Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
car-rental company, which means they can place a hold on your
card for the full deductible amount. In case of damage, it can
be time-consuming to resolve the charges with your credit-card
company. Before you decide on this option, quiz your credit-
card company about how it works and ask them to explain the
worst-case scenario.
Buying CDW insurance (plus “super CDW”) is the easier but
pricier option. Using the coverage that comes with your credit card
saves money, but can involve more hassle.
Finally, you can buy CDW insurance from Travel Guard ($9/
day plus a one-time $3 service fee covers you up to $35,000, $250
deductible, tel. 800-826-4919, www.travelguard.com). It's valid
nearly everywhere in Europe, except the Republic of Ireland and
Italy. Oddly, residents of Washington State aren't allowed to buy
this coverage.
For more fine print about car-rental insurance, see www.rick
steves.com/cdw.
Leasing
For trips of two and a half weeks or more, leasing (which auto-
matically includes CDW-type insurance with no deductible) is the
