If you're planning to rely on credit card or third-party rental car insurance in Ireland, I want to tell you about the one time I actually had to use mine.

The insurance paid the claim. That wasn't the problem.

The problem was everything that happened over the next two months.

This happened back in 2015, so the forms look a little different today. But the reimbursement process with credit card and third-party insurance works much the same way.

The Accident That Changed How I View Rental Car Insurance

On this trip my daughters and I were driving through the Vee, an incredibly scenic gap between County Tipperary and County Waterford.

We were climbing a narrow hill when a large dump truck came down toward us much faster than I would expect on a road that size. Whether the driver knew the road well or simply assumed no one was coming the other way, I don't know.

I moved over as far as I safely could… but there simply wasn't enough room.

The entire passenger side of the rental car scraped along the stone wall, and neither passenger door would open afterward.

Returning the Rental Car

I drove the car to Cork Airport the following day, as it was the closest rental office.

The staff inspected the damage, completed the incident report, and charged the estimated €1,630 repair cost to my credit card. They also gave me copies of all the paperwork they said I'd need to file my insurance claim.

My original rental ended there, something I hadn't anticipated. Before we could continue our trip, I had to arrange a new rental vehicle. For that second rental, I ended up purchasing the rental company's excess coverage before we could get back on the road.

At that point, I thought the hard part was over.

It wasn't.

The Documents You'll Need for a Credit Card or Third-Party Insurance Claim

One thing I did right was keeping every piece of paperwork. I saved the incident report, the damage acknowledgement, photos of the vehicle, and every document the rental company gave me.

I ended up needing all of it.

If you're relying on credit card or third-party insurance, assume you'll need to document everything. Take photos, keep copies of every form, and don't throw anything away until your claim has been fully settled.

What the Credit Card Insurance Claims Process Was Really Like

For the next two months, I was the middleman.

The credit card insurance company kept requesting documents.

Sometimes they needed paperwork I hadn't been given.

So I contacted the rental company.

Then the insurance company needed something else.

Back to the rental company.

Neither company was doing anything wrong. This is simply how reimbursement insurance can work. The rental company and the insurance administrator don't always communicate directly, so you may end up acting as the go-between.

The Hidden Cost of Reimbursement Insurance

Meanwhile, that repair charge was sitting on my credit card.

I had two choices.

Leave the balance there while waiting for reimbursement and potentially pay interest…

Or pay it myself and wait for the insurance company to reimburse me later.

Either way, it tied up a significant amount of money for weeks.

And if your balance carries over, the interest generally isn't part of what the insurance reimburses.

Why I Prefer Inclusive Rental Car Coverage in Ireland

That experience completely changed how I rent cars in Ireland.

Today, I prefer rentals with inclusive coverage or I purchase the rental company's excess protection.

Not because I think credit card insurance doesn't work.

Mine did.

I simply decided that, for me, avoiding (potential) months of paperwork, large temporary charges, and the uncertainty afterward is worth paying a little more upfront.

Everyone has a different comfort level with risk and paperwork, but I think it's important to understand the claims process before deciding which type of coverage is right for you.

Before You Choose Rental Car Insurance in Ireland

Before you rely on credit card or third-party rental car coverage, make sure you understand how the claims process works, what documentation you'll need, and whether you're comfortable paying the damage charge first while waiting to be reimbursed.

For many travelers, reimbursement coverage is a perfectly good option. For me, after going through the process once, I decided the extra cost of inclusive coverage was worth the peace of mind.

If you're still deciding which insurance option is best for your trip, be sure to watch my other rental car insurance videos and podcast episodes. I compare the different types of coverage, explain how they work, and help you choose the option that best fits your budget and comfort level. You'll everything in my complete Car Rental & Driving in Ireland resource.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 348

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