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Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Effective: 3/1/06.

Receive 24-hour auto insurance coverage—at no additional cost—for damage due to collision or theft. Simply complete the rental transaction with your covered Visa Signature card and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage offered by the rental company to activate the coverage. You will be reimbursed for the repair or replacement of covered losses to your rental vehicle when certain terms and conditions are met.

Enjoy quick, easy, and accurate filing plus a quicker claim settlement when you file your claims online at the Visa Auto Rental Claim Center. See eligibility requirements below.

What is this benefit?

When certain terms and conditions are met, the Visa Signature Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver benefit (“Auto Rental CDW”) provides—at no additional charge—reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft up to the actual cash value of most rental vehicles. In your country of residence, this benefit is supplemental to, and excess of, any valid and collectible insurance from any other source. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the benefit.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible only if you are a valid cardholder whose name is embossed on an eligible U.S.-issued Visa Signature card. Only you as the primary renter of the vehicle and any additional drivers permitted by the auto rental agreement are covered.

What is covered?

Subject to the terms and conditions in this Guide to Benefit, Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW reimburses you for covered damage or theft to a rental vehicle while it is your responsibility as well as valid administrative and loss-of-use charges imposed by the auto rental company and reasonable towing charges. Only vehicle rental periods that neither exceed nor are intended to exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days within your country of residence or thirty-one (31) consecutive days outside your country of residence are covered.

The benefit provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle as it was originally manufactured. Most private passenger automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles are eligible, but some restrictions may apply. Please contact the Benefit Administrator to inquire about a specific vehicle.

Within your country of residence, this benefit supplements, and applies excess of, any valid and collectible insurance or reimbursement from any source. This means that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Guide to Benefit, Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW applies to losses or expenses that are not covered by insurance or reimbursement.

Covered losses are:

How do I activate this benefit?

For the benefit to be in effect, you must:

Helpful hints:

What do I do if I have an accident or the rental vehicle is stolen?

Immediately call the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-397-9010 to report the theft or damage regardless of whether your liability has been established. If you are outside the United States, call collect at 0-410-902-8012. The Benefit Administrator will answer any questions youor the rental agency may have and will then send you a claim form. All incidents must be reported immediately following the theft or damage, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days * following the date of the theft or damage. Furthermore, we reserve the right to deny any claim that contains charges that would not have been included had the Benefit Administrator been notified before those expenses were incurred. We therefore advise you to notify us immediately after any loss. You must make every reasonable effort to protect the rental vehicle from damage or theft.

What is not covered?

What if the auto rental company insists that I purchase the auto rental company’s auto insurance or collision damage waiver?

Call the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-397-9010 for help. If you are outside the United States, call collect at 0-410-902-8012.

When and where am I covered?

This benefit is available on a 24-hour basis, in the United States and most foreign countries. No benefit is provided for motor vehicles rented in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, or Northern Ireland.

Additionally, this benefit is not available where precluded by law or in violation of the territory terms of the auto rental agreement or prohibited by individual merchants. Because regulations vary outside the United States, we recommend you check with your auto rental company and the Benefit Administrator before you travel to make sure Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW will apply.

This benefit is in effect while the rental vehicle remains in your control or in the control of a person permitted to operate the rental vehicle in accordance with the rental agreement between you and the auto rental company. This benefit terminates when the auto rental company re-assumes control of the rental vehicle.

What type of coverage is this?

Within your country of residence, Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW supplements, and applies excess of, any valid and collectible insurance or reimbursement from any source. It does not duplicate insurance provided by or purchased through the auto rental company; it will not pay for losses reimbursed by your own insurer, employer, employer’s insurance, or any other valid and collectible insurance; however, it will pay for the outstanding deductible portion or other charges, including valid administration and loss-of-use charges not covered by your applicable automobile insurance policy. Outside your country of residence or if you do not have automobile insurance, this benefit is primary in those countries where it is available, and in that case, you do not have to claim payment from any other source of insurance before receiving the benefits.

What types of rental vehicles are not covered?

Excluded worldwide are: expensive, exotic, and antique automobiles; certain vans; vehicles that have an open cargo bed; trucks; motorcycles, mopeds, and motorbikes; limousines; and recreational vehicles. Examples of excluded expensive or exotic automobiles are the Aston Martin, Bentley, Bricklin, Daimler, DeLorean, Excalibur, Ferrari, Jensen, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Porsche, and Rolls Royce. However, selected models of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, and Lincoln are covered.

An antique automobile is defined as any vehicle over twenty (20) years old or any vehicle that has not been manufactured for ten (10) years or more.

