new fiat cars

Credit cards pick up fee if you damage rented car

When you try to use your credit card to cover collision damage to a rental car, the rental agent may lie to you about the coverage your card provides. Recently, I received e-mails from two readers reporting on the same scam at two rental companies: Agents told them that although their cards covered damage to the vehicle, they didn't cover the additional "loss of use" fee the car company would collect for the rental revenue lost while a damaged car was out of service. That statement is a flat-out lie.

When you rent a car, you're on the hook for any damage done to that car during your rental, plus loss of use, so you have to find some way to cover your risk. Rental companies, of course, are happy to sell a "collision damage waiver" (CDW) or "loss and damage waiver" -- essentially the same thing -- to absolve you of that risk.