Car Hire Abroad

spiidey

Ok am very confused about this whole thing, even after reading the articles on this site.

A few queries:-


1. If I book car hire with a company e.g. Atlas Choice, does the price always include insurance to drive the car?


2. Assuming the answer to 1 is yes, it seems that there are excesses that vary from company to company for everything under the sun from accidents to losing keys to theft to normal wear and tear. These can often be up to €1,000.

However, can I take out Car Hire Excess Insurance Cover (similar to screenshot shown in link below) which costs c. £30 for 14 days which would mean that if e.g. there was wear and tear on the car, I'd have to pay the car hire company up to the excess, but I'd then be able to claim that back from the Car Hire Excess Insurance Cover Company? Does this cover all types of excesses (e.g. accidents/losing keys/theft/wear and tear/etc)? Any pitfalls/loopholes that would mean I have to stump up?


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

3. Do I need both the photcard driving licence and the paper counterpart?


4. We're going to Cyprus in 3 weeks (we really have a knack of picking the worst times given the current economic shenanigans there!), would be picking up from Paphos Airport, but the two quotes I've ran so far don't seem to cover driving in the Northern, Turkish area. Is this typical and if so, why? Are there any companies that allow travel in both the north and south of Cyprus?

callum9999

spiidey wrote: »

Ok am very confused about this whole thing, even after reading the articles on this site.

A few queries:-


1. If I book car hire with a company e.g. Atlas Choice, does the price always include insurance to drive the car?


2. Assuming the answer to 1 is yes, it seems that there are excesses that vary from company to company for everything under the sun from accidents to losing keys to theft to normal wear and tear. These can often be up to €1,000.

However, can I take out Car Hire Excess Insurance Cover (similar to screenshot shown in link below) which costs c. £30 for 14 days which would mean that if e.g. there was wear and tear on the car, I'd have to pay the car hire company up to the excess, but I'd then be able to claim that back from the Car Hire Excess Insurance Cover Company? Does this cover all types of excesses (e.g. accidents/losing keys/theft/wear and tear/etc)? Any pitfalls/loopholes that would mean I have to stump up?


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

3. Do I need both the photcard driving licence and the paper counterpart?


4. We're going to Cyprus in 3 weeks (we really have a knack of picking the worst times given the current economic shenanigans there!), would be picking up from Paphos Airport, but the two quotes I've ran so far don't seem to cover driving in the Northern, Turkish area. Is this typical and if so, why? Are there any companies that allow travel in both the north and south of Cyprus?

1. It should do yes, I've never come across one that doesn't.

2. You'd have to read the policy summaries of each individual policy - it shouldn't take that long. The screenshot you provided very clearly shows that all policies don't necessarily include those things so I don't know why you're asking! The usual "pitfalls" are things like if you were driving drunk etc. but again, you'll need to read the policy document. The relevant bits aren't very long and as standard procedure you should always be reading them with insurance - it's the only way you know what you're specifically covered for!

3. You should be fine without the paper part but at it's at their discretion to ask to see the paper part as well. I have no idea how lenient they generally are though so it's best to take it just in case.

4. Presumably because Northern Cyprus is under illegal occupation. Apparently some do allow it, but you'll be charged for additional insurance cover. No idea which one's they would be but I can't imagine it would be hard to get an answer from Google (not that any of this stuff is!).

Gloomendoom

spiidey wrote: »

4. We're going to Cyprus in 3 weeks (we really have a knack of picking the worst times given the current economic shenanigans there!), would be picking up from Paphos Airport, but the two quotes I've ran so far don't seem to cover driving in the Northern, Turkish area. Is this typical and if so, why? Are there any companies that allow travel in both the north and south of Cyprus?

Most companies will allow you to take cars across the border (with prior permission from them) but you have to buy additional 3rd party insurance at kiosks at the crossing. You are liable for any damage to the hired vehicle.

This is typical and quite normal. They are two different countries.

BTW I can recommend elephantrentacar.com

spiidey

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Most companies will allow you to take cars across the border (with prior permission from them) but you have to buy additional 3rd party insurance at kiosks at the crossing. You are liable for any damage to the hired vehicle.

This is typical and quite normal. They are two different countries.

BTW I can recommend elephantrentacar.com

Thanks for the reply - I've had a look on the elephantrentacar.com website and they look like they offer an excellent deal.

What happens with normal wear and tear on the car - does the zero excess apply to that?

What types of damage does the zero excess not apply to?

What's your overall experience with them when you take the car back - are they likely to pick up scratches, small dents (e.g. smaller than a 50p piece)?

Gloomendoom

I'm probably not the best person to ask about their policies on scratches. I have always rented 4x4s from them which have come ready scratched. Nothing major, just the sort of wear and tear that you would expect with that sort of vehicle.



Their other (normal) cars, at least the ones I have seen, have been in very good condition.

The zero excess thing puzzled me too and it took me a bit of time to get to the bottom of it. Essentially, there is no excess as long as you get a police report for the incident that caused the damage. Otherwise, you are expected to contribute to the damage. There is a maximum amount, but I can't remember what it is offhand. 400 euro rings a bell.

Do a search on the Tripadvisor Cyprus forum. If I remember there was a discussion on the subject there a year or so ago.

My overall experience with them is excellent, by the way. I've been using them since 2007. They also get excellent ratings on the review sites.

Edit: My memory was correct. From their T&Cs...

Without a written police or insurance accident report which is proof for the damages occurred do the rented vehicle no insurance cover is provided and the renter becomes responsible with an excess liability up to 400 Euro.

spiidey

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I'm probably not the best person to ask about their policies on scratches. I have always rented 4x4s from them which have come ready scratched. Nothing major, just the sort of wear and tear that you would expect with that sort of vehicle.



Their other (normal) cars, at least the ones I have seen, have been in very good condition.

The zero excess thing puzzled me too and it took me a bit of time to get to the bottom of it. Essentially, there is no excess as long as you get a police report for the incident that caused the damage. Otherwise, you are expected to contribute to the damage. There is a maximum amount, but I can't remember what it is offhand. 400 euro rings a bell.

Do a search on the Tripadvisor Cyprus forum. If I remember there was a discussion on the subject there a year or so ago.

My overall experience with them is excellent, by the way. I've been using them since 2007. They also get excellent ratings on the review sites.

Edit: My memory was correct. From their T&Cs...

Thanks. So having a police report is key.

Does the zero excess also apply if the car is stolen / keys are lost?

Gloomendoom

spiidey wrote: »

Thanks. So having a police report is key.

Does the zero excess also apply if the car is stolen / keys are lost?

Stolen, yes. Keys, doubtful. (You may have noticed that the ignition keys in the picture have a bright red lanyard on them. I put that on for a reason.)

You can, of course, cover yourself completely by taking out the car hire excess insurance. It will duplicate some of the cover included with Elephant's price but should give you peace of mind.