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I am returning to the USA after 9 months travel abroad. When I get back I will not own a vehicle for a while, a month or so, and so will need to rent one. What are my insurance options...
Use the rental company insurance (expensive)
My credit card visa has some coverage but I believe it is only secondary to my own (does it apply if I don't have any primary ?)
What other options do I have.
Ordinarily, the secondary credit card coverage would work for someone without other insurance and pay just as it would be if it was primary. However, most have a bunch of limitations as to the type of car ( usually no SUVs, trucks, or specialty vehicles) and the duration of the rental. I'm not sure any of them will cover rentals of 30 days or more, so you need to triple check the fine print and see if you have coverage.
The expensive rental car, or third party insurance is good advice.
American express also has "premium" rental car insurance you can do on a per rental basis for $25 per rental (not per day) or less in some states. This may be the best deal, if you can get signed up in time. Covers rentals up to 42 days (30 days in Washington State).
Liability is a very interesting topic without other insurance. In most cases (state dependent) the rental car company will be required to carry minimum liability insurance with the car. That means if you are in a fender bender with minor damages to another car, the rental car company will likely cover it (but do double check). However, in some states, the minimums are so low, you leave your self exposed if you are at fault in an accident and do serious damage to another car or person. For example, in California, the minimum property damage required is only $5,000, so it is likely you won't have coverage beyond that, and it is obviously easy to cause damage more than that.
The 3rd party insurance above and credit card insurance does not provide liability. So your best bet may be 3rd party or American Express CDW/LDW and rental car company liability (which tends to be more reasonably priced).
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