Car Hire Confusion

Gremlin · 11 Mar 17, 12:48 PM

Please help!

We normally hire a car through who ever we book the holiday with. This year we looked online at skyscanner, avis etc and noticed the prices seemed lots less, so planned to do it our self.

The only thing is when I look at the different packages, I don't know what insurances and wavers I need to make sure is included and which normally need to be added.

I have looked back though some dibb posts and thought I had it sorted but different car hire sites seem to call them different things.

I know the free car generally offered with a package holiday requires additional insurances, is this the same when booking car hire online or do they normally include the required?

What insurances/wavers etc do we need to make sure is included? (No additional drivers are required.)

I also have seen an advert on here for Argus Car Hire, is this a recommended site or is it appearing because of me previously searching online for car hire?

Many thanks in advance.

georgemac · 11 Mar 17, 12:50 PM

I normally book either through Bristish Airways - with Avis - the insurance included is fine - or US Rentacar with gold package at least. Same with Alamo if I remember - take gold package at least, and don't take anything extra if offered on arrival.

With Avis I am registered with preferred and just collect and get on my way.

Yordaman · 11 Mar 17, 01:12 PM

Yes, it can be very confusing, as the different sites and companies will cover different levels of insurance. I found that what seemed like a good price from a 'budget' site turned out to be much higher if you add on some of the insurances you still need, making them comparable to more mainstream sites that advertise a fully comprehensive insurance package.

You can probably hunt around to find the best deal, or take the easier way out (as I did) and book via a 'big' company with a fully-inclusive package. And I got this confirmed with the agent who booked it and also Avis direct afterwards. I also signed up to their 'Preferred' scheme so I can go straight to the garage, so there's no dealing with a rental desk person trying to sell more insurances - I already have them which is why I can just drive away.

This may be more costly than other deals out there, but I'm lazy and was prepared to pay a little extra to save my time, and buy some piece of mind.

Gremlin · 11 Mar 17, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the help..

Just looked at Avis and they seem reasonable so happy to book through them. They include:

Additional Liability Insurance (ALI) - provides supplementary protection in the event of bodily injury, death or property damage during your rental.

Covered for loss or damage - You're covered for accidental damage, but if any repairs are required an excess may apply. When you collect your vehicle ask at the counter about how you can significantly reduce the excess.This vehicle's excess is USD0.00.

I assume that this is enough cover or is there more required?

Gremlin · 11 Mar 17, 01:24 PM

Have just looked on Alamo and that has the fully inc and gold insurance. I dont need extra drivers so the fully inc seems a good deal and to cover it all. May go with them as that feels a little more comfortable to understand.

Full INC covers:

Collision Damage Waiver Full
Concession Fee
Customer Facility Chg
Tire Battery Fee
Extended Protection
Vehicle License Fee
Sales Tax
Florida Surcharge

Yordaman · 11 Mar 17, 03:47 PM

The usual 'extra' insurance they try to sell is for excess, ie. They say that in the event of a claim, you'd be liable for the excess, and so to avoid that they will sell you excess liability insurance, which can be an unwelcome and unexpected cost right at the start of your holiday.

The all-inclusive deals avoid this, providing they do include everything. Try asking the direct question to someone "Is there anything else I have to pay", and ensure they understand you're talking about such things as excess insurance.

But something I've spotted, and you say above too, is that the excess on some deals is now zero. This doesn't seem to apply across the board, and I've not seen in the UK at all, but maybe the US people are getting wise and actually pricing things so that us poor tourists don't have extra costs - if there's no excess, then no need for excess insurance?

Is anyone has any knowledge on this latest trend I'd also be glad to hear about it, just to confirm our thinking that excess insurance sales pitches at rental desks might be on the way out?

Mr Tom Morrow · 11 Mar 17, 06:32 PM

If you book through any of the normal car hire websites with a UK link there is no excess to pay as it's zero. For example Avis via BA or via the UK site. Alamo Brits, Virgin Atlantic stand alone hire which is Alamo and the list goes on.
I have never paid in the US to reduce the excess to zero in 40 years of renting as it's always been zero.

