rental car damage and credit card insurance

In cooperation with: Visit Mexico
Truckee, California
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86 posts
12 reviews
9 helpful votes
rental car damage and credit card insurance
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Hello, just thought I would pass this first hand experience around. Last May we were in cabo/east cape area for 3 wks,. Did not use Dominic because of the long rental time, it cost too much. I do recommend Dominic though. from past experience. This time we rented from Alamo through Antonio. (email on this site). We bought the liability but not collision. We used our Visa Platinim card. We printed out the visa rental car policy and brought it with us. Apparently we must of hit something (long questionable story) but suddenly after going to the beach on the coastal road there was Oil covering the grill. Brought the car back, got a new one as they "investigated the damage". Antonio remained professional and polite throughout the ordeal. We returned the car 3 wks later and was told since we damaged it , their insurance. would not cover it , we were responsible. We paid with the creditcard for the damage , got home filed a report following instructions, and meeting deadlines, had check for reimbursement within 2 wks. HASSEL FREE!!!!! I have always been very nervous relying on the credit card insurance, even though according to them I am covered. I would still be nervous regarding medical injuries or big damage to another vehicle. Mostly because you have to pay upfront. But ....... I have to say the experience was almost painless. I will use it again.

Olympia, WA
Level Contributor
10,477 posts
7 reviews
9 helpful votes
1. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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Really good to know. Sorry that something happened so that you could share the information, though.

PRINCETON
Destination Expert
for Cabo San Lucas
Level Contributor
10,253 posts
4 reviews
12 helpful votes
2. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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very good info...thanks for letting us know

Truckee, California
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86 posts
12 reviews
9 helpful votes
3. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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I searched every travel forunm/website in the past looking for some insight to the insurance problem. I hope I was helpful. I would always call your individual credit card company to see if you are covered. My credit union creditcard does not cover.But..... it also just charges the 1% fee that visa adds on for out of country charges, nothing additional like all the biggies do.

Mitchell, South...
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524 posts
66 reviews
11 helpful votes
4. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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I also am happy to hear that the process went very well. I use the Credit Card insurance just about every year -

Mercer Island, WA
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4 posts
126 reviews
74 helpful votes
5. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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Hello - We just returned from Cabo, and rented a car from Dollar @ the Cabo airport. On the dirt road going to Cabo Pulmo, we hit a bump in the road that caused severe damage to the car's transmission. Dollar sent out another replacement car. Three days later when we returned the second car to the airport location, Dollar charged me for the car's damage......around $7,000.00 USD!!!!!!! I could hardly believe it, as I purchased Dollar's FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE. Dollar said that I damaged the car on a DIRT ROAD, and that the insurance did NOT cover damages from driving on dirt roads in Cabo.

WOW! What a shock to me. They charged my credit card (American Express) for a brand new transmission PLUS another $300.00 for towing the vehicle back to the airport.

My question is: Has this happened to anyone else? If so, I would appreciate any help as I work through this very unpleasant experience.

Please be careful when driving in the Cabo San Lucas area. Even going to a local restaurant you must travel on a dirt road!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts, past experiences, or help. Most Sincerely, Jim

Davie, Florida
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11,187 posts
2 reviews
5 helpful votes
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yes, insurance even in the states does not cover on dirt roads. CC insurance is fine if the damage amount will fit on your credit card, then you can claim when you get home. large amounts of damage that you cannot fit on your credit card may end you up in a mexican jail.

Mercer Island, WA
Level Contributor
4 posts
126 reviews
74 helpful votes
7. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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Thanks for the reply! Of course, I am still in shock, and truly feel that Dollar Rent A Car in @ the Cabo airport did not explain their driving on dirt roads = NO COVERAGE policy. Thankfully, AMEX CC accepted the $7,000.00 USD credit card charge....or you are right, I would have ended up in the Mexican jail with my family still waiting for me outside the Cabo airport!

Question: Has this happened to you personally? Did the CC pick up the cost of damage?

Jim

PRINCETON
Destination Expert
for Cabo San Lucas
Level Contributor
10,253 posts
4 reviews
12 helpful votes
8. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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there are dirt roads and there are dirt roads......Cabo Pulmo is beyond a dirt road. Those rocks are the pointiest rocks I have ever seen. When we went..I drove about 5mph so I wouldn't blow a tire or worse. Even when I drive out to Cerritos Beach I drive really slow for the same reason. Sorry you found out about the damage issue the hard way. Hope others read this and learn from it.

Etzatlan, Mexico
Destination Expert
for Rincon de Guayabitos
Level Contributor
5,790 posts
20 reviews
24 helpful votes
9. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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I know nobody reads the fine print on the back of the rental contract but right around paragraph 19 is the dirt road sentence, thats where they get you,

Davie, Florida
Level Contributor
11,187 posts
2 reviews
5 helpful votes
10. Re: rental car damage and credit card insurance
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we got T-boned by a local running a stop sign. we didnt have the local collision but she paid the 10 grand damage in cash to the rental agency. cant get luckier than that. we always but collision now. we figure our luck is used up.

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