TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Liability Insurance - Rental Car

Carol, what trip insurance is that?
That will save some of us the worries and the money.

"...... every company has liability insurance on the cars. Some companies require you to take it but you are just reimbursing them even though they don't tell you that.

Hope this helps and an FYI there really is no personal liability lawsuits on SXM (at least on the Dutch side) because it's not a recognized right to sue. "

Thanks for the info. This was my understanding but was never able to confirm.

I would love to know who that insurance company is, if you don't mind saying. I think it is a great addition and would buy from them as well. Having that extra piece of mind is money well spent.

I don't really remember the name of the company we have booked through the past couple of years, but we just go to Insure my Trip here on TTOL and look for comprehensive trip insurance and some of them provide car insurance as part of the quote.

Todd I said what I have stated over and over again.
Noting is free in life .

This issue has come up many times and I have never seen a good answer

Need to separate Collision from liability

Many credit cards will do collision I don't know any will do liability if the accident is your fault for the other vehicle or people in the vehicle

Carol I would check the trip insurance policy your purchasing as most likely only provides collision

As we know two Countries with French law and Dutch law
from what I could find French law mandates 1 million liability on any rental from rental provider
Dutch law i am not sure but may be limited to 50000

Kenny once answered a few years back that there really isn't suits like this in st martin which may coincide with GAKaye's answer
but i do never been able to get a answer on Dutch law
last I have no idea what happens when a Dutch car gets into a accident on French side do they need higher levels of protection as the right to sue seems to be allowed in French law

Then why don't you just quote a price and not show the liability as a separate line cost that is already included?

Right now we are waiting on $ 800.00 from the French side Insurance company after a Tourist rented a car from the Dutch Car Rental Company that hit our Audi Q 3 2021 and that Company has French side insurance .Going over two months . Speaks for itself .

What's that got to do with charging extra for liability?

He had liability insurance and no one can tell me how to operate our business .

I don't know of any insurance policy that covers liability insurance on a rental but would welcome hearing about one; that's why I rent from Hertz even though they aren't as friendly as other companies. I have an annual travel policy with Allianz (AllTrips Prime Plan) that does cover CDW. From the policy:

IMPORTANT: This coverage does not provide bodily injury and property damage liability insurance and does not comply with any financial responsibility law or any other law mandating motor vehicle coverage.

If your rental car is stolen or damaged during the scheduled rental period and while on your trip, we will pay you the lesser of the following, up to the maximum benefit listed for Rental Car Damage and Theft Coverage on your Declarations:

i. The reasonable and customary costs to repair the rental car, including reasonable charges for loss of use imposed by the owner of the rental car while the rental car is being repaired; or 101-P-OR-1000.04-2017 16

ii. The actual cash value of the rental car, less its reasonable salvage value.

The following conditions apply:

a. If the rental car is damaged while being operated, the driver at the time the damage occurs must be listed on the rental car agreement;

b. You must file a report with the rental car company, either within 24 hours of the loss or damage or when you return the rental car (whichever comes first); and

c. If the rental car is stolen, you must promptly notify the police.

You are not covered for any loss that results directly or indirectly from any of the following specific exclusions:

1. Any obligation you assume under any agreement, (e.g. you pay for the car rental agency’s supplemental insurance), except a collision or comprehensive deductible for your primary insurance;

2. Violating the rental car agreement;

3. Leases or rentals for 46 consecutive days or longer; [JAZZGAL comment: this is an added bonus as my credit card covers only 30 days of CDW]

4. Diminution in value of a rental car;

5. Mechanical breakdown or ordinary wear and tear; or

6. Rental cars rented or driven in Jamaica.

IMPORTANT: Please refer to your Declarations to confirm your policy includes this coverage, and if so, the applicable limit.

7 or 8 years ago I was involved in a small accident in the parking lot behind Orient beach and I didn’t pay for liability insurance and it was settled. I and the beer truck driver both thought it was the others fault. It was resolved with no cost to me and my understanding no cost to the truck driver. While the damage was not significant busted mirror and some scratches and scrapes on the trucks bumper. My rental car company which closed after the hurricane, Francine’s said the insurance company’s will handle it.

I'm not suggesting to you how to operate your business. Just wondering why you aren't up front with this liability charge on your rentals.

I think the upshot of this conversation is that each of us needs to do what makes us comfortable. If you choose to pay extra for what is likely not additional coverage, that's your choice. We are comfortable renting from AAA ( a French company, BTW), and not paying extra for liability insurance.

If you actually believe you're getting additional coverage for that additional charge, I'm not sure what to say, as it's been made very clear to me that you're not.

I think this is a question that is not going to be resolved and will end it here.