driving in usa

[frugalman]

with ontario license and rental car, how does the insurance work?
- if you decline all the rental company's insurance coverages
- what do you show the police if you get pulled over
- i have accident/loss/damage coverage from my visa card, is that enough?

[kozm]

Your Visa coverage works just fine (make sure that your card actually has it). I totalled a rental Chevy on I-90 (hit a snow patch), showed the rental agreement and DL to the cop, he filed the report, and Visa took care of everything.

[ratface]

The rental company still covers your liability insurance. The only thing Visa covers is the damage to the rental vehicle itself.

If you are pulled over, the cop doesn't care whether your vehicle is covered... he wants to see your liability insurance. So you will need the information on the rental company's insurance, which should be in the dash for you.

[Pete_Coach]

with ontario license and rental car, how does the insurance work?
- if you decline all the rental company's insurance coverages
- what do you show the police if you get pulled over
- i have accident/loss/damage coverage from my visa card, is that enough?

It works the same way as here in Canada (Ontario). Police want to see your drivers license and your rental agreement.
You need to have insurance, no matter where it comes from (rental company, Visa card, your own insurance etc). After the accident (or theft or whatever) you will deal with the rental company and the applicable insurance companies. Be prepared to be sued if you get into a fender bender with an American (as opposed to a single vehicle accident). Visa will not help you in that situation.

[frugalman]

It works the same way as here in Canada (Ontario). Police want to see your drivers license and your rental agreement.
You need to have insurance, no matter where it comes from (rental company, Visa card, your own insurance etc). After the accident (or theft or whatever) you will deal with the rental company and the applicable insurance companies. Be prepared to be sued if you get into a fender bender with an American (as opposed to a single vehicle accident). Visa will not help you in that situation.

single vehicle, visa covers loss/damage of car, rental company covers liability (but liablility of what? of damages to buildings if a building was damaged?)

third party liability, that's if i hit another vehicle, is that right? so rental company and visa does not cover the third party damages. the sueing part sounds bad. :(

sorry for noob questions

[Atomic Chip]

rental company covers liability (but liablility of what? of damages to buildings if a building was damaged?)

Well yes, but hitting another vehicle or a pedestrian are probably more realistic examples.