When a car rental company invites you to sign for responsibility waivers in exchange for your hard-earned money, they are not actually selling insurance. They are merely absolving you for any loss or damage to the vehicle that may happen in the course of the hire period. However, these waivers are not open-ended. If we are grossly negligent, they may not apply to us. We could be in real financial difficulty then, unless we have another policy that covers us.
What is Negligence? What Does Negligent Mean?
The word ‘negligence’ means omitting to take proper care of something, or someone in our charge. While auto rental agents may try to explain this, we are in such a hurry and they talk so fast we may not take in what they tell.
Negligence includes driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving too fast for the circumstances, talking on the phone, texting, driving while we are sleepy, or any other activity that distracts us from the driving task.
What Happens When a Rental Company Decides You Were Negligent?
A car rental company will not honor a waiver if they decide you were negligent and caused them loss or damage. The small print usually adds this is at their sole discretion. Unless you can prove they misinformed you, you could have an expensive legal battle ahead of you. Things are often worse than you expect.
If you damage your own auto in an accident, you have to find another way to get to work while a panel shop makes repairs. Fortunately, there are taxis, trains and buses available at a price. You may even have a good buddy who fetches and carries you. If only it was so simple with a rental car. Things are often worse than you expect.
The car rental company will charge you full rental loss of use while their car is off the road and under repair. This, and the cost of repairs / total loss could bankrupt you, or at the very least wipe away your life’s savings in a flash. No you know that waivers are not the same as insurance, what’s best to do about this?
What’s Best To Do About This Is Called Bonzah
Bonzah sells car rental damage insurance. Check out our FAQ to satisfy yourself that what we say is true. Then please click on the ‘Download Policy’ link at the top of the FAQ page, and scroll down to Section III Policy Limitations and Exclusions when it opens. There are only two specific exclusions mentioned:
# Suicide, attempted suicide or any intentionally self-inflicted injury of you, a traveling companion, family member or business partner booked to travel with you, while sane or insane;
# Participating in maneuvers or training exercises of an armed service or police force of any country.
Bonzah offers you up to $35,000 rental car damage / theft insurance for $7.99 a day. You pay 0.0228% of what you could potentially get back. Have you seen a better deal anywhere? Get your quote now!
Image: Foolish or Negligent Driving: Liga Eglite BY CC 2.0