Saying “No” to Rental Car Insurance

Whenever you rent a car, you typically have the choice between getting additional vehicle collision coverage and declining it. 

Decisions, decisions

Sometimes car rental agency employees may be induced by their employers to push the loss damage waivers and collision damage waivers which are standard optional coverages offered to individuals renting a vehicle.

Commission

Whether you purchased your auto insurance in California or any other state, in most cases, people are covered for such contingencies by their own insurance policies, if they have collision coverage, or by certain major credit cards.

Did you know?

However, declining the extra insurance coverage doesn’t always mean you won’t be charged the additional fee that comes along with it.

The Scandal

As far back as 1989, the California Attorney General’s office slapped Dollar Rent A Car with a permanent injunction for overcharging consumers and misrepresenting insurance provisions.

At that time, the company was charged with paying employees high commissions if they aggressively sold the add-on insurance coverages or used contracts with print so small that they couldn’t be read.

Case After Case

To date, Dollar has received over 17,000 direct, documented complaints from past customers who rented vehicles and were victims of the over-charges in Colorado and Florida.

Dollar allegedly:Deceived customers into buying insurance coverage and various other services they didn’t agree to.

How?By signing them up for the optional collision damage waiver and services they declined

Then,Charged them without their consent. In response, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, now owned by Hertz Global Holdings, has denied all charges, including engaging in deception.

Hertz Global Holdings claim that they weren’t responsible for the improprieties that occurred prior to their acquisition of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group in November 2012, complaints of the same deceptive tactics, continued late into 2014.

Reports of forged and transposed customer signatures from screen pads onto agreements, indicating the purchase of declined insurance coverages and services, also surfaced during that time.

The Lessons to be Learned

Double check everything you sign when renting a car.

Go over the paperwork before you leave the building and drive away. If something doesn’t look right to you, question the rental car employee and don’t leave until you’re satisfied. It’s in your best interest.

Double checking can also apply when you’re shopping for the cheapest car insurance in California. Obtain plenty of quotes to be sure you’re getting the best rate on your car insurance. Why not get a free car insurance quote today?

Apply Your Learnings

Share Your Story

Have you ever rented a car from Dollar Rent A Car…and, believe you were scammed into paying for extra insurance coverage you didn’t want?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.