janisj, yes, we have AAA. But once AAA tows the rental car, my concern is whether we have to pay for

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I took the car anyway, but upon returning home, I posted on another travel site questioned the remark. On that site I was advised that the customer is responsible for the towing repairs the company rental car san diego would not bring them another car - unless I took out the rental car company's roadside maintenance. Really?????
I trust Fodorites for the best info. Is this really true? I've never been asked to take out the maintenance pkg have never heard of anyone doing so. How can someone rent a car expect the renter to maintain rental car san diego (except for accidents, of course)? Why would the companies rental car san diego ever maintain the cars - just make the customer do it!!!
I'm freaked out by this - I could not afford large towing repair costs, but will be traveling again will need to rent a car. I'm sure the company's pkg is expensive. Is this the same as the "insurance" they try to sell that is about the daily cost of the car? I never get it because my ins agent said I am covered my credit card covers for "loss of use" - which my agent said the car company would not legally get anyway.
But IME whether a rental has roadside recovery depends on the company. I haven't bothered checking Stateside in several years since I have AAA and most of my other car rentals are in the UK where roadside assistance is invariably included.
cary999, did your wife pay for the Hertz insurance that insurance just didn't cover "tires", or did she not pay for it at all? I would be real upset if I had to return a rental car with a brand new tire that I paid for!!! rental car san diego Shouldn't rental car san diego their original rental car san diego tire be in good enough condition to repair, rather than replace?
janisj, yes, we have AAA. But once AAA tows the rental car, my concern is whether we have to pay for the repairs - according to the Thrifty agent, we do - that seems bizarre to me. People rent a car pay for a working vehicle, but then if it doesn't work that person has to pay thousands of dollars rental car san diego for repairs - an engine, rental car san diego transmission, etc.???? Like I said, why would the rental companies rental car san diego even bother to service the cars - just let them break down on a customer!
Plus, I'm paying for a working car, but must do without one while it is waiting to be repaired (who knows how long that will be) - maybe missing my hotel reservation arrival requirement, definitely missing out on some of my trip?
CDW = Collision Damage Waiver - it covers physical damage to the vehicle you rent whether that damage is caused by you or others. And, yes, you can purchase it from the car rental company. FYI - CDW is different from Liability Insurance which insures you against injury or damage to other people rental car san diego or property.
As for your question "Shouldn't their original tire be in good enough condition to repair, rather than replace?" - the answer depends rental car san diego on what caused the tire to fail and where on the tire the problem occurred. For instance a nail that pierces the sidewall of tire is sometimes not repairable since the "patch rental car san diego or repair" may not be able to hold up to the strain/temperatures generated during normal driving. rental car san diego I've had that happen to brand new tires on my car.
re my wife's flat tire on a Hertz rental, no she did not take any additional Hertz insurance. That can double the price of rental!! Her credit rental car san diego card and regular car insurance covered her for usual property liability stuff.
Thrifty is just trying to get you to buy their insurance - it is a major revenue stream for them. If damage rental car san diego occurs because of something you did or neglected to do, of course you would be responsible. But if the car has a mechanical failure they are responsible to fix it.
If you have an Amex card, you can purchase "premium" coverage for car rentals....it ranges from $18 to $23 PER RENTAL (not per day). They cover most situations rental car san diego other than the driver putting the wrong gasoline into the car or being negligent in other ways. They cover "fees" that the rental company includes that other credit cards do not consider "damage". (For instance your Visa may cover damage to the car but not the $150 'administrative fee' that Avis tacks on). Some credit cards cover "damage" to the car, but not the "7 days out of service charge" that the car company tacks on.
Also, with the standard Visa or Amex "collision" coverage, you must first go through your own car insurance , pay the deductible etc, and possibly have your rates go up because of your accident. Not so with the premium Amex coverage.
If you happen to take a long vacation.... note that some credit cards only cover rentals of 15 or 21 days. Regular Amex cards cover rentals up to 30 days, and "premium" Amex coverage goes up to 42 days, I believe.