Car Hire Help Florida? IVA

dickydonkin

OnceUponADream wrote: »

We hired a car during Dec 2011 for 3 weeks with Dollar at Orlando Intl (MCO) and they didn't require a credit card, credit check or anything "credit". We booked through USrentacar.

I'm not disputing this - but I have used Dollar booked via a third party in various locations in the US and they always place a hold on my credit card at the counter before picking up the car. Maybe they have changed their policy, but below is the policy from the Dollar MCO location currently on view on their web site.

Orlando - International Airport
FINANCIAL POLICY

A hold will be placed on all credit/debit cards for the estimated amount of the rental plus 15% OR a minimum of $250.00, whichever is greater. We will remove the hold at the end of the rental when the final charges are settled. Dollar does not accept the small key ring credit cards. In the event a customer presents the key ring credit card at the time of rental, the location may ask you to present the standard size credit card or another form of payment. A major credit/debit card in the renter's own name must be presented at the time of pick-up. Customers using debit cards to qualify to rent at the beginning of the rental will be subject to a debit card screening. If the screening fails to meet our debit card criteria, the customer will be required to present a major credit card in order to qualify to rent.

debtdalek

If there is an issue at the point of collection, are any of the other people travelling in possession of a credit card?
Might be worth finding out if they could use their card instead?
I appreciate that you don't want them to know about your financial circumstances but you could just explain this away at the time by saying that they only accept US bank debit cards.
Otherwise I'm pretty sure that most car hire companies will take a cash deposit, though how big this might have to be I'm not sure and if you have financial issues then you probably don't have too much spare cash. Good luck.
BTW Be prepared for long queues at the rental desks in Orlando!!

davetrousers

Get yourself an excess insurance policy (google insurance4carhire or questor).

Murphy_The_Cat

dickydonkin wrote: »

And try they will............I can assure you!
As MTC has explained, getting your quote from the UK will include all local statutory charges and insurances.

I must be one of the fortunate ones, as I've never suffered the 'sell' when I've picked up my car.

davetrousers wrote: »

Get yourself an excess insurance policy (google insurance4carhire or questor).

Another moot point. The excess insurance policy is a personal preference and not a legal requirement or something that would be sold to you upon arrival in the US. To some posters, its an essential part of the hire car process, to others its an unneseccary additional expense.

davetrousers

Worthwhile point. Get yourself an excess insurance policy (google insurance4carhire or questor).

dickydonkin

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I must be one of the fortunate ones, as I've never suffered the 'sell' when I've picked up my car.

Another moot point. The excess insurance policy is a personal preference and not a legal requirement or something that would be sold to you upon arrival in the US. To some posters, its an essential part of the hire car process, to others its an unneseccary additional expense.

To be fair, I went many trips without hard sell - until last year. I used Thrifty (@ lax) for the first time (and the last) and it was incessant. In fact I could envisage some people becoming intimidated by by their tactics.

They even tried to rip me off by adding additional charges on return of the car. A truly horrible company.

As for excess insurance, I have just paid 24 quid for 7 days hire in August - I didn't mind as I have got a decent price for the car I have hired - and with this additional cost, it still works out cheaper than the other quotes I received for the same car.

But yes - I could see where some people may look at this as an unnecessary cost...........unless you clatter the car of course.

Murphy_The_Cat

dickydonkin wrote: »

To be fair, I went many trips without hard sell - until last year. I used Thrifty (@ lax) for the first time (and the last) and it was incessant. In fact I could envisage some people becoming intimidated by by their tactics.

They even tried to rip me off by adding additional charges on return of the car. A truly horrible company.

As for excess insurance, I have just paid 24 quid for 7 days hire in August - I didn't mind as I have got a decent price for the car I have hired - and with this additional cost, it still works out cheaper than the other quotes I received for the same car.

But yes - I could see where some people may look at this as an unnecessary cost...........unless you clatter the car of course.

please excuse my possible misconception, but is the policy excess insurance to cover wheels, windscreen and underside of car etc ? I'm only asking as the car hire company that I use (US rentacar) advertises as zero excess

dickydonkin

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

please excuse my possible misconception, but is the policy excess insurance to cover wheels, windscreen and underside of car etc ? I'm only asking as the car hire company that I use (US rentacar) advertises as zero excess

It will cover excess (deductable amount in the US) where there is one - usually around £2000 - £3000 which should cover most eventualities.

Tyres and windscreens are also covered as is vandalism and (depending on the cover purchased) some policies will cover stuff like loss of keys/lock out etc.

I would imagine that the cost of replacing a windscreen or tyre - including any call out and labour would be expensive in the US so (in my opinion) I just think that twenty odd quid taken in context with the total cost of my upcoming trip is insignificant and does give me (and Mrs DD) some peace of mind.

Murphy_The_Cat

dickydonkin wrote: »

It will cover excess (deductable amount in the US) where there is one - usually around £2000 - £3000 which should cover most eventualities.

Tyres and windscreens are also covered as is vandalism and (depending on the cover purchased) some policies will cover stuff like loss of keys/lock out etc.

I would imagine that the cost of replacing a windscreen or tyre - including any call out and labour would be expensive in the US so (in my opinion) I just think that twenty odd quid taken in context with the total cost of my upcoming trip is insignificant and does give me (and Mrs DD) some peace of mind.

Fair comments Dicky.
My policy has a zero excess (which makes me happy) and includes roadside assistance. But tyres/windscreen costs would be on my wallet.
Like all forms of insurance, if you use it, you're gratefull for it and if you don't use it, you question its value !

dickydonkin

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Fair comments Dicky.
My policy has a zero excess (which makes me happy) and includes roadside assistance. But tyres/windscreen costs would be on my wallet.
Like all forms of insurance, if you use it, you're gratefull for it and if you don't use it, you question its value !

Your question got me thinking regarding zero excess and I have just checked my booking and my rental does not incur excess.

Excess information
Vehicle Damage Cover Excess - USD 0.00 (approx. £0.00).Excl Vat. Vehicle Theft Cover Excess - USD 0.00 (approx. £0.00).Excl Vat.

But you are right regarding the value of insurance - reminds me of our house/contents insurance which we had paid for 20 years without the need for a claim - then we had to claim for the following three consecutive years!

As long as I am paying my life insurance for many years to come I will be happy - can't say the same for Mrs DD though!