Car Hire - damage excess refund & CDW, what & why??

isplumm

nickyboyfloyd wrote: »

I'm going to Orlando next month with Thomsons and the holiday package includes free car hire with Alamo. Last went about 5 years ago and still remember the feeling of getting stung for about £300 for 2 weeks insurance upon arrival (I insure my own car at home for a year for less than that). Reading the smallprint, I can see that only "Liability cover with 3rd party protection to $20k" is included. Presumably I won't be allowed to drive away from the airport without at least adding CDW and some sort of excess waiver? Thompsons helpfully offer me an upgrade to include CDW, the above protection to $1m and taxes/airport fees, all for only £19 per day (£266). A direct search of Alomo's website suggests I could get the above cover (oh, and the car of course) for £234. Makes me wonder whether it would be prefereable to ignore the free car included in the holiday package and go directly to a Car Hire company. I'm not sure whether to consider this or go for a standalone policy but either way, I don't want my holiday spoiling with a £300 bill for a 'free' car at the outset. Can anyone help me?

Actually often this is a good thing to do - hire your own car - ignore the "free" one, as I guess it does not include any form of CDW. But have you not asked Thomson how much it would cost to add CDW to your booking? Might be cheaper ....

Mark

BlueJewel

Thanks all, I have certainly learnt a lot. Must useful. I will start looking at car hire insurance.

It was the car hire broker that sent me the original message but car is booked through Budget. I checked out their website in Finland and found the T&Cs. Cannot post link here but seemed all clear and the costs were easy to see.

Their excess insurance is high so will not go with them.

Elk are a common problem apparently! Here's hoping I don't run into one!

BlueJewel

Hi All - I just thought that I would give you an update on my experience with car hire excess insurance. It is definitely worth getting it - a few pounds saves many pounds! I brought my policy through carhireexcess.com, I made sure that windscreen damage was included because the roads in Finland are mainly dirt tracks and yes there is the occasionally Elk. We didn't hit an elk but we did get a massive crack down our windscreen which we had to pay £430 pounds for - yikes!! However, I put in my claim with carhireexcess and they paid the whole lot back. No quibble and paid it back within a week of me sending in the form - RESULT!!