So hubby and I are coming down to SXM next month and are bringing some of our friends for the first time. We are renting a car, as we usually do. We usually use our credit card that covers the CDW insurance coverage. This time we are adding on our friends as additional drivers and are considering just buying the liability and the CDW insurance coverage through the rental car company.

Our thought is that at least if something happens to the vehicle, we won’t have to worry about it being under my husband’s credit card and having to pay for the damages especially if he isn’t the person driving it and then having to deal with the claim ourselves when we get home. With purchasing both insurances through the rental car company, do they just take care of everything if there is a problem?

I'm not sure how the rental companies process an incident. If you proceed with using a CC for the CDW contact them to make sure if they still offer it. Many companies have discontinued that perk. If you elect to purchase the collision and liability from the rental company to include other drivers it will get expensive. As far as Liability some companies, like Hertz SXM, include this free for driver and spouse but not collision. There is a fee for additional drivers. What ever you do be sure and get a quote that includes all fees, taxes and insurance charges to avoid any add on surprises at pickup time.

Read the fine print on the island rental company coverage and I would also check with your personal insurance company, and I mean the underwriter and not necessarily the local agent. Some of the SXM rental agencies have a very high deductible so be aware of that.

Since our credit card stopped CDW coverage and our auto insurance does not cover rental cars outside of the US we have been purchasing CDW from our travel insurance carrier, Allianz.

Yes, MANY cards have eliminated the CDW, along with other benefits that were once offered. Of my 4 cards, only the Cap One VISA still offers CDW.

My Aviator AAdvantage through Barclays Bank still includes the CDW for up to 60 days. My other Citi Bank cards don't except for my AA Citi Business card. I just confirmed it with all my cards. Didn't check my Alaska Mastercard as I don't take that one with me to SXM.

Good to know about the one through AA/Barclays as I succombed to their spiel on a trip last year.

And no foreign transaction fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred still offers CDW, no foreign transaction fees, and quite a few travel insurance benefits. We like them and the Schwab Checking account that refunds all our foreign atm fees.

Well, it looks like I’ll be using my WestJet Elite credit card for CDW coverage as it looks like there is no deductible with them at all. There’s even the option for the claim to be directly handled by the car rental company and the insurance company used by WestJet Elite.

Yup...same with United Explorer MC...primary coverage anywhere plus a bunch of other stuff that I was not aware of until I just confirmed the primary thing

Primary coverage is a big thing. We had a claim years ago, not in SXM, but with primary coverage, our car insurance carrier wasn't even notified of the claim, I don't think.

Here's a bit of additional information. I checked with my Executive CitiBank VISA card that I got through Costco about both foreign purchases and Collision coverage. They don't have fees and do cover Collision. In addition they will send you written confirmation of this so that if any questions arise you have proof. That plus the Costco awards program can make it well worth using that one.

Chase Sapphire Preferred is primary for CDW. Liability seems to be dependent on the rental agency. Avis includes it in the rental cost.

My understanding is that rental agencies in St Maarten are required to provide liability in the quoted rate and not as an add on option.

That jives with French law as well. We were happy to see that in France last Fall. Good to know.