The sites that you need to check really carefully are the lesser known 3rd party suppliers as their headline prices are very low - because they have omitted certain key requirements.

chezfraser · 11 Mar 17, 10:40 PM

Used Alamo Brits before... does the age of the Brits guide matter to qualify for this... mine must be 4-5 years old now?

Stitch & Smudge · 11 Mar 17, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by chezfraser

Used Alamo Brits before... does the age of the Brits guide matter to qualify for this... mine must be 4-5 years old now?

It's supposed to be the current one but don't bother, the desk attendant will never have heard of it. They don't know what your deal is, just know you have a booking.

**PPM** · 12 Mar 17, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Stitch & Smudge

It's supposed to be the current one but don't bother, the desk attendant will never have heard of it. They don't know what your deal is, just know you have a booking.

It doesn't say that it has to be a current copy on the Alamo Brits site, but as you say, and as I will be doing in May, picking up car without any Brit Guide.
If queried I'll answer " Oh no, I've left it in the seat pocket on the plane, I was reading it on the way over" But I won't be asked, never been in the last three times. Your booking doesn't even mention Brits Guide, just Strathearn Publishing, so how a rep on the exit kiosk will link that info back to Brits Guide I don't know.

11 Mar 17, 01:12 PM	#3
	11 Mar 17, 01:12 PM Yordaman Excited about Disney
Yordaman Excited about Disney Join Date: Oct 16	Yes, it can be very confusing, as the different sites and companies will cover different levels of insurance. I found that what seemed like a good price from a 'budget' site turned out to be much higher if you add on some of the insurances you still need, making them comparable to more mainstream sites that advertise a fully comprehensive insurance package. You can probably hunt around to find the best deal, or take the easier way out (as I did) and book via a 'big' company with a fully-inclusive package. And I got this confirmed with the agent who booked it and also Avis direct afterwards. I also signed up to their 'Preferred' scheme so I can go straight to the garage, so there's no dealing with a rental desk person trying to sell more insurances - I already have them which is why I can just drive away. This may be more costly than other deals out there, but I'm lazy and was prepared to pay a little extra to save my time, and buy some piece of mind.

11 Mar 17, 03:47 PM	#6
	11 Mar 17, 03:47 PM Yordaman Excited about Disney
Yordaman Excited about Disney Join Date: Oct 16	The usual 'extra' insurance they try to sell is for excess, ie. They say that in the event of a claim, you'd be liable for the excess, and so to avoid that they will sell you excess liability insurance, which can be an unwelcome and unexpected cost right at the start of your holiday. The all-inclusive deals avoid this, providing they do include everything. Try asking the direct question to someone "Is there anything else I have to pay", and ensure they understand you're talking about such things as excess insurance. But something I've spotted, and you say above too, is that the excess on some deals is now zero. This doesn't seem to apply across the board, and I've not seen in the UK at all, but maybe the US people are getting wise and actually pricing things so that us poor tourists don't have extra costs - if there's no excess, then no need for excess insurance? Is anyone has any knowledge on this latest trend I'd also be glad to hear about it, just to confirm our thinking that excess insurance sales pitches at rental desks might be on the way out?

11 Mar 17, 06:32 PM	#7
	11 Mar 17, 06:32 PM Mr Tom Morrow Imagineer
Mr Tom Morrow Imagineer Join Date: Jul 14 Location: The Tiki Room. theDIBB Guidebook Pages Created: 3	If you book through any of the normal car hire websites with a UK link there is no excess to pay as it's zero. For example Avis via BA or via the UK site. Alamo Brits, Virgin Atlantic stand alone hire which is Alamo and the list goes on. I have never paid in the US to reduce the excess to zero in 40 years of renting as it's always been zero. The sites that you need to check really carefully are the lesser known 3rd party suppliers as their headline prices are very low - because they have omitted certain key requirements. __________________ "PAGING MR MORROW, MR TOM MORROW..." ''I drink Wine and know things'' DVC Owners at SSR since 2003. Multiple annual visits to America since 1976