I am in the insurance business also. If you want to avoid a hassle and possibly not be covered for some of the charges you could incur, such as loss of use by the rental company, then buy the insurance. You should have some coverage with your existing insurance but you had best check and understand that there COULD be a problem.

Check your credit card you're using to rent the vans with. One of our cards offers the coverage "free of charge" simply by using the card.

I used to not worry - but now I take out their insurance. My ins company (Nationwide) says they do NOT pay for claims from the USVI. Also, my credit card only pays for secondary coverage - coverage above the primary. Thus, the only way to get primary is to buy the Loss Damage Waiver from the rental car company.

So much can happen on island. Roads are potholed and bumpy, some roads are really tight, people park really close in some places. I've never returned a car in the same condition I took it out in. There's always a scratch or something...sometimes much more. The cars are usually pretty dinged when I get them....proof that I am not alone with my problems.

There's nothing that can ruin a vacation more than having an accident and not having coverage! IMO, it's not worth it.

After reading this post, I called my insurance company "Allstate" and they told us we have to get the addn'l insurance with the car rental- bummer! Has anyone else had to do this?

Kelly...we have Allstate also...& we are NOT covered in USVI....and YES we did get fender/bender-ed while in St. Thomas 3yrs. ago. Thank God we took out the extra insurance. We just brought the car back to Budget, with the information from the person who hit us & we were off to our plane no problem!!
Our lady at Allstate reminded me that being in unfamiliar places, different cars than we are used to, she highly suggested it!
I have rented cars after that & I always take out the extra collision. I think it's worth it!

Sounds like you are on the right track. STT is always has construction going on. Last year coming around by Blue Beards I ran over a stopping block and took out the transmission fluid pan. In the U.S. we use the stopping blocks to stop cars at malls on STT they use them to divide lanes, who knew? By the way a Ford Taurus will not clear a concrete stopping block. Sherri our house host came and got us and took us to pick up another car the next day. You must pay for the damage in full before getting another car. I'll be taking out the insurance this year.

Agree with just about everyone here. See my reply to "Introduction & Indecision" re: car insurance. Get it--yes, yes, and yes!

Thanks for prompting some additional research. Here's what I learned. I have USAA auto insurance. They will cover the rental cal just like your own coverage - in my case, I have comprehensive and collision, with a $1000.oo deductible, but they will not cover the rental agency's claim for loss of use (i.e. the rental income they will lose while the car is being repaired). Step TWO - I have VISA through the Maryland Bar Association - Called Bank America - the man was extremely helpful - said DO NOT BUY the CDW. He said VISA - ALL VISA -provides this coverage - as long as you comply with the termsof the program. Step #3 - Called VISA 1-800-348-3472. They confirmed that they provide loss of use coverage as well. The specific terms of their coverage are listed on line at www.visa.com/benefits. The only loophole I see is the deadline for submitting the required documentation of a claim. As a prior posted reported - this requires the cooperation of the rental car agency, but if you are renting through a national chain, make written demand for documentation, and they fail to provide it, I think you would be successful in getting VISA to reject any subsequent charges the rental car agency tries to impose for damages.

There is one other issue to take into account. If you total the vehicle and the rental car company values the car higher than what your insurance company will pay , you would be responsible for the difference. I am in the insurance business and I have never taken out the coverage from the rental agency. Always check with your local insurance agent to see if they provide coverage in the USVI, some do and some don't .

Creekdweller was correct in checking with your credit card company to see if their coverage will fill in any gaps from your auto insurance company. The only advantage that I see to purchasing the rental agency's coverage is it does eliminate some of the potential hassles if you have an accident. I recommend that you always point out any major damage to the rental agency when you first get the car and always take photos of the damage.

As far as an accident affecting your future premiums, I was always told that an accident is an accident regardless of whose car you are driving or what insurance company is involved. I am not sure if an accident in the USVI would show up on your motor vehicle report which most companies use to review your driving record.

Bottom line is check with your insurance company to verify what they cover, or let someone else drive which lets you drink more painkillers.

You're right, Ruprek, but VISA's terms expressly provide that they will pay up to the cost of a new replacement car of the same make/model. I thought that was pretty generous coverage. VISA does not cover any personal lilability, but that's where my insurance (USAA) kicks in. Hat's off to you for actually working with this stuff. I couldn't do this all day!

I have a USAirways VISA and the terms state that they only cover secondary coverage, not primary. I'd like to ge tthis straight since I am interested in not paying for more than I need to.

