Cheap car hire article discussion

pikachu_nitwit

Hi all,

I've reserved a car from this company from 02/08/17-12/08/17.
Can anyone advise me on what to expect when we get to the desk? We haven't added on any extras. Should I take out separate excess insurance? Also what should I do about breakdown insurance? It looks like my own European breakdown (Britannia) does not cover hire cars.

Thanks in advance.

WAYT

pikachu_nitwit wrote: »

Hi all,

I've reserved a car from this company from 02/08/17-12/08/17.
Can anyone advise me on what to expect when we get to the desk? We haven't added on any extras. Should I take out separate excess insurance? Also what should I do about breakdown insurance? It looks like my own European breakdown (Britannia) does not cover hire cars.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, get separate car hire excess. https://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/comparisons/car-hire-insurance
Make sure that you have enough credit on your credit card to cover the temporary hold to cover the excess during the rental.

Breakdown is the responsibility of the hire company, unless it is your fault. So if you are particularly dopey, look for a policy that covers, lost keys, flat battery, no fuel etc The sort of thing that can be construed as your fault for when it comes to a breakdown recovery.

eDicky

pikachu_nitwit wrote: »

Can anyone advise me on what to expect when we get to the desk?

They will offer their own expensive excess cover, which you can politely but firmly decline without entering into any discussion, and not mentioning that you have bought your own separately. If you appear to be calmly confident and accustomed to hiring cars, even if it's not true, the agent is likely to be less insistent. Be aware of what you are signing for on the contract. Make sure that all existing damage on the car, however minor, is listed on the report before signature and departing with the car. If they find any unlisted damage on return, get an invoice for the charge they make (usually the full excess amount).

If the fuel plan is 'full to empty', ask if you can instead bring it back full for a refund, even with a 'service charge'. Some companies allow this even if it's not publicised, it usually saves money as it's unlikely you can manage to return the car completely empty.

If the car has a mechanical breakdown, call and tell them to bring you a replacement vehicle immediately.

Daniel_Hamilton

I rented a car from Budget at Stansted airport recently. It was 'prepaid' with no extra insurance. When I got my contract at the desk there was an extra £195 which was explained as 'don't worry about that, it just goes on your card and you get it back at the end'. In fact we'd been sold the 'super damage waiver' without wanting it and no mention of it from the agent. It sounded odd so I asked him twice and for some reason believed his lie without reading the contract carefully.

I signed the contract so not sure there's much I can do, but I'm going to begin with a letter to Budget.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

eDicky

Daniel_Hamilton wrote: »

Anyone else had a similar experience?

Not personally, but I'm sure that visitors to UK are often fleeced in ways such as this. Why would British car hire operators be any less devious than others..?

tigerbalm

We have just retunred from Malta where we hired a car for two week with Aquarius. They were the cheapest that we could find and, so far, seemed to ok. I have just noticed a payment taken from my credit card after we have left Malta with no contact to say what this was for. The amount is about £60


We also were involved in a car accident during our stay and had payed an extra £50 to reduce any voluntary excess to £250. Again, the company were very helpful during the incident and got another car straight to us. I haven't heard anything else yet again from them but have paid the excess. Does anyone know if I need to inform insurance companies here in the UK when I come to get my next car insurance qoute?


cheers
Neal

yellowsunmandy

Dvla codes are now available immediately from gov.uk

pw2112

Hi,
We are going to Spain next year and want to hire a car from Malaga airport. I have searched and found some reasonable deals but am confused about insurance, specifically upgrading to comprehensive cover. It would appear that I can take out a policy to cover my excess so that if the 1400Euro deposit is taken I can claim it back. What I am not sure on is if I take out the car hire companies comprehensive insurance do I still need to pay the 1400Euro deposit or is it lesser or waived because I have comprehensive cover. I have been looking for over an hour and can't find an answer to this, please help...
I would be happy to pay a little more for the insurance and not have to pay 1400Euro deposit.
Many thanks,
Paul

eDicky

pw2112 wrote: »

if I take out the car hire companies comprehensive insurance do I still need to pay the 1400Euro deposit or is it lesser or waived because I have comprehensive cover.

The CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) is already 'comprehensive' - what you are trying to avoid is being liable for the excess amount so that you don't have to provide the deposit to cover that. If you do purchase the excess cover from the hire firm, instead of buying the cover separately, they have no need to take any deposit from you except perhaps for a fairly minimal amount to cover fuel etc. But it's likely to be a lot more expensive than buying the excess cover separately and letting them take the deposit.

WAYT

pw2112 wrote: »

Hi,
We are going to Spain next year and want to hire a car from Malaga airport. I have searched and found some reasonable deals but am confused about insurance, specifically upgrading to comprehensive cover. It would appear that I can take out a policy to cover my excess so that if the 1400Euro deposit is taken I can claim it back. What I am not sure on is if I take out the car hire companies comprehensive insurance do I still need to pay the 1400Euro deposit or is it lesser or waived because I have comprehensive cover. I have been looking for over an hour and can't find an answer to this, please help...
I would be happy to pay a little more for the insurance and not have to pay 1400Euro deposit.
Many thanks,
Paul

You won't be paying just a little more for the excess waiver. If you go for one of those that offer cheap headline rates, the waiver and extras will like cost more than the headline cost of renting the car itself.
They aren't stupid, they are depending on you being....naive

So post full details of whatever you are considering before making a purchase.