CDW as Expected Part of Rental Price

I'm getting ready to reserve an Enterprise car tomorrow for a week's vacation to Florida and I'm happy I found the Failing Enterprise site because it's got me thinking seriously about CDW. After reading the horror stories here I thought it might be a good idea to just pay the CDW and not worry about all this crap. I suppose that's what they really want you to do anyway.

I thought the rental price for a week with unlimited mileage was a good competitive price. The CDW is a little high but overall the combination still seems competitive, so what's the big deal?

Seems to me this topic is more about cheap people bitchin' because they don't have enough common sense to know when not to be cheap. Seems to me there are situations that merit caution when driving a car and others that don't. If my car was in the shop and I was driving a rental from home to work in a suburban area, that's one thing. If I'm working in downtown Manhattan or if I plan to take it away for the weekend or as in my case, a week in Florida, well that's a whole different circumstance.

By the way, don't the people complaining here have deductibles above which their liability ends or are they renting new cars without any kind of comprehensive coverage? Talk about common sense. I'm not even going to touch this one.

This topic was well worth reading though. I'll be examining the car carefully before I go anywhere with it.

I just remembered that the "W" in CDW refers to the waiver so accepting a CDW means not being insured.

If my previous post sounds confusing just imagine you're reading it in a mirror. If that sounds confusing to you, just forget the post and go on to the next one.

[MarbleCheese]

CDW is 'collison damage waiver'. Enterprise will 'waive' the right to collect from you should there be damage to the car resulting from an accident, vandalism, act of god etc.
The only time it's voided is if you a breaking the law or voilating the contract. ie -drunk , off roading, unauthorized driver etc.
If you can afford it, take it. But check your credit card first (AMEX corporate and Diners Club offer the best coverage)

If you buy CDW, make sure you understand what you are buying.

A lot of locations will sell waiver for 13 or 16 dollars, and PAI for an extra 3 or 4.

They will tell you, you are getting the damage waiver, but instead charge you for DW and PAI. As a quick hint, when you sign the contract there will be three places in the middle where you will initial. If you ONLY want DW and not PAI and SLP make sure you initial yes just to DW and not to the other coverages.

DW is a very unique product depending on the situation. If you're driving over a week in a lot of high risk or unknown areas(places you've never been) or in a high crime area it's probably worth the 13 to 16 bucks a day.

Just make sure you call today to confirm, and tomorrow. Don't count on the van being ready at your appointment time.

After reading the topic I thought I'd comment to let people know someone is reading their posts.

I wasn't expecting all the good advice, so I wanted to mention I appreciate it, and thanks.

Well, I'm off to pick up a car, a new bathing suit and Florida, here I come...

Regards,

Fred C.
Franklin, TN