{"id":534365,"date":"2025-08-25T11:40:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T01:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/?p=534365"},"modified":"2025-08-25T14:43:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T04:43:54","slug":"car-insurance-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/travel\/car-insurance-scams","title":{"rendered":"This Travel Scam Empties Wallets Before Holidays Even Begin, Every Single Time"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>We landed, grabbed the bags, and rolled over to the Wiber counter. The Opel they had waiting for us looked like it had been flogged up and down the island a dozen times before. But the real sting wasn\u2019t the condition of the car. It was the insurance.<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cYour Booking.com policy is useless,\u201d the staff member said. Straight-faced. Our options? Roll the dice with a thousand euro excess or fork out another $150 for four days of so-called peace of mind. We already had cover. We paid anyway.<\/p><p>That\u2019s the rental game in a nutshell. You walk in thinking you\u2019re paying for a car. What you\u2019re really paying for is the privilege of being pressured into insurance you almost certainly don\u2019t need.<\/p><p>It isn\u2019t just Spain. In the UK, Europcar tried the same trick. They wanted $1,500 for eight days of insurance. Yes, you read that right. More than double the cost of the actual rental. The sales pitch was polished. The words were calm but the intent was sharp. Refuse and you\u2019re irresponsible. Refuse and you\u2019re asking for trouble.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-2141248498\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_909541253 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_909541253 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[300,250],[320,100],[320,180],[336,280],[640,360]],\"incontent-2141248498\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_909541253.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-2141248498\");});};adsQueue.push(load_909541253);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wiber-1400x933.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-534368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wiber-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wiber-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wiber-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wiber-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wiber-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><\/figure><p>Most travellers don\u2019t realise they\u2019re already covered. Pay with the right credit card and you might have excess cover built in. Many travel insurance policies offer it too. <\/p><p>In Australia, plenty of comprehensive car insurance plans extend to rentals. But at the counter you\u2019re told that doesn\u2019t count. And when you\u2019re standing in line with kids, luggage and a flight hangover, it\u2019s easier to cave than argue.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-474032300\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1936129718 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1936129718 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-474032300\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1936129718.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-474032300\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1936129718);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>The alternative is to buy third-party cover ahead of time. Booking.com will happily sell you insurance at checkout, usually for a fraction of what the rental desk wants. But here\u2019s the catch: it\u2019s reimbursement-based. You pay the rental company first, then claim it back. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"784\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/booking-car-insurance.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-534367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/booking-car-insurance.jpg 784w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/booking-car-insurance-640x379.jpg 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/booking-car-insurance-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/booking-car-insurance-255x151.jpg 255w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/booking-car-insurance-480x284.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (min-width: 769px) 800px, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Looks good to me, but is it? Image: Booking.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>On paper it\u2019s fine. In practice it\u2019s slow, bureaucratic, and often painful. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/travel\/comments\/1eotdgx\/car_rental_insurance_bookingcom\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reviews are full of horror stories<\/a> \u2014 months of waiting, endless emails, and insurers looking for loopholes.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-2142245336\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_658181723 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_658181723 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-2142245336\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_658181723.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-2142245336\");});};adsQueue.push(load_658181723);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>Rental companies hate it because it cuts them out of their most lucrative revenue stream. They don\u2019t make their margin on the daily rate. They make it on the extras. Insurance is the goldmine. A $20-a-day waiver costs them virtually nothing but can double the booking value.<\/p><p>So they push back. They tell you your policy won\u2019t work. They warn you about massive pre-authorisations. They hint at hidden exclusions. It\u2019s all part of the theatre. Scare the customer, sow doubt, and make them pay again.<\/p>    <div class=\"content-subscribe\">\n        <div class=\"subscribe-box\">\n            <p class=\"subscribe-title\">Curated news for men, <br\/>delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n            <form class=\"subscribe-form\" method=\"POST\">\n                <div class=\"subscribe-input\">\n                    <label class=\"screen-reader-text\" for=\"subscribe-email\">Email:<\/label>\n                    <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" id=\"subscribe-email\" placeholder=\"Enter your email\" required class=\"form-control\" autocomplete=\"on\" \/>\n                    <button type=\"submit\" class=\"button button-primary subscribe-button\">Sign Up<\/button>\n                    <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"source\" value=\"article\" \/>\n                    <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"_wpnonce\" name=\"_wpnonce\" value=\"e2df992756\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534365\" \/>                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"form-result\"><\/div>\n            <\/form>\n            <p class=\"subscribe-copy\">Join the DMARGE newsletter \u2014 Be the first to receive the latest news and exclusive stories on style, travel, luxury, cars, and watches. Straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <p>If you already have cover, you don\u2019t need theirs. The only real difference is convenience. If you buy the desk insurance and scratch the car, you toss the keys back and walk away. No forms. No claims. With third-party cover, you pay first, then chase reimbursement. It\u2019s hassle, not risk.