So I went at it with American Express and Mastercard regarding their insurance provided when renting on Bonaire. I wsa informed that NO TRUCKS are covered at all, but that vans for less than 8 or 9 passengers were covered. This means that you are covered 100% for everything, as long as you refuse the CDW from the rental company. Then your credit card is charged for any problems, and you just deal with them. I went to these lengths after having a spare tire stolen from a toyota hilux last september. A spare is over $300.00 on BON!
Previously I had been led to believe that I had to take the CDW. If you really want a truck be aware you will be responsible for the deductible if you must file a claim.

Seb,

Did you explain that a "truck" here on Bonaire is a 4-door Sedan with an open trunk? Or a 4-door El Camino (isn't that the funky car that had a pick-up bed in the back in the 70s?)?

Jake

Good point on the definition of 'truck' as applied to the Hilux. ABCarrental on their page from Infobonaire (first in alphabetical order) calls the Hilux a 'truck'. That would seem to shoot the insurance thing in our feet unless the insurance companies call it something else.

When you say 100% covered, that doesn't mean if you hit someone else right?

Seb:

I too called my master card regarding insurance coverage. I strongly recommend that everyone who has questions conatct their own master card / visa / etc. comapny and ask questions for themselves. Here is what I found:

Trucks are not covered. Pick up trucks, according to my master card co., are trucks. therefore they are not covered. I am confident that my charge card co. would NOT cover damage to a pick up truck. One reason I do not rent trucks.

Off road vehicles are not covered. Four wheel drive vehicles are covered, as long as they are not off road. Gray area here regarding what is off road.

Some charge cards to do not cover you when you are in a foreign country. Mine does cover me outside the USA though. These depends on the type of card you have.

You must deny the CDW to get coverage.

The charge card is secondary insurance to the rebtal company's or your own car insurance. In other words the charge card company only steps in after the others have paid up.

I have no adea about coverage as it relates to fault / blame in an accident. I presumed I was covered regardless of who was at fault.

Dave.. The credit card coverage is for damage to the vehicle you are driving. It does not cover damage to other vehicles or property. Your liability policy covers that stuff. Unfortunately the liability policy won't cover you outside the US - except for Canada.

Clay:

Good point. Exposing a hind flank and did not even know it.

I will now persue that exposure. I wonder if a personal umbrella policy covers that exposure. If not I wonder what does cover it. Does CDW cover it?

I will check out my umbrella coverage, but I am doubtfull as I have checked on two previous somewhat obscure exposures and found that I am not covered. Example, ice boating is not covered. So if i crack up in my ice boat, or run sombody over, hit another ice boat, I am not covered. They actually wrote that particualr item out of the policy.

I also understand that some car insurance follows you. My company car insurance does, problem would be proving that I was on company business. Point is if my company insurance follows me when on company business (Like a conference)them it seems that one could purchase personal auto coverage which follows you.

Dave

I'd love to know if anyone finds out about personal auto insurance coverage that follows you abroad. I just spent $300 to cover a pick-up for a month on Bonaire, and I pay only $320 a YEAR to cover my Saturn in rochester, NY -- and have max. liability coverage with that. I'm definitely going to get a CAR next year, so my credit card coverage will apply and I can decline the CDW.

What really irks me is that I've never had an accident or a ticket for anything (in 34 years of driving), but I'm concerned if someone else hits me and I'm hit with a big bill, especially if it's a local person (as I understand I'm then automatically considered "at fault")

My research a few years ago found no auto liabilty policies that follow you outside the US (again except for Canada). Riders were not available either.
When I used to travel to Europe, my company car insurance did not follow me. I had to take the rental car insurance - per instructions from my company.

Josie, see my earlier post. The credit card will not cover you for damage to another vehicle that you hit. It only covers damage to the rental car you are driving.

I have been renting cars in Bonaire for a couple years now. Have always declined the rental car company's CDW coverage and used my credit card to cover it. So what is available to cover damage to another vehicle if all the credit card covers is the car you are driving? Does the rental car company's CDW coverage take care of this if you take it versus using your credit card? I checked with my own auto insurance and like everybody has stated, they do not cover outside the United States or Canada. Isn't everybody that uses a credit card for insurance taking a chance as they could be held financially responsible for the other vehicle or property that is damaged?

You would have to look for LDW coverage - sometime it is not even offered in certain locations. There is also a 3rd insurance that has a P in the abbreviation which has something to do with people/personal but I'm not sure what exactly.

I forgot all about this coverring the other guy stuff. Guess I have lived too long in the land of no fault. I guess this bears further investigation.