Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 4 . GETTING TO KNOW LAS VEGAS
• What is the cost of adding an additional driver’s name to the contract?
• How many free miles are included in the price? Free mileage is often negotiable,
depending on the length of your rental.
• How much does the rental company charge to refill your gas tank if you
return with the tank less than full? Though most rental companies claim
these prices are “competitive,” fuel is almost always cheaper in town. Try to
allow enough time to refuel the car yourself before returning it.
Some companies offer “refueling packages,” in which you pay for an entire
tank of gas up front. The price is usually fairly competitive with local gas prices,
but you don’t get credit for any gas remaining in the tank. If a stop at a gas station
on the way to the airport will make you miss your plane, then by all means
take advantage of the fuel purchase option. Otherwise, skip it.
Many packages are available that include airfare, accommodations, and a
rental car with unlimited mileage. Compare these prices with the cost of booking
airline tickets and renting a car separately to see if these offers are good deals.
See “Money-Saving Package Deals,” in chapter 2, for details on packages and
where to find them.
Internet resources can make comparison-shopping easier. See “Planning Your
Trip Online,” in chapter 2, for tips on the best sites.
Demystifying Renter’s Insurance
Before you drive off in a rental car, be sure you’re insured. Hasty assumptions
about your personal auto insurance or a rental agency’s additional coverage
could end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars—even if you are involved
in an accident that was clearly the fault of another driver.
If you already hold a private auto insurance policy, you are most likely covered
in the United States for loss of or damage to a rental car and liability in case
of injury to any other party involved in an accident. Be sure to find out whether
you are covered in the area you are visiting, whether your policy extends to all
persons who will be driving the rental car, how much liability is covered in case
an outside party is injured in an accident, and whether the type of vehicle you
are renting is included under your contract. (Rental trucks, sport utility vehicles,
and luxury vehicles such as the Jaguar may not be covered.) There is also another
area—“loss,” as in “loss of income,” as in the loss of the income that rental car
would have made for the rental-car company. Many insurers don’t cover this.
Most major credit cards provide some degree of coverage as well—provided
they were used to pay for the rental. Terms vary widely, however, so be sure to
call your credit-card company directly before you rent.
If you are uninsured, your credit card may provide primary coverage as long
as you decline the rental agency’s insurance. This means that the credit card will
cover damage or theft of a rental car for the full cost of the vehicle. If you already
have insurance, your credit card may provide secondary coverage—which basically
covers your deductible. Credit cards will not cover liability, or the cost of
injury to an outside party and/or damage to an outside party’s vehicle. If you do
not hold an insurance policy, you may seriously want to consider purchasing
additional liability insurance from your rental company. Be sure to check the
terms, however: Some rental agencies cover liability only if the renter is not at
fault; even then, the rental company’s obligation varies from state to state. Bear
in mind that each credit-card company has its own peculiarities; call your own
credit-card company for details before relying on a card for coverage.