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-2041580339\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_392875455 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_392875455 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-2041580339\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_392875455.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-2041580339\");});};adsQueue.push(load_392875455);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>That\u2019s why people fold. In Majorca, we folded. We insured a \u20ac25-a-day Opel for more than it was worth. In the UK, we nearly folded to Europcar\u2019s $1,500 guilt-trip special. That\u2019s how they win. They lean on psychology.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/luton-europecar.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-534370\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/luton-europecar.jpg 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/luton-europecar-255x175.jpg 255w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/luton-europecar-480x329.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (min-width: 481px) 500px, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Don\u2019t get me started on Europcar in Luton.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The reviews say it all. Happy customers are the ones who bought the in-house cover. Furious customers are the ones who didn\u2019t. One-star complaints of deposits held for weeks. Scratches billed that were already there. Claims dismissed as \u201cwear and tear.\u201d Refunds dragged out long after the trip ended. It\u2019s not a handful of bad actors. It\u2019s the playbook.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1834185240\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1547421174 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1547421174 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1834185240\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1547421174.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1834185240\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1547421174);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>So what do you do? You don\u2019t have to accept being rinsed. There are rules that make the process less painful, even if the system is designed to catch you out.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-s-and-don-ts-of-rental-car-insurance\"><strong>Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Rental Car Insurance<\/strong><\/h2><p><strong>Do know your cover before you travel.<\/strong> Check your credit card perks. Check your travel insurance. Check your home car insurance if you\u2019re Australian. Print it out and bring it with you.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-66697011\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_561347206 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_561347206 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-66697011\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_561347206.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-66697011\");});};adsQueue.push(load_561347206);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p><strong>Do photograph\/video everything.<\/strong> Every dent, scratch, and curb rash. Tyres, windscreens, bumpers. Leave nothing undocumented. If you get billed later, you\u2019ll be glad you did.<\/p><p><strong>Do budget for the excess hold.<\/strong> If you say no to their cover, your card will often be pre-authorised for \u20ac1,000\u2013\u20ac2,500. Make sure you can handle it.<\/p><p><strong>Do stand firm.<\/strong> Staff will try to intimidate you. Be polite but confident. If you know your cover, don\u2019t let them shake you.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-803539977\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1203223439 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1203223439 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-803539977\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1203223439.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-803539977\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1203223439);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p><strong>Don\u2019t assume third-party cover means zero stress.<\/strong> If you damage the car, you\u2019ll still be out of pocket until your claim clears. Decide if you want that fight.<\/p><p><strong>Don\u2019t rush the paperwork.<\/strong> Take your time during pick-up and drop-off. Document mileage, fuel levels, and the condition report. It feels pedantic. It saves you money.<\/p><p><strong>Don\u2019t fall for the guilt trip.<\/strong> The counter rep doesn\u2019t care about your safety. They care about their commission. Treat it like sales, not advice.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-841430\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_341287521 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_341287521 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-841430\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_341287521.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-841430\");});};adsQueue.push(load_341287521);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p><strong>Don\u2019t wait until the last second.<\/strong> If you plan to use third-party cover, book it before you fly. It\u2019s cheaper, cleaner, and you won\u2019t have to argue in broken English at the desk.<\/p><p>The lesson here isn\u2019t that all insurance is useless. There are times when extra cover makes sense. Driving in countries with chaotic roads, corrupt cops, or murky legal systems is one. If you\u2019re in Albania or Argentina, it\u2019s probably smart to pay up. But on a summer holiday in Spain or a business trip in London? You\u2019re usually just buying convenience.<\/p><p>Car rental insurance isn\u2019t always a scam. But the way it\u2019s sold? That\u2019s the scam. It preys on tired travellers, pressures them into unnecessary add-ons, and makes them feel reckless for saying no.<\/p><p>My advice is simple. Shop around. Arrive armed with the facts. And don\u2019t let a clerk guilt you into paying more to insure a car that probably isn\u2019t even worth the premium.<\/p><p>Because the truth is, the only ride that really matters is the one you take once you\u2019ve walked away from the desk.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On a recent trip to Majorca it got me thinking. Is car rental insurance just a big scam?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":534366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[237],"tags":[],"coauthors":[146525],"class_list":{"0":"post-534365","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=534365"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":534380,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534365\/revisions\/534380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/534366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=534365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=534365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=534365"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=534365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}