Whether you purchased your auto insurance in California or any other state, in most cases, people are covered for such contingencies by their own insurance policies, if they have collision coverage, or by certain major credit cards. However, declining the extra insurance coverage doesn’t always mean you won’t be charged the additional fee that comes along with it.

1. Saying “No”
to Rental Car Insurance

2. Whenever you rent a car, you typically have the choice
between getting additional vehicle collision coverage and
declining it.
Decisions, decisions

3. Sometimes car rental agency employees may be induced by their
employers to push the loss damage waivers and collision damage
waivers which are standard optional coverages offered to individuals
renting a vehicle.
Commissio
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4. Whether you purchased your auto insurance in California or
any other state, in most cases, people are covered for such
contingencies by their own insurance policies, if they have
collision coverage, or by certain major credit cards.
Did you know?

5. However, declining the extra insurance coverage
doesn’t always mean you won’t be charged the
additional fee that comes along with it.

6. The Scandal
As far back as 1989, the California Attorney General’s
office slapped Dollar Rent A Car with a permanent
injunction for overcharging consumers and misrepresenting
insurance provisions.
At that time, the company was charged with paying
employees high commissions if they aggressively sold the
add-on insurance coverages or used contracts with print so
small that they couldn’t be read.

7. Case After Case
To date, Dollar has received over 17,000 direct, documented
complaints from past customers who rented vehicles and were
victims of the over-charges in Colorado and Florida.

8. Dollar allegedly:
Deceived customers into buying insurance coverage and various
other services they didn’t agree to.
How?
By signing them up for the optional collision damage waiver and
services they declined
Then,
Charged them without their consent. In response, Dollar Thrifty
Automotive Group, now owned by Hertz Global Holdings, has denied
all charges, including engaging in deception.

9. Hertz Global Holdings claim that they weren’t responsible for the
improprieties that occurred prior to their acquisition of Dollar Thrifty
Automotive Group in November 2012, complaints of the same deceptive
tactics, continued late into 2014.
Reports of forged and transposed customer signatures from screen
pads onto agreements, indicating the purchase of declined insurance
coverages and services, also surfaced during that time.

10. The Lessons to be Learned
 Double check everything you sign when renting a car.
 Go over the paperwork before you leave the building and
drive away. If something doesn’t look right to you,
question the rental car employee and don’t leave until
you’re satisfied. It’s in your best interest.

11. Double checking can also apply when you’re shopping for
the cheapest car insurance in California. Obtain plenty of
quotes to be sure you’re getting the best rate on your car
insurance. Why not get a free car insurance quote today?
Apply Your Learnings

12. Share Your Story
Have you ever rented a car from Dollar Rent
A Car…and, believe you were scammed into
paying for extra insurance coverage you
didn’t want?
Feel free to share
your thoughts in the
comments section
below.