This is a deceptive tactic some car rental agents tried to use on me to make me think I would be unable to rent the car if I did not purchase their rental car coverage, which is not even insurance anyway.
If auto insurance is required in your state, why wouldn't the rental agent request proof of such insurance before allowing you to rent a car? Do you have a problem with them asking for your driver's license, too? I don't understand why you think this might possibly be illegal.
Of course its legal to ask. Why would it not be? As a practical business matter, the rental car agency would be foolish to rent a car to someone who declined insurance and didn't have their own---in an accident involving property damage or injury, the rental car agency would be without a chair when the music stopped---common sense.
There is not even a hint of illegal conduct in asking a renter of a vehicle for proof of insurance.
If you do not wish to purchase the various forms of coverage offered, which actually are in fact insurance, you are not required to do so. For some, the fees and added protections will make sense. For others, they will not. For those renters, they simply decline the added coverage and initial for each coverage it was offered and declined.
I've rented cars off and on for over 25 years. I can not recall a single instance where it was even remotely hinted, much less actually suggested, my rental request might be refused away if I declined any available, but fully optional, coverage.
Mark Theodore TischhauserLitigation LawyerTampa, FL ·
Generally yes. If you can't show valid insurance coverage to protect their car, they can choose not to rent to you or require that you purchase insurance to protect them and their car. Insurance is totally different from an LDW, which you reference and they are 2 different issues.
