Avis, Budget Raise Insurance Rates in New Orleans

Avis Rent a Car and Budget Rent a Car, owned by Cendant Corp., raised the cost of Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) insurance by over $30 per day for New Orleans rentals, beginning August 11. People usually buy LDW insurance when their own car insurance doesn't cover damage they might inflict on a rental car or when they do not have car insurance. A spokeswoman for Cendant says their cars in New Orleans have suffered unprecedented damage; therefore they have raised the cost per day for LDW insurance to $49.99 from $12.95. Other major car rental companies in the area haven't made similar changes.