[Healeys] Motor vehicle insurance in US

[Patrick and Caroline Quinn]

G'day John

That's a trap for the unwary. When we hired a vehicle in Canada online from
Sydney we had no idea that it carried no insurance whatsoever, unlike it
does here if an excess is paid.

Not wanting to run the risk I did take out extra insurance and it was
expensive.

Far too expensive for a Ford Focus and the car was wrong too because when it
was built they put the steering wheel on the wrong side.

Hoo Roo

Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia 

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of John Rowe
Sent: Wednesday, 27 April 2011 11:12 PM
To: Healey List
Subject: [Healeys] Motor vehicle insurance in US

We are currently arranging our travel plans for our forthcoming trip to 
the New England states.

Could someone please explain the current status of MV insurance in the US.

On booking a hire car the general conditions of hire seem to infer that 
there is no insurance on the car within the hire rate and that ALL 
insurance has to be taken out by the hirer.

In Australia we have a system where Third Party Personal Insurance is 
included with the Registration or Licence costs and is COMPULSORY. 
Therefore if my concentration momentarily wavers and I hit a pedestrian 
(Heaven forbid) any costs associated with the injury of that pedestrian 
are covered by the compulsory Third Party Insurance. (Any other costs 
associated with my being arrested for reckless driving are to my account.)

One of the Insurance options that I can take out refers to the other 
driver being uninsured.

What insurance are drivers and car owners required to take out, if any?

Some of the insurance options have a daily rate higher than the car hire 
daily rate.

Any assistance and clarification will be greatly appreciated.

regards

John Rowe
Perth
west oz.