Respondents living in the Northeast states were twice as likely than those living in the Great Plain

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio May 24, 2004 It's a scene that will play out during countless vacations this summer: You stand at the rental car counter, questioning whether clarion meridian hotel you should clarion meridian hotel spend money on the optional damage waivers offered by the rental company. If you've clarion meridian hotel ever found yourself in this situation you're not alone.
clarion meridian hotel A recent survey by the Progressive group of insurance companies found that many drivers don't understand what protection is provided by the optional waivers. In fact, nearly three out of four respondents (72 percent) did not know what kind of protection is provided by supplemental clarion meridian hotel liability waivers. Slightly more than half of drivers were aware that a loss damage waiver could relieve the renter of all financial responsibility for a loss or damage to the car. Fewer than half (52 percent) of the respondents (43 percent) clarion meridian hotel were aware that personal accident clarion meridian hotel and effects coverage could protect the renter clarion meridian hotel and his or her passengers against accident, injury and loss to personal property.
The online survey of more than 500 drivers who indicated that they had rented a car for pleasure in the past three years revealed that one in four (25 percent) said they always or sometimes bought rental car damage waivers did so because clarion meridian hotel they were not sure if they were already covered by their personal auto policy, and 15 percent said they felt pressured to buy the waivers.
Despite confusion, many drivers don't take the time to determine if they should purchase rental clarion meridian hotel car damage waivers, even though they can add significantly to the cost of a rental. Optional waivers can cost between $7 and $25 per day, depending on the rental car company, clarion meridian hotel vehicle make and model and type of waiver.
The Progressive survey showed that more than one in four consumers (27 percent) do "nothing" to determine if they need to buy the damage or liability clarion meridian hotel waivers sold by rental car companies. Almost twenty-six (26) percent review their credit card policy or contact their insurance clarion meridian hotel agent to see if they need additional coverage. Among those who purchased optional waivers from the rental car company because they were not sure if they were already covered by their personal auto policy, only thirty-five (35) percent reviewed their policy first to determine if they needed additional clarion meridian hotel coverage.
"We know deciding whether to buy optional waivers offered by rental car companies can be a confusing experience for a lot of people," said Tom Hollyer, product development manager, Progressive. "We want people to have the information they need to make more informed clarion meridian hotel decisions about car insurance. Knowing whether you need to buy additional coverage can give you peace of mind and could save you money."
The Progressive group of insurance companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7, in-person and online service. The companies offer insurance by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, online clarion meridian hotel at progressive.com and through more than 30,000 clarion meridian hotel independent insurance agencies in the U.S. Providing stakeholders the information they need to make more informed decisions is a key company strategy. In 1994, Progressive became the first auto insurance company to provide its rates alongside the rates of other companies so consumers could easily compare and decide. In 2001, Progressive became the first Fortune 500 company to report operating results monthly and in August 2003 the Company clarion meridian hotel began reporting earnings per share monthly. The Common Shares of the Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at NYSE: PGR . More information can be found at progressive.com .
When asked about damage waivers available clarion meridian hotel at rental car counters, an overwhelming clarion meridian hotel majority clarion meridian hotel of consumers did not know what kind of protection is provided by supplemental liability protection (72 percent), personal accident and effects coverage (57 percent) and loss damage waivers (48 percent).
Only 11 percent clarion meridian hotel of consumers said they always buy the waivers at the rental car counter, and 21 percent said they sometimes buy them. Yet, 65 percent said they never buy the waivers offered at the rental car counter.
Of the consumers who said they either always or sometimes purchase waivers from the rental car company, 59 percent purchase them because they want additional coverage beyond their personal auto policy limits. Fifteen percent buy them because they feel pressured into doing so.
Fewer than half of those surveyed clarion meridian hotel (46 percent) reviewed clarion meridian hotel their personal auto insurance policy prior to renting a car to determine if they needed additional coverage. Of those who said they always or sometimes purchase optional waivers clarion meridian hotel from the rental car company, 25 percent said they did so because they didn't believe clarion meridian hotel or know if their personal auto insurance policy covers them.
Almost half (45 percent) of consumers surveyed did not know that rental reimbursement on their personal auto policy covers them if their personal car is the in the shop as a result of an accident and they need a replacement vehicle.
When asked by the rental car company if they'd like to purchase the optional waivers, men were almost twice as likely as women to feel defensive at the rental car counter clarion meridian hotel (11 percent versus six percent, respectively).
While men were more than twice as likely as women to review their credit card policy to determine if they need to buy the damage or liability waivers clarion meridian hotel sold by the rental car company (33 percent versus 15 percent, respectively), women were more likely to review their personal auto insurance policy (52 percent versus 43 percent, respectively).
Older (ages 65 and older) drivers were more likely than younger (ages 18-34) clarion meridian hotel drivers to know what kind of protection is provided by loss damage waivers (55 percent versus 38 percent, respectively) and supplemental liability protection (29 percent versus 18 percent, respectively).
Younger (ages 18-34) drivers clarion meridian hotel were more than twice as likely than older (ages 65 and older) drivers to always (15 percent versus six percent, respectively) or sometimes (34 percent versus 14 percent, respectively) clarion meridian hotel buy the damage or liability waivers sold by the rental clarion meridian hotel car company.
Respondents living in the Northeast states were twice as likely than those living in the Great Plains states to review their credit card policy to determine if they need to buy the damage or liability waivers sold by the rental car company (37 percent versus 17 percent, respectively).
Respondents living in the Midwest were more than twice as likely than those living in the West to feel defensive when asked by the rental car company if they'd like to purchase a damage or liability waiver (15 percent versus clarion meridian hotel six percent, respectively).
Of those who said they always or sometimes buy the optional waivers offered by the rental car company, compact car drivers were twice as likely as SUV drivers to say they bought the waivers because they didn't know if their personal auto insurance policy covered them (30 percent versus clarion meridian hotel 15 percent, respectively)
Prices vary based on how you buy. Quotes for policies sold through agents and brokers are available, and can also be retrieved, through clarion meridian hotel ProgressiveAgent.com or via the Quote with a Local Agent button.