Sorry to see this happen to anyone. It's good to read that nobody was injured.
Bonaire rental car insurance is no different than the USA in regard to third-party liablity. CDW insurance policies offered by rental car companies and most credit cards only cover damage, theft, or other loss to the rental vehicle. They don't cover liability for damage or injury to third parties. Rental car companies are required by law to include basic liability insurance on their vehicles and the premiums are baked into the rental rates. Supplemental liability insurance can sometimes be purchased to cover additional liability (such as running over a millionaire lawyer in the grocery store parking lot.)
In the USA any CDW coverage is almost always supplementary to any primary coverage you have through personal auto or homeowners insurance. On Bonaire your USA coverage isn't recognized, which makes CDW or third-party primary insurance coverage even more important.
I've consulted with my local insurance agent and he emphatically recommended obtaining temporary primary insurance coverage when renting on Bonaire. DAN's Trip Insurance offers primary rental car coverage but unfortunately doesn't cover trucks. Whenever possible we pay for rentals with American Express card and activate the $25/trip Premium Car Rental Protection policy. This policy offers primary coverage (unlike the Amex and Visa CDW coverage included with the card membership) and has no deductible. At least one rental company on Bonaire will accept Amex payment but requires their CDW coverage. In this case I still activate the Amex policy for $25 one-time fee and will be reimbursed for any deductibles or other costs not covered by the rental company's CDW policy..
Again, this is because CDW coverage only covers damage or loss to the rental vehicle not covered by other insurance with higher precedence. If the fault is by a third-party it is expected that their liability insurance will cover the damage or loss to your rental vehicle. This is the same in the USA.
CDW insurance covers repair or replacement cost of the rental vehicle for situations exactly like this. That was in that fine print you claimed to have read in your original post. From what you wrote it appears that you would have been covered if you'd purchased it. Damage to the other car, if deemed your fault, would be covered by the liability policy previously purchased by the rental company as mandated by law.
I don't mean to come across as attacking you personally, but you seem to have made a poor decision in renting a vehicle without insurance coverage and seem to be blaming your liability on other factors beyond your control.
I know my comments aren't helpful to you at this point. I'm offering them with hopes that they'll help someone else avoid a similar situation in the future.
Bonaire rental car insurance is no different than the USA in regard to third-party liablity. CDW insurance policies offered by rental car companies and most credit cards only cover damage, theft, or other loss to the rental vehicle. They don't cover liability for damage or injury to third parties. Rental car companies are required by law to include basic liability insurance on their vehicles and the premiums are baked into the rental rates. Supplemental liability insurance can sometimes be purchased to cover additional liability (such as running over a millionaire lawyer in the grocery store parking lot.)
In the USA any CDW coverage is almost always supplementary to any primary coverage you have through personal auto or homeowners insurance. On Bonaire your USA coverage isn't recognized, which makes CDW or third-party primary insurance coverage even more important.
I've consulted with my local insurance agent and he emphatically recommended obtaining temporary primary insurance coverage when renting on Bonaire. DAN's Trip Insurance offers primary rental car coverage but unfortunately doesn't cover trucks. Whenever possible we pay for rentals with American Express card and activate the $25/trip Premium Car Rental Protection policy. This policy offers primary coverage (unlike the Amex and Visa CDW coverage included with the card membership) and has no deductible. At least one rental company on Bonaire will accept Amex payment but requires their CDW coverage. In this case I still activate the Amex policy for $25 one-time fee and will be reimbursed for any deductibles or other costs not covered by the rental company's CDW policy..
It is interesting to read the full insurance coverage (ab rentals) and note that if the accident is caused b u u are covered, but if caused by other party and they are not insured you are liable!!! My takeaway is to always make sure its your fault
Again, this is because CDW coverage only covers damage or loss to the rental vehicle not covered by other insurance with higher precedence. If the fault is by a third-party it is expected that their liability insurance will cover the damage or loss to your rental vehicle. This is the same in the USA.
CDW insurance covers repair or replacement cost of the rental vehicle for situations exactly like this. That was in that fine print you claimed to have read in your original post. From what you wrote it appears that you would have been covered if you'd purchased it. Damage to the other car, if deemed your fault, would be covered by the liability policy previously purchased by the rental company as mandated by law.
I don't mean to come across as attacking you personally, but you seem to have made a poor decision in renting a vehicle without insurance coverage and seem to be blaming your liability on other factors beyond your control.
I know my comments aren't helpful to you at this point. I'm offering them with hopes that they'll help someone else avoid a similar situation in the future.