Bluwater,

I would also check with your agent again. . . .I work for Nationwide and we do provide coverage in Canada, the United States, including territories and possessions, and 50 miles into Mexico. This means that we do provide coverage in the u.s. virgin islands. Look in your policy under "Territories" and you should see this description. Don't go by me saying this though. . . .always check with your agent first.

I went to the VISA website and found this information. There is a lot more information that you can view if you copy this web address:
http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/benefits/bft_dmg_waiver_personal.html?it=c|/personal/cards/benefits/index.html|Auto%20Rental%20Collision%20Damage%20Waiver#anchor_3

Here is part of the information:

"What is covered?
Subject to the terms and conditions in this Guide to Benefit, Visa Auto Rental CDW reimburses you for covered damage or theft to a rental vehicle while it is your responsibility as well as valid administrative and loss-of-use charges imposed by the auto rental company and reasonable towing charges. Only vehicle rental periods that neither exceed nor are intended to exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days within your country of residence or thirty-one (31) consecutive days outside your country of residence are covered.

The benefit provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle as it was originally manufactured. Most private passenger automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles are eligible, but some restrictions may apply. Please contact the Benefit Administrator to inquire about a specific vehicle.

Within your country of residence, this benefit supplements, and applies excess of, any valid and collectible insurance or reimbursement from any source. This means that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Guide to Benefit, Visa Auto Rental CDW applies to losses or expenses that are not covered by insurance or reimbursement.

Covered losses are:
Physical damage and/or theft of the covered rental vehicle.
Valid loss-of-use charges imposed and substantiated by the auto rental company through a fleet utilization log.
Reasonable and customary towing charges, due to a covered loss."

This will give you a basic idea of what is covered, there is also a list of what is not covered that can been seen at the above mentioned website. I highly recommend that you check with your insurance company to see what they cover, after all, that is what they get paid to do. Well now that I am done working for today I guess I can go hit the golf course.

Libra, you are my new hero!!!!

After reading your notes, I called the national customer service office for Nationwide and spoke with a rep who took considerable time to research this. She came back with the verbiage that you've noted - that territories are, indeed, included. She is sending me the jacket information for my records.

My agent was wrong. I'm not surprised. I get lots of "fast" answers that don't seem to be accurate - and I have better service calling the 800 number.

I've not shopped for insurance or rates in (home and auto with same agent) for 10 years....so maybe it's time. This annoys me. I'm wasting money!

Glad I was able to help!! I'm sorry your agent didn't take the time to research this for you. I hate to see Nationwide lose such a valuable customer for poor service!
We are travelling to st john in April and I am counting the days! I enjoy reading everybody's posts on these boards. . .they are so helpful!

I have Nationwide as well and I called my agent about this issue a month ago and he didn't know the answer. He contacted a claims adjuster and my agent called back and said the coverage area does include U.S. territories but not the BVI and that I could tell which was which by the side of the road they drive on! That told me that I should probably doublecheck.

I have a "safe driver" discount that I would lose immediately upon submitting a claim, or so I understand. I think in the long run, it may be cheaper to use the CDW provided by Visa and purchase any additional coverage required.

Blu,
Secondary coverage means only that if you have other insurance which covers all or any part of your claim, that Visa is second in line. Sort of like VISA wants to be the back-up player if you've got a first string option.

Creek, Right. That's why I am surprised that some posters are reporting that their VISA covers as primary. I'd like to understand that. Does VISA, in general, cover as primary - and Bank of America, which is the sponsor of my VISA, cover as secondary on top of that?

Dave A., that's kind of like when Cingular charged me more than $1k for calls that were connected on the BVI tower while I was on STT. I told the rep that I must have gotten picked up by a BVI tower. She said "No, I'm lookng at a map of the VI and those BVI islands are nowhere near the USVI islands - so that would have been impossible".

How much is the safe driver discount? I've not had an accident claim in at least 3 years, so I wonder if I am gettting that.

Bluwater:

VISA would cover as primary if you don't have other insurance. Bank of America has nothing to do with it. In my case, for example, if I have an accident which puts the car out of commission, VISA would cover my deductible amount under my USAA policy ($1000.00) , then my USAA coverage would kick in to cover the blue book value of the car, and any personal liability I might incur if I hit someone, then VISA would cover the rental agency's claim for loss of use of the vehicle and any differnce between the blue book value of the car and its original purchase price. If I didn't have USAA, Visa would cover the entire amount EXCEPT for my personal liability for bodily iinjury, etc.

- Clear as mud?! LOL!

- Creek