Help with Insurance - Pricewire/Hotwire

Greetings,

We're visiting the USA and Canada and looking to hire cars in NYC & Buffalo, NY, Calgary, AB and possibly Vancouver, BC. The prices on PL and HW look enticing, but because we're from Australia, I won't have car insurance in USA/Canada. Checked credit card and travel insurance - only covers rental car excess (specifically states is NOT a replacement for car insurance)/

Exactly what insurance cover, then, is included in PL/HW prices (if any) and if we have to purchase additional insurance to bring up to bare(legal) minimum, then the prices may not be that much of a bargain any more.

What additional insurance would folk recommend?

Thanks in advance,

QFF

The rates thru Priceline and HOTWIRE are for car rental only... any insurance you need/want will have to be bought thru the rental company. However, i'm not sure how the rates thru priceline/hotwire don't seem like such a bargain after including insurance into the cost... wouldn't you need this insurance as well if you rented 'direct' from the car rental company?

This thread took a bit of digging to find, but i would give this CAR RENTAL UNITED STATES GUIDE thread a read. In it, a company (which i know nothing about, insurance4carhire.com) is mentioned and one of the products they sell is car insurance for when you rent cars (doublecheck, but i believe their policy covers you for an entire year, and for any rental, up to 31 days in length)