14 guides
Car coverage guides for travelers
Independent education. We're not an insurer, broker or rental company, and we never share your details.
Renting a car
Counter coverage, your own policy, card benefits and inspections.
- Rental counter coverage, explained
CDW, LDW, SLI, PAI and PEC: what each one is and what to check before you say yes.
- Does your own car insurance cover a rental?
How personal auto policies often extend to rentals in the US, and the common gaps.
- Credit card rental car coverage
Primary vs. secondary coverage, the rules to qualify and the usual exclusions.
- Inspect a rental car (and avoid damage disputes)
The 5-minute walk-around and photos that protect you at return.
- What to do if you crash a rental car
The extra steps when the car isn't yours.
Driving abroad
Canada, Mexico, permits and renting overseas.
- Driving to Canada from the US
Insurance proof, license and border basics for a road trip north.
- Driving to Mexico from the US
Why you need Mexican liability insurance, and what else to plan for.
- International Driving Permits for US drivers
What an IDP is, when you need one and where to get it legitimately.
- Renting a car abroad: coverage basics
What's included in the price, what isn't, and how your card fits in.
Moving and road trips
New states and long drives.
- Moving to a new state with your car
Insurance, registration and license steps, and why your rate may change.
- Before a long road trip: a coverage check
Roadside help, coverage limits and documents to check before you go.
Borrowing, sharing, rideshare
When it is someone else's car, or an app is involved.
- Borrowing or lending a car: whose insurance pays?
How coverage usually works when someone else drives.
- Rideshare and delivery driving: coverage gaps
Why personal policies often exclude it, and what to ask about.
- Peer-to-peer car sharing
Renting someone's car through an app, or sharing yours: coverage to understand.