#9- your informative post is correct in the USA, but not in Europe, as I said in my post #1. In most European countries, CDW is included in the rental price and cannot be declined. It is compulsory, not optional. There may be exceptions if you book through a US broker or through the US office of the rental company.
In the USA, CDW is optional, as you state.
A lot of confusion arises because of the peculiar way car insurance operates in the US. There, a private car insurance typically covers any rental car you hire anywhere in the States (and often in Canada too), with zero deductible/excess. So CDW can be declined with impugnity, provided you have your own private car insurance (which just about every adult has). Another peculiarity is that upper limit for liability cover for property (which is what we in Europe would call third-party property cover) is often very low (say $50,000), and varies by state. Most motorists therefore take out additional liability insurance to raise the limit to more realistic $1 million, in case you run into a Rolls Royce or a Ferrari or both!
WOW It's been a long time since I've seen so much misinformation in a single thread! I'm from the US, like the OP, and I have a cottage in Ireland. I've been spending a couple of months a year in Ireland for the last decade, and rent a car every trip, usually for 3 weeks at a time.
1) You can decline CDW with some rental car companies.
2) Many will not accept alternative coverage, like insurance4carhire.
3) World MasterCard, gold or platinum from some banks still provides full CDW coverage for Ireland.
4) If you want to waive CDW you'll need a letter from the bank/insurance company stating you have coverage.
5) The regular CDW (not "super" CDW) offered by most rental companies, leaves you with a deductible of 750-1200 euros. You can lower the deductible by paying a lot more for different levels of "super CDW."
The last couple of trips I've rented from http://www.budget.ie cost 375euro for the smallest car with std. shift and regular CDW for 3 WEEKS. That's the total cost, everything included, except fuel, for a rental in late September this year. I've shopped very aggressively and that's been the best deal around lately. Remember, rates are higher in mid summer and for cars with automatic transmission.
When you shop for rates, you'll find it difficult to get the real total price, from many companies. There are lots of hidden charges, Airport tax, VAT, license fees, road tax........... it goes on and on, watch out for non-refundable fuel deposits.
Best of luck!
Oh, BTW if you get a World MasterCard or other coverage that's acceptable to the rental company, don't be surprised to find they charge a 25euro "administrative fee" for letting you use alternative coverage.
greencelery (# 2 and #10)
Please, you're assisting in the confusion. The OP is not asking about insurance "in most European countries". When using the word "compulsory" there is a great deal of difference between Irish law and rental company policy. In Ireland fire and third party liability are mandatory. CDW and Super CDW are optional, but individual rental company policy may not allow you to decline their CDW.
I have just returned from Ireland and I was able to decline the rental agency's CDW in favour of CDW through a third party. Your comments made me think I was going crazy so I've just looked into it and no, I'm not crazy :) Legally CDY is optional.
#12's comments are bang on and come from the perspective of someone who has rented multiple times.