What are the insurance options in the USA? How does the US differ from most other countries?

The first major difference is that rentals in the US do not always include CDW at the time of booking (as explained in our Rental Guides, CDW - or Collision Damage Waiver - waives most of the rental car damages in the event of an accident). Instead it is available at the rental desk. This is because Americans (and Canadians) are covered by their own car insurance (in most other countries car insurance is tied to the vehicle rather than a driver). RentalCover's CDW is available for Americans and visitors to the US and is equivalent to those sold at the desk, for up to 50% less^†.

Secondly, CDW policies are typically zero - or low-excess (called a "deductible" in the US), meaning the amount to pay in the event of an accident is smaller than other countries if you have CDW. Our "Extra Protection for USA" covers that amount for US visitors and also includes roadside assistance, which is also at the rental desk for up to 50% extra cost^†.

Thirdly, if you have an accident in the US and are found to be at fault, you are liable if there are damages to other vehicles or injuries to other people. Unfortunately, those costs can be significant because rental companies are only required to carry a small amount of third-party liability cover for their vehicles (the amount differs from state to state). Supplemental Liability Insurance ("SLI") mitigates the third-party liability risk. Equivalent options are available for US residents and visitors alike and are sold by rental companies and RentalCover.

Want to understand the fundamentals? Read our deep dive: What is Rental Car Insurance and How Does It Work?.