Bonaire - CDW insurance?

[billt4sf]

Going to Bonaire in a few weeks -- the resort recommends that we get the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) insurance for $350 ! Wow, that's alot of money. I would not get this insurance in the US, but in Bonaire -- not sure. Any advice?

- Bill

 

[redacted]

That price seems way high. I think I recall a cost under $100. Does that $350 include the full dirive and dive package?

 

[wwguy]

CDW on Bonaire is advisable and even required by some rental companies. I've rented from several Bonaire rental companies and have never paid more than $13/day for CDW.

 

[billt4sf]

I misread the Villa's website and CDW is included. Thank you for your input! My apologies.

- Bill

 

[RJP]

A note on CDW, you'll often hear people say that they believe their credit card company covers that for them. However, that coverage typically doesn't cover "off road" usage... and almost every dive site on Bonaire is "off road" at least the last 50 yards or so. And of course the "road" through the park is "off road" in it's entirety.

 

[DeputyDan]

The places on Bonaire that I have rented a truck from was usually $10 to $12 a day for CDW.

 

[SubMariner]

Going to Bonaire in a few weeks -- the resort recommends that we get the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) insurance for $350 ! Wow, that's alot of money. I would not get this insurance in the US, but in Bonaire -- not sure. Any advice?

- Bill

Check with your own car insurance: some carriers allow you to temporarily transfer your policy to another vehicle if your own is sitting in a garage @ home. If that is the case, you'll need to make sure you take your card with you to the island.

Check with your credit card: some companies like AMEX will cover everything; others perhaps not.

In any case, $350 is a crazy price.

FWIW,

 

[drrich2]

Even if your insurance company or credit card company would eventually cover it, how long and how much bureaucracy would it take? Is the rental company okay with you leaving the country without paying major damages yet? Do you have to pay, then your company reimburses you? Does your credit card co. cover liability insurance for damage to other driver and vehicle?

 

[DeputyDan]

And for most, no chance that they will cover a truck.

 

[wwguy]

This discussion is headed off into the weeds due to misinformation. Most U.S. domestic automobile insurance policies don't provide any coverage for operating any motor vehicle overseas. (A few offer conditional coverage of US drivers in Canada and Mexico, but that's not germane to this discussion.) Bonaire is certainly "overseas" and I've never heard or read of anyone being covered by their US policy while living or visiting there. I asked my longtime insurance agent about it a couple of years ago. His firm is a multi-carrier broker with access to automobile policies from The Hartford, Safeco, Progressive, and United Heritage. None of his carriers offered overseas coverage and his advice was to purchase the CDW and/or credit card insurance when travelling outside the US. He felt that $12/day for CDW and $25/rental for Amex CC policies offered good value and complementary coverage.

Regarding the original post and question, there's no need to answer it further. He already stated back in post #4 that he misread the property's website and that CDW is included in the insurance rate. (It's possible that $350 was the weekly rate for rental + CDW.)