Have you booked your rental car with Priceless Car Rental or are you currently planning your vacation? Watch out: The biggest cost trap doesn't wait for you on the internet, but at the pickup counter when you collect the vehicle. Intimidated and exhausted travelers are often put under massive pressure here to purchase expensive additional insurance policies, which not infrequently double the original rental price. Check your situation right now!
Check the options that apply to your current or planned booking. Our tool will generate the right arguments for you so that you can stand your ground at the counter with confidence.
Editorially reviewed on: 05.07.2026
The business model of many local car rental companies and franchisees has long ceased to be just about renting out metal. The big money is made from extremely expensive insurance policies pushed onto customers at the counter through fear tactics. Phrases like "Your internet protection is not valid here with us" or "If you don't buy this, you will have to pay $1,000 immediately for a scratch" are part of the daily training for staff at many locations.
The basis of every car rental booking is liability insurance (which covers damage to other vehicles) and the so-called CDW. The CDW is a collision damage waiver for your rental car. If you book the cheapest rate directly with Priceless Car Rental, this CDW usually contains a high deductible (often between $800 and $1,500). This means: In the event of an accident or theft (LDW - Loss Damage Waiver), you are liable up to this amount with your own money.
If you book your car through portals and check the box for "Zero Deductible", you are not purchasing this additional insurance from Priceless Car Rental locally, but rather through the booking portal (e.g., third-party coverage via Expedia or Rentalcars.com).
What happens on-site: For the employee at the Priceless Car Rental counter, you only have the "base rate" in the system, because they cannot see your external third-party insurance. Therefore, they will try to sell you their own insurance ("Super CDW"). Hold your ground! Say "No, I am already covered externally." Let them hold the deposit and sign the rental agreement.
This is standard for good portal bookings. In the event of damage (e.g., a scratch on the fender), the local provider Priceless Car Rental will initially keep the money from your authorized security deposit. So you pay upfront. Once you are home, you submit the damage report and credit card statement to the booking portal, which will subsequently reimburse 100% of the costs back to your account.
Standard collision damage waivers from car rental companies often rigorously exclude glass (rock chips), tires (flat tires), the roof, and the underbody. However, if you booked through a portal with "Premium Protection" or your credit card includes this coverage, you are already safe. Do not let them panic you at the counter and decline additional packages.
This is where the greatest danger lies: If you only present a debit card (such as a standard debit or prepaid card without a real credit line), Priceless Car Rental will often refuse to hand over the car under the base rate, because the security deposit cannot be reliably authorized. At that exact moment, they force you to buy the expensive on-site Super CDW to reduce the deposit requirement to zero. This often costs hundreds of dollars extra. So always make sure to bring a real credit card!
Our guides and generators are based on a strict evaluation of relevant travel regulations (such as DOT rules, EU passenger rights like EC 261/2004), court rulings, and consumer travel laws.
They are developed by Marc (Project Management) & Team to enable travelers to confidently assert their rights against airlines and tour operators.
Important note: Our tools provide help for self-help regarding flight delays, hotel defects, or train cancellations. They do not replace individual legal counsel by an attorney.
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