If you are traveling for business or pleasure and are not driving your own car, you will probably need to use a ridesharing app., take a taxi/cab, or rent a car and drive yourself. If you will only need transportation to and from the airport and a few short rides during your stay, you may decide the convenience and cost-effectiveness of ridesharing apps. are the best option. But if you plan to travel longer distances from your original destination, it may be more convenient and cost-effective to rent a car.

If you rent a car, you will be required to sign a rental agreement—which is a legal contract that includes some important terms and decisions for you to make related to your use of the car and your responsibility for any damage to it. One of the most important decisions is whether to purchase the insurance offered by the car rental agency, or to rely on coverage from the insurance policy you may have on your own car.

The insurance offered by the car rental agency is usually called collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW)—and it is not really insurance—it is the car rental agency’s waiver of any claims against you if the car is damaged. This will generally mean the car rental agency is not able to seek recovery of damages from you (or your personal auto insurer) if the rental car is damaged. But as with all forms of insurance or waiver of rights, this waiver of your responsibility is subject to the language of the CDW/LDW insurance policy and the specific circumstances of any accident or damage.

In North Carolina, when you rent a car, you are entering into a legal contract with the rental agency. This contract outlines the terms of your use of the vehicle and your responsibilities regarding any damage that may occur during the rental period. One key decision you'll need to make is whether to opt for the collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW) offered by the rental company. While often referred to as insurance, CDW/LDW is actually the rental company's agreement not to pursue you for damages if the car is damaged under certain conditions. It's important to note that the protection provided by CDW/LDW is contingent on the specific terms and exclusions outlined in the waiver agreement. If you have personal auto insurance, it may cover rental cars, but you should verify this with your insurance provider to understand the extent of the coverage. Additionally, some credit card companies offer rental car insurance as a benefit, so it's worth checking with your credit card issuer as well. Ultimately, whether to accept the rental company's CDW/LDW or rely on your own insurance should be based on a careful consideration of the costs, risks, and coverage limitations.