Seeking advice on what to do in this particular situation.
I live in Colorado. June 2016, vacation in St. Thomas USVI, rented an economy 2015 Toyota Yaris. Declined the LDW from the rental agency because I have car rental insurance through my personal auto insurance, and through the credit card.
The roads in St. Thomas are atrocious. Excessive potholes, rocks, dirt roads, steep hills, steep switchbacks. Anyone can have a minor "accident" even while exercising caution. I know this now in hindsight.
Late at night, first night, unfamiliar with the terrain, on a dirt driveway, I scrape a rock on the bottom right fender between wheelhouse and passenger door.
The rental company is sticking me with a $1700 bill.
From a local body shop, based on photos of the damage, I got an estimate of $1350. The rental agency in St. Thomas has mentioned something about "shipping parts in" to the island. My local estimate said new parts were not required. And the rental agency has reminded me this is not a negotiation.
The credit card offers supplemental insurance which would cover my $1,000 deductible. So up front, this would not cost me out of pocket.
However, my personal auto insurance will be dramatically affected. If a claim is over $1,000, it affects my monthly premium. A LOT. Currently my auto insurance is $541/6 months. With this accident, my rate would go up $249/6 months, for a total of $790/6 months. This would last three years. So the total cost for me over three years will be $1494 (249x2, x3 years).
The thing that pisses me off the most is it wasn't really an "accident" of obvious negligence or carelessness on my part. I understand there is damage to the car, but I'm not a bad or careless driver. The roads were horrible. It was a hidden rock, I had no idea it was even there, I couldn't see it in the dark. Could have happened to anyone. Yes I should have taken the coverage the rental agency offered however, in hindsight. But I feel like the penalty on my auto insurance is excessive and severe.
I realize it's essentially my fault, but I'm trying to minimize the damage to my wallet here. The rental agency is threatening to send it to collections if I continue to challenge them or ignore them.
Do I have any options to mitigate this? Should I just shut up and suck it up? Is there anything I can do? Thank you.
I live in Colorado. June 2016, vacation in St. Thomas USVI, rented an economy 2015 Toyota Yaris. Declined the LDW from the rental agency because I have car rental insurance through my personal auto insurance, and through the credit card.
The roads in St. Thomas are atrocious. Excessive potholes, rocks, dirt roads, steep hills, steep switchbacks. Anyone can have a minor "accident" even while exercising caution. I know this now in hindsight.
Late at night, first night, unfamiliar with the terrain, on a dirt driveway, I scrape a rock on the bottom right fender between wheelhouse and passenger door.
The rental company is sticking me with a $1700 bill.
From a local body shop, based on photos of the damage, I got an estimate of $1350. The rental agency in St. Thomas has mentioned something about "shipping parts in" to the island. My local estimate said new parts were not required. And the rental agency has reminded me this is not a negotiation.
The credit card offers supplemental insurance which would cover my $1,000 deductible. So up front, this would not cost me out of pocket.
However, my personal auto insurance will be dramatically affected. If a claim is over $1,000, it affects my monthly premium. A LOT. Currently my auto insurance is $541/6 months. With this accident, my rate would go up $249/6 months, for a total of $790/6 months. This would last three years. So the total cost for me over three years will be $1494 (249x2, x3 years).
The thing that pisses me off the most is it wasn't really an "accident" of obvious negligence or carelessness on my part. I understand there is damage to the car, but I'm not a bad or careless driver. The roads were horrible. It was a hidden rock, I had no idea it was even there, I couldn't see it in the dark. Could have happened to anyone. Yes I should have taken the coverage the rental agency offered however, in hindsight. But I feel like the penalty on my auto insurance is excessive and severe.
I realize it's essentially my fault, but I'm trying to minimize the damage to my wallet here. The rental agency is threatening to send it to collections if I continue to challenge them or ignore them.
Do I have any options to mitigate this? Should I just shut up and suck it up? Is there anything I can do? Thank you.
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