OT rental car question

bmb81664

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
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So i waived the coverage they offered aśsuming my credit card and insurance would suffice. I ended up with a big windshield crack. My credit card is saying they dont cover rental cars. My bad. Anyone know what the cost might be for them to replace it? I dont want to claim on my insurance unless it is.outrageous. my deductible is $250. Any other advice? Fixing on my own not really allowed. Thx
 

TheBeav815

All-American
Feb 19, 2007
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Will likely exceed 250. You're saying you're not allowed to just pay it out of pocket?

The trade-off with insurance is obviously that if you make a claim, they'll raise your rate so if it's a $500 repair I'd just pay it rather than take the hit on your premium. With a $250 deductible you're probably paying a pretty high premium as it is...that's really low.
 

Husker.Wed._rivals

All-Conference
Feb 13, 2004
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I had Safelite come to the house and replace a Volvo windshield that has a rain sensor. I was sure I would have sticker shock, but it was like $140, go figure. I had a Dodge Caravan windshield replaced by them last year and it was $180. If I were in that situation I would have it replaced before I turned the car in and not tell them. The rental car co might very well charge you $500.
 

TheBeav815

All-American
Feb 19, 2007
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I had Safelite come to the house and replace a Volvo windshield that has a rain sensor. I was sure I would have sticker shock, but it was like $140, go figure. I had a Dodge Caravan windshield replaced by them last year and it was $180. If I were in that situation I would have it replaced before I turned the car in and not tell them. The rental car co might very well charge you $500.
Was that all? Maybe I'm misremembering what it cost to put a new windshield on the old Accord. You get that feel like the rental agency will hit you up for an arm and a leg though. If a couple hundred bucks isn't the end of the world, I'd advise just doing what it takes to get it done with. I'm sure rental companies are experiences in wearing down and fleecing renters over minor damage.
 

bmb81664

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
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Will likely exceed 250. You're saying you're not allowed to just pay it out of pocket?

The trade-off with insurance is obviously that if you make a claim, they'll raise your rate so if it's a $500 repair I'd just pay it rather than take the hit on your premium. With a $250 deductible you're probably paying a pretty high premium as it is...that's really low.

My insurance with liberty mutual is very reasonable. $422 a year for a 2016 mazda cx5. Would be less with a higher deductible. They have a sticker on the windshield to identify the car so replacing the window myself would lose the sticker most likely. They can also charge you for the vehicle being out of service for as long as it takes to fix it. I am hoping about $500 max and i will just pay it. The first time i rent a car and something goes wrong. Had i wrecked it i would just let insurance handle it. This depends on what theywant to charge me.
 

bmb81664

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
2,189
724
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I had Safelite come to the house and replace a Volvo windshield that has a rain sensor. I was sure I would have sticker shock, but it was like $140, go figure. I had a Dodge Caravan windshield replaced by them last year and it was $180. If I were in that situation I would have it replaced before I turned the car in and not tell them. The rental car co might very well charge you $500.

The agreement says i cant fix it plus there is a sticker on the windshield to identify the car which cant be removed.
 

TheBeav815

All-American
Feb 19, 2007
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That's a one-day repair so don't let them BS you about how long the vehicle is out of service. Have they said anything about what the alleged cost is?

You can try to play lawsuit chicken with them if you really want to, tell them you'll give them X for the repair and one day out of service and they can take the extra work and cost to sue if they think they're getting more. But the catch is that if you don't win, you get to pay the cost plus your lawyer fees and theirs.
 

Huskerlife39

All-American
Sep 12, 2006
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We had the same thing happen at enterprise last year. They charged us like $280 and we paid it out of pocket. They should be able to tell you how much when you return it. It happens all the time and you don't have to turn it into your insurance.
 
Dec 1, 2002
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My company has an agreement with avis so we dont have to pay for the insurance. That being said, i got a bill for a chip in the windshield from Puerto Rico. $800.

