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A good friend and I and are taking another trip to Vegas this summer.
We have gone about 20 times over the last 25 years.
On each occasion, we have split the cost of the rental car, including about $60 extra for the collision insurance on the rental car.
Although we both should have done this years ago, we called our insurance companies to see whether our policies actually covered the rental car.
In my case, the answer was yes. In my friends case, the answer was no.
I have therefore been splitting this cost unnecessarily all these years.
The question is should I be a good guy( or sucker) and continue to split this cost, or tell him to pay it all since I don't need it.
He is considering having me do all the driving since he does not want to pay the entire cost of the extra coverage.
The reason why this irks me is because my friend has been very lucky this year. He has won $15,000 combined in lotteries and football pools. He also wins $100 constantly on scratchers. He just won $100 dollars again this week.
I told him " Why don't you just pretend you won $40 instead of $100, and pay for the extra insurance."
He groaned a bit and said he does not want to give into the rental company. Although what I think he truly means is that he does not want to give into me.
I can neither force him to buy the insurance, nor can I insist he drive if he does not buy it, but the round trip is nearly 800 miles, and we have different agendas when in Vegas.I usually stay around the local casinos and walk. He usually takes the car and gets in at 4 am.
I anticipate some conflict of interest if I have to do all the driving.
It is not too much of a deal if I throw in an extra $30 (maybe more) to split this cost, but it bothers me that he simply does not pay it all because he has been very lucky this year, and he knows I don't need it..
I will likely decide to split the cost with him, since it is a small price to pay to avoid the inconveniences, and these inconveniences would be worth far more than $30.
If you want him to drive part of the time, then it is fair for you to split the cost of the insurance. You are benefitting as much as he is, by not having to make the whole drive yourself. If you don't want to pay half the insurance, either go by yourself in your own car, or find another friend who has insurance. If you want to go with THIS friend, then an extra $30 is just how much it costs.
You are not entitled to benefit from his luck in any way, by the way.
I wouldn't want to pay either. I don't like wasting money and you actually are paying for it through your insurance. If he doesn't want to pay the rental company, then he should pay for it through his insurance. If he doesn't want to do that, that is his own problem. You shouldn't be responsible for HIS insurance. If decides to not buy the insurance, just make sure the car is in his name so if something does happen when he's out and about, you won't be caught up in it.
If he has the money and is the only one needing the coverage, why are you paying for it? What kind of friend would make you pay for something you don't need?
I'm sure you agree it's not worth ruining a friendship over, but it seems that you should share the driving (no way would I want yo do it all!) with each of you being responsible for being insured. You are already insured for rental cars; he is not. Perhaps for a very small amount of money, he could add rental car coverage to his auto policy. If not, the $60 fee IMO should be his alone to cover. You're probably already paying a small amount extra on your auto policy to have this coverage (even if it doesn't show up as a line item).
Good luck, and remember, it's not worth losing a good friend over!
I wouldn't pay it. He probably doesn't have insurance so that is why he isn't covered. If he paid an extra $30 that he didn't have to before he is losing money. Either you gain money (saving) or he loses by having to pay for insurance . I'm not a betting man, but I'd bet a nickel neither one of you will actually need to make a claim on insurance. Car insurance is a sham unless you are accident prone. Even the insurance companies are betting you won't need to make a claim. Otherwise they wouldn't have a business model.
...The reason why this irks me is because my friend has been very lucky this year. He has won $15,000 combined in lotteries and football pools. He also wins $100 constantly on scratchers. He just won $100 dollars again this week...
People talk about how much they WON...
Now how about also telling us how much he LOST?
(Profit is deducting the losses from the winnings - or expenses from the income. What is left over is the "profit" or true winnings. Typically with gambling, the losses are higher than the winnings. That is why they have all those fancy buildings in Vegas. Also why the people flying back home on airplanes from there do not look terribly happy.)
The relationship with your friend has already taken a hit, this is ALL about principles, not the money. I believe it's always better to tell your friend how you feel, if you quietly pay for insurance you don't need, and are being asked to drive the whole way, your trip will be ruined, you might as well not go. His good financial luck has nothing to do with this. Your friend is being a total jerk, and by the way, the fact that his auto policy doesn't cover a rental should tell you something, he's a cheap scape, I've rarely heard of adults not having coverage, it's pretty standard with auto insurance.
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