Car Hire

hotrocks68

Hi all,

I'm going to try not to sound too much of a numpty but i've never before hired a car.
I have looked online and got a couple of quotes for a 4 day period taking the car from Leicester and driving to the Lake District and back.
I have read the terms/smallprint and was wondering about the insurance excess.From what i gather there is a 600 pound excess on a car.I presume then that should i have an accident,the hire company would pay the first 600 pounds worth of damage,so hyperthetically if the damage was 1,200 pounds.....then it would cost me 600 pounds too.
Is there any way i can purchase additional insurance to cover myself against all eventualities?
I would be grateful for any advice on this and recommended hire companies.

Thanks in advance.

richardw

http://www.quidco.com/icarhireinsurance-com/?ac check the small print for validity near your home.

hotrocks68

richardw wrote: »

http://www.quidco.com/icarhireinsurance-com/?ac check the small print for validity near your home.

Hey thanks Richard........so which would would i select doh.
(sorry)

richardw

Is this what you want https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/#quick&policy=1

HXDave

From what i gather there is a 600 pound excess on a car.I presume then that should i have an accident,the hire company would pay the first 600 pounds worth of damage,so hyperthetically if the damage was 1,200 pounds.....then it would cost me 600 pounds too.

The excess amount is what YOU PAY, with the insurance paying the rest. Ok, on your example it was 50/50, however if the damage was £700.00 with a £600.00 excess, you would pay £600.00 and the insurance would cover the remaining £100.00. However, if the damage was £2000.00, then you would still pay the £600.00 excess with the insurance picking up the remaining £1400.00.

Most car hire companies will offer an additional premium to reduce / remove the excess in the event of a claim. Worth while if you have a claim to make, but a waste of money if you dont. Trouble is, by the time you are certain if you need it or not, it's too late!

Have a good trip.

HXDave

barnabee

I have used Worldwideinsure.com a few times now. Very competitive rate and easy to follow instructions.

They are considerably cheaper than the excess insurance you will be offered by the car hire company.

HXDave

Richard / Barnabee, can you clarify something for me please. These 'seperate' insurance companies - how do they work. If you take a policy out and end up having to make a claim, will they liase directly with the car hire company so that they gaurantee the payment to the hire company, or do you pay the excess to the car hire company and then claim it back from the insurance company?

Regards

HXDave

richardw

HXDave wrote: »

you pay the excess to the car hire company and then claim it back from the insurance company?

Yes, that's how I understand it.

hotrocks68

Hey thanks guys..........

So basically i can go back to Atlaschoice car rental online and pay for the 4 day car hire.
Then i can use the link sent by Richard to take the additional insurance @ 2.99 per day.

Not too difficult even for me!:cool:

HXDave

Hotrocks68,

providing you have the availble funds to cover any insurance excess payable to the car hire company should you have an accident, then yes it's fine.

However just make sure that the car hire company will not 'debit' your card or ask for a cash deposit to cover the excess considering that you are not taking their insurance. Have you asked for an insurance excess quote from the car hire company you are using? if it's only a few quid extra, might be worth paying to save all the hassle.

HXDave

dzug1

You need to check that the excess insurance:

is valid in the UK
is valid if you are hiring a car near home

Not all are