I turned it over to our travel company, never heard boo again. It can be very pricey. Good luck.
 

hddude55

All-Conference
Jan 14, 2002
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So i waived the coverage they offered aśsuming my credit card and insurance would suffice. I ended up with a big windshield crack. My credit card is saying they dont cover rental cars. My bad. Anyone know what the cost might be for them to replace it? I dont want to claim on my insurance unless it is.outrageous. my deductible is $250. Any other advice? Fixing on my own not really allowed. Thx
Double check that your policy doesn't cover glass in full. Lots of policies do.
 

Husker.Wed._rivals

All-Conference
Feb 13, 2004
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Was that all? Maybe I'm misremembering what it cost to put a new windshield on the old Accord. You get that feel like the rental agency will hit you up for an arm and a leg though. If a couple hundred bucks isn't the end of the world, I'd advise just doing what it takes to get it done with. I'm sure rental companies are experiences in wearing down and fleecing renters over minor damage.
I did a free quote on Safelite just now. The Caravan was $180 installed with tax and the Volvo SUV was $229 for the rain sensor windshield. I guess the price went up in the few years since I had it done. Still - I got a Fast Pass ticket in Maryland for $6.00 because I unknowingly used an off ramp that required Fast Pass. I can't remember what company, but they charged $60 to my card without even notifying me, so I don't trust them a hoot. I got it reversed when I called and they refunded all but $12 ($6 for the ticket and $6 for "processing")
 

marteau

Freshman
Oct 29, 2009
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i just rented a car in France and i called AMEX ahead of time --they assured me that if i charged th rental to them they would cover any damages. My car insurance (state farm) doesnt cover rental damages outside the States, but they would cover in the US. windshield would be covered under comprehensive-which has a separate deductible.
 

siebo454

Sophomore
Dec 20, 2005
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Worked for a glass company in college and it shouldn't be more than $200. Wouldn't even tell your insurance.
 

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
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Had an avis car, and had my old portable basketball hoop go through my windshield. It was 180 bucks through Avis, and just paid it. Actually not too bad.
 

nebcountry

Senior
Oct 29, 2013
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My insurance with liberty mutual is very reasonable. $422 a year for a 2016 mazda cx5. Would be less with a higher deductible. They have a sticker on the windshield to identify the car so replacing the window myself would lose the sticker most likely. They can also charge you for the vehicle being out of service for as long as it takes to fix it. I am hoping about $500 max and i will just pay it. The first time i rent a car and something goes wrong. Had i wrecked it i would just let insurance handle it. This depends on what theywant to charge me.

I replaced a windshield on one of my personal vehicles last year, cost was under $200. Called windshield company, they came out and replaced it the same day in my driveway.

I am chock-full of bad advice, so I didn't respond earlier. So, how did the situation turn out?
 

bmb81664

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
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We returned the car and the kid who checks out the returns didn't notice the big cracks. However, being the honest person I try to be I pointed it out to him. They then filled out a damage claim. No one could give me an estimate as to the cost. They said they would call me. That was Friday. I have not heard anything yet. I talked to my insurance and I have $0 deductible on glass but since the car was being fixed by the rental agency it would fall under my $250 deductible. So I am waiting to see what the final cost is before filing a claim. I still think I would waive the rental insurance in the future. It is like buying extended warranty's. 90% of the time you don't use it.
 

HUSKERFAN66

All-Conference
Dec 8, 2004
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We returned the car and the kid who checks out the returns didn't notice the big cracks. However, being the honest person I try to be I pointed it out to him. They then filled out a damage claim. No one could give me an estimate as to the cost. They said they would call me. That was Friday. I have not heard anything yet. I talked to my insurance and I have $0 deductible on glass but since the car was being fixed by the rental agency it would fall under my $250 deductible. So I am waiting to see what the final cost is before filing a claim. I still think I would waive the rental insurance in the future. It is like buying extended warranty's. 90% of the time you don't use it.
Here's the advice my agent told me. "Do what you want, but be advised that if something happens the rental car company will max out your credit card you booked the car with". I've done it with and without and fortunately have never had a problem. Would recommend that if you don't have 2 credit cards, take the insurance. If you do have 2 or more then pass if your car insurance is good but put it on your least used card and make sure your other cards are paid and plenty of available credit in case you have an accident. They will also charge you for"loss of use".