drivers are covered under his insurance as long as they are on the policy.

We once returned a vehicle with a smashed tail light to Conrad. He was pained, did not know much it would cost. I offered to leave a blank imprint of my credit card, but he demurred. He never did charge me.

You can ask for a less knew car. If you sned email it will be Carmen responding. She is a sweetheart.

Relax, don't worry.

Cheers, RickG

[Keksie]

We rented from Conrad Sutton a couple of weeks ago. They went over the car with us and marked everything that had even a little scratch. We had no problems when we turned it back in.

[cypressgirl]

I guess I'll stick with Conrad. I never worried about this issue while traveling with hubby, but I feel more responsibe now, since I'll be doing the driving. On our last trip a tail light was broken while we were parked in town and Alan clipped a gate while backing out of a very difficult villa driveway. (He was not even drinking. ) St John Car Rental charged us 500. for the damage. We thought it would have been more to fix the car and felt like we got off pretty easy. Maybe that is their standard deductible.

A friend referred me to Denzel Clyne and I called them this morning, but there deductible is 2500. Yikes!!!

There are so many beat up cars on STJ I figured the chances of having a fender bender are pretty good.

[Suds]

As an agent I would say be very very careful when renting a vehicle. Credit card does provide some additional protection. The story about an Ins co not wanting to pay bc of driving off road is a standard condition in most rental contracts. The point is "your" ins policy will only pay if the rental ins agreement is not violated. IE not locking (securing) the car. Operating the vehicle under the influence open container not an issue but over the limit IS. I know it is silly but the std rental agreement contains a bunch of other conditions (thou shall not engage in racing, thou shall not drive into water, thou shall not have in thy possession narcotics) which will void the agreement and since your home ins won't pay you are on the hook 100% for all damages. Simply read the rental agreement at least you will know what you are NOT allowed to do with the vehicle, if you choose to do it anyway at least you know. I cannot imagine how hard life is for those poor rental vehicles. 30,000 miles down there is probably the average life expectancy.

Don't break the rental agreement covenant. If you do have an accident or problem call your agent at home first they may be able to provide advises. Obviously you will have to notify the rental company as well.

We had a client who rented a Lincoln Cont in LA, had a fender bender in the LAX parking lot adjacent to rental company's lot. Was late for the flight, ran in tossed them the keys pointed to the car in the next lot and said I'm on business and our corporate travel dept will contact you tomorrow re damages. Bye. Arrived in Phila. Met at the gate by Federal marshals.
Long story short Corp ins wouldn't pay technically he violated the contract in several ways- by "abandoning" as in returning to the precise location not reporting to police his accident and several other clauses relating to an accident or occurrence. The rental company who I won't mention (HERTZ)reported the vehicle as heavily damaged and trumped up costs returned it to their fleet maintenance so it couldn't be inspected. His personal ins wouldn't cover it on the same ground as the corp. travel- he wound up taking a home equity loan to pay for a car he'll never see much less drive again. Watch out when renting they have got you by the short hairs.

Suds

[Barb Y]

I rented with Conrad two years ago. The woman who checked us in was awesome. We went over the whole vehicle together and marked off all the little bumps and bruises. When we went to return the vehicle a different woman was trying to tell us that we had caused some of the paint chipping on the hood. We stood our ground and finally she gave up. Be sure to spend the extra few minutes going over it with them. Have a great time!

[cypressgirl]

Thanks Barb! I think I'm going to ask for a car that is a little less than perfect. Kind of like it's driver.

[Ron in South Texas]

If you drive in Houston every day , St John is a piece of cake. Just stay left! Take photos of the car before you get possession of it with the rental agent...that's what I do. Then you have visual proof.

Houston drivers aren't quite as agressive as Corpus Christi drivers, but they are very close.