[mywittyname]

> high pressure insurance pitch

Them: would you like to purchase insurance?

Me: No, I have my own thanks.

Them: okay.

Maybe since I rent almost exclusively from airports, I have a biased experience, but I don't think of rental insurance as being high-pressure.

[gregkerzhner]

I think that when you walk up to the counter, they instantly judge you on whether you might be suckered for the insurance or not. If you can somehow demonstrate that you are an experienced, frequent renter by your demeanor then you are much less likely to get the intense pitch.

I try to do this by having my credit card and drivers license in my hand and putting in on the counter right when I walk up. I also don't ask any questions about anything and give very brief answers to all their questions.

[didgeoridoo]

They’ll always claim your insurance almost certainly doesn’t cover rentals, hoping that you don’t realize it almost certainly does.

(I also find airports to be the WORST possible environment for this kind of thing; you’re always rushing to return your car so you can catch your flight. You are forced to just accept that the scratch on the back left bumper wasn’t there when you rented the car, because fighting about it will cause you to miss your flight. So it’s a $500+ repair fee or a $500+ plane ticket. They have you over a barrel.)

[dragonwriter]

> They’ll always claim your insurance almost certainly doesn’t cover rentals

I've never had such an insurance pitch. They usually pitch a “damage waiver” gap insurance which assures that any amount not covered by your insurances deductible is covered.

> I also find airports to be the WORST possible environment for this kind of thing; you’re always rushing to return your car so you can catch your flight. You are forced to just accept that the scratch on the back left bumper wasn’t there when you rented the car, because fighting about it will cause you to miss your flight.

Never had that experience either, everytime I've rented at a major chain we've done a damage walkaround at pickup, often the rental agency employee has noted things I would have missed, and on return (even at airports!) there's never been a problem.

Of course, I've never been so late back to the airport with a rental that pointing out that the damage was identified on the pre-rental walk-around would jeopardize my flight, either.

[vl]

Or even better - walk into Hertz Gold, get into any car and drive away. If you rent with any frequency at all it makes sense to join a program.

[thehappypm]

I always get the “what company? What are your deductibles?” which seem custom built to create some doubt in my mind.