Collision Damage Waiver vs Your Own Auto Policy

The collision damage waiver sold at the rental counter and your own auto policy both promise to cover the rental car, but they work in completely different ways, and the problem is that most people treat them as interchangeable. They are not, and choosing between them without understanding the difference is how you end up with a surprise bill and a claim on your record you never wanted.The collision damage waiver is not technically insurance at all, it is the rental company agreeing to waive its right to collect for damage to the car. If you crash, you walk away without a claim on your personal policy and without your premium going up, which is its real appeal. The catch is the cost, which can run twenty or thirty dollars a day, often more than the rental itself.Your own auto policy usually extends collision and comprehensive coverage to a rental car, but