This benefit is provided for only those vans manufactured and designed to transport a maximum of eight (8) people and which is used exclusively to transport people.

If you have any questions regarding a specific vehicle, call the Benefit Administrator at 1-800-397-9010. If you are outside the United States, call collect at 0-410-902-8012.

What do I need from the auto rental company in order to file a Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW claim?

At the time of the damage or theft, or when you return the rental vehicle, immediately ask the auto rental company for:

How do I file a claim?

You, the cardholder, are responsible for reporting your claim to the Benefit Administrator immediately, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days * from the date of theft or damage, or your claim will be denied. Notice to any other party will not suffice. Furthermore, we reserve the right to deny any claim that contains charges that would not have been included had the Benefit Administrator been notified before those expenses were incurred.We therefore advise you to notify us immediately after any theft or damage.

Mail the following documentation to the Benefit Administrator:



For faster filing, submit your claim online. It’s easy, convenient, and available at no extra cost to eligible Visa Signature cardholders. To submit your claim and learn more about Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW go to the Visa Auto Rental CDW Claim Center at www.visa.com/eclaims .

If you experience difficulty in obtaining all the required documents within ninety (90) days * of the date of theft or damage, just submit the claim form and any documentation you already have available.

NOTE: All remaining documents must be postmarked within 365 days of the date of theft or damage.

Do I have to do anything else?

Usually not. Under normal circumstances, the claim will be paid within fifteen (15) days after the Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW Benefit Administrator has received all documentation necessary to fully substantiate your claim.

However, after the Benefit Administrator has paid your claim, all your rights and remedies against any party in respect of this theft or damage will be transferred to the Provider to the extent of the cost of the Provider’s payment to you.

The Provider shall then be entitled at its own expense to sue in your name. Should this occur, you must give the Provider all assistance as the Provider may reasonably require to secure its rights and remedies including the execution of all documents necessary to enable the Provider to bring suit in your name.

*Not applicable to residents of certain states.

Additional Provisions for Auto Rental CDW:

You must make every effort that would be made by a reasonable and prudent person to protect the Rental Vehicle from damage or theft. This provision will not be applied unreasonably to avoid claims.

If you make any claim knowing it to be false or fraudulent in any respect including, but not limited to, the cost of repair services, no coverage shall exist for such claim and your benefits may be canceled. The Provider relies on the truth of the statements of each cardholder. Each cardholder agrees that such representations are accurate and complete. Any and all relevant provisions shall be void in any case of fraud, intentional concealment, or misrepresentation of material fact by the cardholder.

Once you report an occurrence, a claim file will be opened and shall remain open for six (6) months from the date of the damage or theft. No payment will be made on a claim that is not completely substantiated in the manner required by the Benefit Administrator within twelve (12) months of the date of damage or theft.

No legal action for a claim may be brought against us until sixty (60) days after we receive Proof of Loss. After the expiration of two (2) years from the time written Proof of Loss was to be provided, no action shall be brought to recover on this benefit. Further, no legal action may be brought against us unless all the terms of this Guide to Benefit and policy have been complied with fully. Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW is a benefit provided to eligible Visa Signature cardholders in accordance with the policy underwritten by Indemnity Insurance Company of North America (“Provider”). The benefit is subject to the terms and conditions outlined and includes certain restrictions, limitations, and exclusions. This Guide to Benefit is not a policy of insurance. In the event of any conflict between the description of the benefit in this Guide to Benefit and the policy, the policy will govern. The policy is on file at the offices of Visa U.S.A.

The benefit described in this Guide to Benefit will not apply to Visa Signature cardholders whose accounts have been suspended or canceled.

This benefit is provided to eligible Visa Signature cardholders at no additional cost. The terms and conditions contained in this Guide to Benefit may be modified by subsequent endorsements. Modifications to the terms and conditions may be provided via additional Guide to Benefit mailings, statement inserts, or statement messages.

Termination date may vary by financial institutions. Visa and/or your Financial Institution can cancel or non-renew the benefit, and if we do, we will notify you at least thirty (30) days in advance. If the Provider non-renews or cancels any benefits provided to eligible Visa Signature cardholders, you will be notified within 30–120 days before the expiration of the policy. In the event a substantially similar benefit takes effect without interruption, no such notice is necessary. Visa Signature Auto Rental CDW will still apply to vehicle rentals commenced prior to the date of such cancellation or non-renewal provided all other terms and conditions of the benefit are met.

FORM #VCCDW01 (03/06)

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