Car rental insurance is such a confusing thing. We have State Farm (and, luckily, an agent who also travels to the USVI). When renting in the USVI (which is a US territory) we are covered for liability as we are when at home. What is then needed is additional insurance to cover the rental vehicle - I think they call it "gap" insurance which has some additional minor coverages but also reimburses the rental car company for the time the car is out of service due to repairs for an accident we cause. We get this as a feature of our MasterCard so we use that card for the rental. The car rental companies do not offer this - they offer liability insurance which you do not need if your personal auto policy will cover you in US territories. It is very confusing and sometimes the agents will tell you that you are not covered in the USVI as they think "Caribbean = foreign" and don't understand about US territories. My friend ran into this with her State Farm agent and another with an Allstate agent. When both policies were reviewed, coverage was indeed provided for US territories. Between our regular auto policy and the gap insurance, everything is covered.

Have a great time on STT!

I have state farm in Calif. and was told I was not covered???Can you give further info.please Thanks

Not too much else I can offer except to suggest that you look at your State Farm policy. It says something like "coverage in US territories and 50 miles into Mexico" or something like that. If you can't put your hands on it, see if the boilerplate might be online at State Farm's site or ask your agent to fax or e-mail you the pertinent text that states areas of coverage that will confirm you are NOT covered in US territories 9as the agent has told you). The agent may tell you that the virgin islands are NOT US territories- which is half correct - there are the BRITISH Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands - I don't think you would not be covered in the BVI. Or, you can ask to speak to a a State Farm underwriter to confirm - with State Farm, keep asking. I would bet a Painkiller that you are covered for liability.

Good luck!

When we lived in the states and visited the USVI we had State Farm and our agent said we were covered. Not in Mexico however.

Linda - Our agent told us that in Mexico it's limited by miles as coverage for folks who do quick trips right over the borders and back. That conversation was some time ago so maybe they have since dropped that part of the coverage.

Thanks again, I have been with State Farm 33 years, I talked to office staff (they might have been unsure)and will now go further. Just this information from you has made my day because rental insurance is such a scam Thanks again, Dennis Windsor,California

oops -meant to say that "I don't think you would be covered in the BVI" - sorry! Good luck and don't forget about looking into the additional coverage offered through your cc comapny if you use the card for the rental (the gap insurance). I think one of the additional coverages they offer is to reimburse you for the deductible on your primary insurance if you DO have an accident.

I am talking rental in U.S Virgin Islands St.Thomas Thanks Dennis Windsor,California

Oh no - looks like in trying to correct the part of my post about the USIV/BVI coverage I just succeeded in making it more confusing.

YES, State Farm covers us in the USVI (St. Thonas, St. John, St. Croix) because the USVI are territories of the United States.

Suggest that if your Agent is unsure or iffy - go right to a State Farm Underwriter.

I will check it out,it makes you realize how much strangers can save you money with advice. Your help is truly appreciated. Thanks Dennis Windsor,Calif

I use the Premium Car Rental Protection from American Express. For either $19.95 or $24.95 it offers primary insurance for damage, theft, death or dismemberment, medical expenses and personal property. I have to admit I'm pretty much at a loss understanding insurance talk, but I was told that this was a good, inexpensive insurance before dipping into my own car insurance (which also covers me in St. Thomas) in case of an accident. Just throwing it out there.

https://www152.americanexpress.com/fsea/travel/car_rental/coverage.do

Gerie - it's definitely confusing. Last May, one of the drivers on our trip looked into the Amex policy but was told by her primary insurance agent that it, along with the other cc policies (whether free or at add'l cost) are still secondary insurance and that you need primary liability. However, as we have seen, the agents are not always clear themselves on this stuff. To further confuse the matter, if traveling with a group and having more than one driver (non-related), how do you figure out whose policy applies? Is it the primary renter? And, does any additional secondary coverage apply to all drivers or just to the card holder?

Margy,

According to the website this policy goes into effect when a car is rented using your American Express Card. It provides Primary insurance for theft and damage to the rental car and excess coverage for medical expenses, damage or theft of personal property, and accidental death & dismemberment benefits. It covers all authorized drivers and all passengers.

My Liberty Mutual car insurance covers me in a rental car the same as it does in my own car. So I feel, between the two, I'm pretty well covered. I just never want to find out if my insurance coverage was adequate or not, if you know what I mean.

Gerie

I use my State Farm as my primary policy (bring the the actual policy, not just a bill) and Chase Platinum Visa as my secondary coverage. Since I don't buy the (expensive) insurance from the rental car company I expect that I might have to write a check to make things right and get reiumbursed by my insurance company if a problem occureed.

Something to note, on St. John Conrad Sutton includes a $500 deductible insurance policy with his vehicles. This was a great feature on one trip with a new driver who did not realize that his Jeep made his butt larger than normal.

Cheers, RickG

I have rented a car through Hotwire. I am being offered car insurance through Carribeancars.com for $9.00 a day. Does any one know anything about this coverage?

Make sure you get SLI Supplemental Liability Insurance this will cover other vehicle or property if something happens.Budget does not even offer this. They say you are on your own and responsible for damage. Avis has it for $10.95 a day. It is worth for peace of mind.