I've been seeing a lot of posts talking about AMEX...

I have an AMEX card.

If I get truck with NO insurance, and use AMEX card, I am covered for everything?

I am just confused, what does AMEX card cover?

Thanks

(Message edited by yukoneer on May 31, 2007)

No.

Check with AMEX to be sure.
It depends on who you are renting from, in part.

Good luck.

I've given up, and am paying for the supplementary insurance offered by Buddy Dive for their trucks. Because Buddy Dive is not a "commercial car rental company," AMEX says I am not covered. No matter that I have a Gold card, been an AMEX card-carrier for 38 years, and carry their supplemental Premium care rental insurance.

- Mel

It is called "Premium Car Rental Insurance". Price varies between about $20 and $25 per rental up to 30 days, depending on the type of AMEX card you have. You need to sign up for it in advance, and once enrolled, you get charged for each rental you do with that card until you cancel. Check with AMEX, but you must specifically ask for "Premium Car Rental Insurance".

Dr. Director, that is exactly what I am talking about.....they do not cover rentals from Buddy Dive because Buddy Dive is not primarily a car rental company.

So, as I said, it depends on who you are renting from.

- Mel

Matt,

I have looked into the AMEX insurance quite a bit. There are a lot of people on BT that swear by it. My main concern with the AMEX insurance is that you are not covered for liability. The full insurance is a lot of extra cash, but it is a lot less of a headache if something happens to another vehicle and you are at fault.

Karen

I asked AMEX for the full details on the AMEX Premium Coverage Car Rental Protection (PCRP) plan. Here is what they sent me.

description Description AMEX PCRP.pdf (37.0 k)

We are considering purchasing the AMEX PCRP plan and are concerned about this latest issue regarding which car rental co. in Bonaire would be considered "primarily a car rental company". Using the list of car rental companies on infobonaire...can anyone advise which would (or would not) meet the AMEX definition??

Chris

Again...always call AMEX's insurance company directly. Do not call their general 800 #. They do NOT exclude based on "primarily a car rental company." If you have a package deal with vehicle rental included and you use your AMEX to pay for the entire package, then you ARE covered.

As for issues regarding your coverage, the real problem seems to be with what specific card you have. Some have to pay for the insurance. Some just pay for the upgrade to the premium and have the regular free. Others get the entire thing for free, regular and premium. I know this because as I changed and upgraded my cards my insurance changed. I have also used my AMEX for package deals and they covered my truck rental. So call the insurance department and have your AMEX in hand. They will ask you for your number and will tell you exactly what type of insurance you have, how much, and what it covers.

Tribs, we do not have an AMEX card. We planned on getting one & purchasing the insurance a few months prior to arriving on Bonaire. We are not staying at a resort & are planning to rent a truck thru one the rental places. If we can obtain a list of the rental places that would "qualify" for the AMEX coverage, it would be extremely helpful.

Thanks!

Not sure how to help you except to say contact AMEX and contact the car rental agencies. Some of the rental agencies will not accept AMEX. I know from experience that AB Car Rental does accept AMEX. I also know from experience that Total Car Rental does not, but you can get around that with a package deal and pay the package with the AMEX (which we did). This will just require some leg work on your part to find out who accepts AMEX and who does not.

I tried once to get a list of car rental agencies that do accept AMEX from the Tourism Council and they just sent me a reply stating that "many accept AMEX." I personally would like to find a list of all merchants on Bon who accept AMEX. However, this does not seem to be in high demand, so no such list yet.

(Message edited by jeanineclark on June 3, 2007)

Send a email to each of the car rental companies with your request and explain that you will be paying with AMEX card and do not want their CDW coverage. http://www.infobonaire.com/transportation.html
They will each answer your questions to the best of their ability...

Ron, thanks for your suggestion. That's exactly what I'll do!

Chris - post the results if you get any.

Thanks all!

Do I really have to call AMEX Insurance?

For instance - if I book a truck through AB Car Rental (will be reserving it online), and pay for it with the AMEX card, do I still need to call AMEX for insurance?

Matt:
I have 9 responses and am waiting on several more. When I have received all responses I plan to post the list.

Matt,
If you already added the insurance, I believe it just kicks in (with another 24.95 charge? I'm not sure, I can't remember and don't have the documentation in front of me) every time you use the AMEX card. You do have to call to get the service initially though.

Ah, I see the things I couldn't remember were actually included above. I should have read the entire thread...

The AMEX charge is automatic everytime you rent a vehical(Car or Truck) with that card. Don't forget to refuse the CDW from the rental company or you will pay for both coverages. There is no deductable with AMEX as well... Ron

Great, thanks! I got AMEX and their insurance and plan to use it for our rental truck.

(Message edited by yukoneer on June 4, 2007)

Here are the responses I received regarding the AMEX card & their insurance plan:

AVIS – accepts AMEX & their insurance plan
AB Car Rental – accepts AMEX, not clear on if they accept the insurance plan
Telerin – accepts AMEX & their insurance plan
Hertz – accepts AMEX and their insurance plan
Bencho Car Rental – accepts AMEX and their insurance plan
Fox Bonaire Car Rental – accepts AMEX, but would require you to give them a $750 deposit if you decline the CDW
Everts Car Rental – accepts AMEX, but NOT the AMEX insurance

Island Car Rentals – does not accept AMEX, they require you buy CDW
Rento Fun – does not accept AMEX
Total Car Rental – does not accept AMEX
Alamo/National – does not accept AMEX

I didn't receive any response Lions.

I also found a really good rate from 2 of the companies for an extended cab pickup w/AC. If anyone wants specifics, send me a PM.

Thank you Chris, that was illuminating.

I'd be curious to hear what is meant when they say the don't accept the AMEX plan, since the AMEX plan pays them for damages.

As far as I know, you can decline CDW and that's it. If something happens they can TRY to charge your card I suppose, but it isn't under their control whether a payment (should it be justified) comes from the insurance from AMEX or ends up being paid by you when you pay your bill.

So, this we don't accept the insurance plan statement seems odd.

FWIW, I've rented from AB and told them that I was declining the CDW because I had the AMEX premium insurance, and they really didn't seem to care one way or the other.