Recently, I’ve had to use a rental car because my own car seems to be permanently out of commission. It’s a lemon.

Which means I now get to endure the full rental-car ritual: the insurance interrogation, the add-ons, and all the nonsense that somehow comes with a “$24 a day” rate. It’s torture.

Yes, I’d like a $24 car. Or a $30 car. Or a $40 car. Fine.

Then the next screen pops up:

Would you like to be super sure you’re covered by insurance?

No, I don’t want your insurance.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Are you really sure?

Yes.

Next screen:

Would you like Sirius radio?

No.

Are you sure?

Yes. Pretty sure.

Next screen:

Would you like the highway pass?

No.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Are you really, really sure?

Yes.

Next screen:

Would you like to make sure your gas is full when you return the car?

No.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Are you really, really sure?

Yes.

Next screen:

Would you like to upgrade to another car? Looks like we found you a superior upgrade.

No.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Last question:

We noticed you didn’t insure absolutely everything, and since this is the last time we’ll ask… are you really, really sure?

Yes.

Are you really, really, really sure?

Yes.

Next screen:

Would you like to confirm the car?

Here’s the thing: renting a car in the U.S. is actually easier than in almost any other country. But the endless “are you really sure?” questions can wear you down. And if you’re even slightly unsure whether your credit card covers insurance — and there are a lot of insurance questions — you may end up adding it just for peace of mind.

And suddenly, that $28-a-day car is an $80-a-day car.

You’ve added fuel.

You’ve added insurance.

You’ve added practically everything.

Here’s the kicker: your credit card will almost certainly cover you — especially if you already own a car. Most credit card companies just ask, “Do you have car insurance?” If you say yes, they say, “No problem. Put it through your own insurance and we’ll take care of the rest.”

Gee. Thanks.

They make so much money off this. It’s unbelievable.

So now I do what my son tells me to do: accept nothing. Take the basic rate. And hope that “cheap rate × number of days” equals the total you thought you were getting in the first place.

Because the truth is, these companies lure you in with a $24 rate and then quietly tack on another $76 per day in extras that sound reassuring but make very little sense.

And let’s be honest — rental car companies already carry massive umbrella insurance policies. So this is really just… creative revenue generation.

Which is fine.

As long as I’m not part of the scheme.