Need a credit card within 48 hours!!

[Simon96Taco]

So, due to some poor planning on my part, I need to get (in my hands) a credit card that offers overseas car rental insurance (collision/theft waiver) by midday on Wednesday the 27th. I'm going to the UK on the 28th and will be renting a car on the 30th.

To obtain this type of coverage from the rental companies over there is extortionate. It costs more than the car itself.

I am a cheapskate and have so far in life gotten by without a credit card that offers this type of benefit (typically a fee-based card). However, using this benefit just once per year would more than pay for itself. In fact, using it once every two to three years might even pay for itself.

Anyways, I've tried many options, including:

• Getting a new American Express Gold or RBC Mastercard Travel Rewards card (both said it takes weeks to obtain the card)
• Upgrading my existing CIBC Mastercard - this is possible, but only the travel insurance benefit kicks in immediately upon upgrade. Because the car rental insurance is through a different broker, this won't take effect until I receive the replacement card, which takes approximately 5 days. I asked for some way of making a rush delivery, but no go.
• my existing car insurance (doesn't cover me out of North America). I can purchase an umbrella policy but that is basically an extension of my personal liability (which the rental DOES include) and doesn't cover theft
• Insurance from AMA - they don't offer it

I ask you CPers, any ideas??

Anyone have experience in getting a credit card....FAST?

Anyone have any other suggestions for getting the insurance cover?

Thanks!!

[Lil Pedro]

In regards to getting your credit card fast, you can call them and explain the situation and they send it to your bank for you to pick up, usually within 48 hours

[Simon96Taco]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

In regards to getting your credit card fast, you can call them and explain the situation and they send it to your bank for you to pick up, usually within 48 hours

You would think so, especially since I asked to upgrade from a no-fee card to one with a $120/yr fee. Still no go. They told me to expect the card in 5 days. I told them I didn't want to upgrade if it took that long. For info, and if it helps, I'm with CIBC.

[lazypucker]

I am no insurance expert, but from what I understand is that these car rental insurances only insure your own rental car. So if you drive and smash a bus, the insurance will only cover your rental car's damage, and you have to pay for the bus's damage out of your own pocket.

Have you look into any travel insurances (medical, trip cancelations, etc.) that cover car rentals?

[Simon96Taco]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I am no insurance expert, but from what I understand is that these car rental insurances only insure your own rental car. So if you drive and smash a bus, the insurance will only cover your rental car's damage, and you have to pay for the bus's damage out of your own pocket.

Have you look into any travel insurances (medical, trip cancelations, etc.) that cover car rentals?

The rental company actually covers liability for other damage that I cause. What I don't have coverage for is damage to the car itself caused by me, or theft, fire, vandalism etc.

I've tried AMA, my credit card company, other credit card companies, my own insurance company. I can't get what I need, unless I use a credit card that offers it. That's why I need the credit card by Wednesday.

[Barbecue]

nm

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by Simon96Taco

The rental company actually covers liability for other damage that I cause. What I don't have coverage for is damage to the car itself caused by me, or theft, fire, vandalism etc.

No, I think the rental insurances that companies like Budget wants you to purchase covers the exact opposite. It only covers damages to their rental car, but not anything else that you smash/injure/kill...

Again, I am not 100% sure, but that's my friend who works in the insurance industry told me

[Simon96Taco]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

No, I think the rental insurances that companies like Budget wants you to purchase covers the exact opposite. It only covers damages to their rental car, but not anything else that you smash/injure/kill...

Again, I am not 100% sure, but that's my friend who works in the insurance industry told me

Are you referring to coverage in Europe or North America? Because that's the exact opposite to what I'm seeing in the insurance clauses in the European rental agreements.

[lazypucker]

Mine is for NA, don't know if Europe is same or different


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[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Mine is for NA, don't know if Europe is same or different


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Your friend is wrong. Rental companies have to have third party liability on their vehicles.

[afc wimbledon]

I rented a car in the UK this year, the insurance covered third parties they then offered optional coverage for the rental car, essentially how high a deductable , then charged a deposit to the amount of the deductable , in my case I went for a 300 pound deductable, as opposed, if I recall to a 50 pound or 800 pound.

[afc wimbledon]

Have to add I rarely rent a car in the UK, trains are a better way to get around. If you are going to drive there you'd best be on top of your game, drivers there drive fast and close, there's no slowing down to work out where your going or the like.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Your friend is wrong. Rental companies have to have third party liability on their vehicles.

Depends on the jurisdiction. In Canada, as mandated by law, yes the rental companies must provide liability insurance for their vehicles. In the US, the renter must provide their own liability coverage and as the original poster brought up, this is something rarely provided by credit cards.

As for Europe, I have no idea as I have no experience with renting vehicles in Europe. However, I would suspect that some North American credit cards would not provide LDW coverage while in Europe. This is purely a guess as during my time in the rental industry, most Europeans would purchase my companies LDW coverage in spite of many of them using gold/platinum credit cards. But of course, this is something that should be checked with whoever provides your credit card coverage.

[calgarygeologist]

An Amex card should arrive quickly. My significant other applied for an Aeroplan Gold card last Friday or Saturday and it arrived yesterday.