choiahoy
Contributor
For anyone who wants to use AMEX’s Premium Car Rental Protection, Avis just confirmed to me that they do accept American Express.
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I'm a fan of this coverage and have used it several times. Just be aware that in the event of vehicle damage or theft you (and not Amex) will be liable to the rental company for the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle. The Amex coverage is clear that they provide reimbursement of approved claims to the Amex card-member, rather than issuing payment of any claim directly to the rental car company.
In other words this insurance policy is a contract between Amex and you, not between Amex and the rental company. This means it will also be incumbent upon you to negotiate with the rental company to resolve any perceived discrepancies in severity and/or cost of vehicle repair or replacement.
This is also in line with the rental terms & conditions published on Avis's website: "When the P.D.W. is not accepted, renter will be fully liable for the damage up to the full value."
I completely agree with Dogbowl. For me, peace of mind is worth a lot. In December my rental car was bashed in the West Bay parking lot on Grand Cayman while out diving. The rental company, Andy's, did not blink when I brought it back. All I had to do was fill out a 2 minute report at the rental desk and then walk away.