Company Spotlight

Five Reasons to Buy the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

When you rent a car, the rental company offers you their optional coverages. One is coverage for damage to the vehicle you are renting.  This coverage is called Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).

Your personal or business auto policy may provide some coverage for the rental car but the LDW is broader than most of those policies.  There are five primary reasons you should consider buying the LDW.

1. No Deductible  

When your auto policy pays for the damage to the rental car, you will pay the policy deductible.  There is no deductible with the LDW.

2. No Claim on your Record

When your policy pays, the claim will show in the insurance industry databases and can influence your rates in the future.  The claim covered under
the LDW is never reported to the insurance industry.

3. Full Coverage for Loss of Use

If you damage the rental car, you will also be responsible for the loss of rental income during the time it is out of use.  Many auto policies do not cover this
and others provide only partial coverage. It is not an issue if you purchase the LDW.

4. Coverage Matches Your Legal Obligation

With a collision loss, your auto policy will pay the cost of repairing the vehicle.  The rental agreement you signed may obligate you for much more than
that.  Most rental car companies are now charging for Diminished Value (the reduction in value of the vehicle because it has been in an accident).  And,
one major rental car company is simply selling the damaged vehicle at auction and charging the renter for the difference between the pre- loss value
and the sale proceeds.  If what your auto policy pays for the repairs is not sufficient to cover the bill from the rental car company, you will pay the difference. When you buy the LDW, your obligation for damage is covered completely.

5. You Won’t Miss the Plane

If you return the rental car damaged, you may miss your flight home as you complete the paper work that is required.  When you have the LDW, the return process is not difficult.  The cost of the LDW is expensive, in most cases around $20 per day.  Despite the expense, many renters feel the peace of mind it brings makes the price well worth it.

Current auto insurance statistics show that pricing will tend to rise gradually over the next two years.  With only a few exceptions, it should pretty much follow inflation. 

Knowing that you have some control over your pricing should make you feel better...

Many companies offer a defensive driver discount.  Typically, the discount ranges from 3% - 5%.  Often, anyone can get the discount.  However, sometimes there are rules that the driver needs to have a good record or needs to be a certain age.

If you are interested in learning more about this discount, please contact your agent.

Any of you that knew my dad knew a man that was born to serve others.  He loved his farm, he loved his customers, and, above all, he loved his family.

Sometime around noon on Friday, August 6, 2010, W. Gary Kelly passed from this life.  He was working on his farm -- specifically, on his homemade sporting clay shooting range.  He loved doing that because it gave people he cared about a reason to drive out to Randolph to visit and enjoy themselves.  He rarely had the time to shoot the sporting clays himself.  He was more concerned that others had a good time.

As we move forward in our healing, please be patient with us.  I personally worked side-by-side with my dad, my hero for 15 years.  It was hard to see him retire 34 days ago.  It's devastating to think that he is gone.  Ben was equally close with dad and Tonya, dad's niece, was like a daughter to him as well.

Please excuse our absence over the next week or so.  Whatever service concerns you have, we promise, we'll be able to get them handled like my dad would have handled them in due time.  Feel free to call our office at 330-929-3056 and put us on notice with your needs.  Some of our staff will be available for most of the week to handle things.

W. Gary Kelly

May 11, 1944 - August 6, 2010