Travel Alert: When is having an auto accident a good thing? (David)

We mentioned in an earlier posting that I backed our car into another one in La Crosse WI.  It turned out to be a very fortunate screw-up.

I called our agent to report the accident when it happened a week ago.  I called her again this morning to confirm that everything was fine.  "Oh, yes, everything is fine.  But I was planning to call you today to make sure you know that your auto policy covers rental car accidents only for the first 30 days of a rental.  You're ok with this accident since it happened on Day 5, but you won't have any coverage for driving the rental after the 30th day." 

So that's why it's good to have an accident with your rental car on Day 5: You learn that your auto insurance policy gives you no insurance coverage for Days 31 - 60.  And now you have no excuse for repeating my mistake when you rent a car for more than 30 days.

The solution is to have developed a good rapport with Jamal, the guy at the Hertz counter in Bensenville, IL, where we picked up the rental car.  "Don't worry about a thing, David.  I'll re-write the 2-month rental into two successive 1-month rentals.  Just call me on Day 29."  Now the only problem is to get that in writing, just in case Jamal takes a higher paying job at Avis on Day 28.  But that's something I'll take care of tomorrow.