Renting a car in the States

Ok. This is a very strange experience. 

I am going to the USA and will need to rent a car at LAX. Europcar is giving me a very good price for an econobox that includes CDW and SLI with $0 excess for either. As I understand it, that would mean that if the car is damaged in an accident (and injure someone else) I am covered. But I see in the fine print on the Advantage site (their local company in LA) that things like tire punctures, window glass damage, or vandalism are not covered under that insurance.

I've rented many cars in the USA, and always used my Cap One cards, which say they'll cover all the insurances but I have to decline the coverage at the time I rent the car. I'm curious how that would work if the insurance is included automatically? Would it only cover the potential vandalism or tire punctures? (Yes, I will check with Cap One, but thought I'd see if anyone here had any experience with any of this.)

Can’t speak for them but I had insurance coverage when I rented through enterprise to leave for my first flight here and they tried to stick me with a bill for a broken windshield. It was broken when I got it so that didn’t work for them lol. I do believe it only covers collisions but everyone could be different.

Yeah, I rented a car that got scratched while we were in a parking lot. Came out to find the scratch. Had "the works" rental insurance, and so thankfully was not charged for it.  It's the little things in those contracts...oy!

Anyway, Europcar was going to get us 8 days at 197pounds and that included CDW and the liability waiver. That's pretty good, if I'm doing my conversion properly.  If we were renting anywhere but in SoCal, I think I wouldn't be so paranoid. But stones get bounced up on the freeway and ding the windshield, punks in parking lots, etc....

How were you able to prove the damage was pre-existing? I assume it was noted on your rental sheet? And they still tried to charge you for that? Wow. Note to self - be sure to keep all the receipts!

I flew to Houston last year (September) and rented a car for 2 weeks. I can’t remember the details on the coverage but I did take out CDW. It was with Enterprise and they did spend time with me looking over the car, marking on the rental sheet where there were marks and dings. I think this is important, whichever the company.  We rented a car in January 2017 from Houston airport and they didn’t do the check over of the car (it wasn’t Enterprise this time) but we did, and found a scrape on a wheel arch so I left my wife at the car and walked back to the desk to get an attendant from the desk to come out and look, then make a note on the rental agreement.

Mine was marked on the agreement sheet but when I returned it, they didn't mark it again showing it was pre-existing. I take video of a walk around of all vehicles I rent that are dated and timed to help just in case.

I also had the receipt which showed it was already damaged. Once I submitted all that, they dropped it.

Ive been renting quiet a few cars in USA recently and used the comparison websites like all of us but last few trips I have gone onto VirginAtlantic Car Hire site and have got really good prices with them with everything being included ie fully insured.  I havent had to book a flight with them either to get those prices!...  They dont come up on comparison sites..

Well, Europcar got me a car from Advantage for $213 for ten days, full insurances cover with $0.01 excess, plus road assistance included. That works for me!