I had a 'Rafer'...kinda (Valet wreck my rental car)

Your credit card may offer rental car insurance.

 

As a former rental car person, I can tell you that the rental car place doesn't care what happened. They just want the car fixed and they want you to pay for it. That's it. They won't go after the valet place. Just you.

If the CC doesn't work (read the fine print), I would say just pay the $500 out of pocket and try to collect it from the valet place on the backend. Sounds like you have a pretty good case against them.

Good luck.

 

I went on my honeymoon in Kauai and rented a car by the airport. Guy asked me if I wanted the supplemental insurance. Two things affected my decision to say yes.

1. I was on my honeymoon and didn't mind spending a little extra for piece of mind.

2. I just saw an episode of Jackass where the got it and then destroyed the car and proceeded to walk away not owing a dime.

I got it, drove 5 minutes away. Parked by the side of the road to look at the waves crashing on the beach and was side-swiped by a local surfer in a beat up rust bucket of a truck damaging the entire driver side of the vehicle.

Called the rental agency, drove it back and he gave me a new vehicle.

I ALWAYS get the supplemental insurance now.

 

The Valet company has to have insurance to be in business, but you might have to make the payments yourself and then go after the insurance of the Valet if you have to.

My friend had her car totaled by a Valet driver. They ran her Benz into a pole, needless to say they were paying for a new car.

 

Agent: Sir the estimate on the damage to your car is two thousand eight hundred
and sixty-six dollars.

Jerry: Hmm, well, I got the insurance and everything so...

Agent: Yes, now, uh, in your report you said that you were not the driver of
the car at the time of the accident.

Jerry: That is right, somebody else was driving.

Agent: Alright, well, sir, you're only covered for when you're driving the car.

Jerry: Uh huh, what's that?

Agent: You're not covered for other drivers.

Jerry: Other drivers?

Agent: Um hm.

Jerry: Your whole business is based on other drivers. It's a rented car.
That's who's driving it, other drivers. Doesn't my credit card cover me or
something?

Agent: Not that particular one.

Jerry: Well I got a hundred cards, here, pick a card, take a card, any card you
want, go ahead, whichever one, I don't care.

Agent: Sir, if you had read the rental agreement--

Jerry: Did you see the size of that document? It's like the Declaration of
Independence, who's gonna read that?

Agent: Mr. Seinfeld, as it stands right now, you are not covered for that
damage and there is absolutely nothing that can be done about that.

Jerry: These pretzels are making me thirsty.

 

Valet doesn't pay. They scratched all of my rims. They said send in a letter with an address and we will pay. Whatever. They didn't pay jack.

 

I am completely covered by State Farm for any and all rental car damage including any amount that is due to the rental car being "out of service" while it is being repaired. I never get the supplemental coverage.

 

a valet stole my cds once. i was so pissed, it was about 40 in a case.

I went to crystal's, valeted because i was with someone, a woman of course, the valet takes my keys, looks at me funny, and then proceeds to take my car. I ask my friend, did you see the way that guy looked at me, I hope he wasn't expecting a tip. obviously you tip when you get your car back.

get my car back, driving on the way to my parents' apartment because their house is screwed due to allison. looked for my cds, they were gone.

 

If you wreck a rental car and file a claim with State Farm, does it go on your comp/collision or your liability?

 

I think it goes against the same category as if it were my own car (for instance, if I hit a deer, it goes against comp), but I don't remember. I just remember specifically asking all of the questions that the rental agents try to use to get you to buy the supplemental insurance.

For example:

1. The supplemental will cover the deductible - my agent told me there would not be a deductible.

2. The supplemental will cover the "loss of service charges" that the rental company would suffer while the car is being repaired - my agent told me that was covered under my policy.

 

i was a valet for 4 years in college. Lets just say the people that work in that industry are a little unethical. They will look for anyway possible to not pay it. Its gonna end up being your word against theirs. Did you valet in houston? What was the name of the company?

 

Are you talking about the first skit in Jackass: The Movie?

 

Usually liability.

Typically, if you rent a car and are involved in an at fault accident, YOUR insurance company covers the rental car damages as well as the damage to the other party as a 3rd party claim. Some policies don't extend to rental cars though, which means although the rental car company can file a claim for the damages to the vehicle which you caused, they will not cover the damages to the other vehicle. THAT is where it would be good to get the supplemental coverage.

Always best to just check with your insurance company before you rent a car to discuss what you are and are not covered for.