Rental Car Insurance in Orlando?

actresskat

Hi, We're planning on renting a car from Orlando International Airport (e.g. the in-terminal rental companies: budget, dollar, alamo, avis etc.). However, we're from the UK and we'd love some advice about rental car insurance as we're really confused.

Am I correct in understanding that the standard insurance that comes included in the total car rental apart price is adequate? (From what I can understand an excess of between $500-$2,000, for example, would be typical as well as not being covered for the undercarriage, tyres, windows, lost keys and vehicle recovery.) We don't want to be scaremongered at the desk into additional coverage, however, we don't want to find ourselves being sued with a hefty bill should we have an accident abroad. I've read about getting online additional insurance coverage, however, these still work out at around £60-80 per annum. Thank you so so much for your help.

Backbiter

I always go for the Platinum option which includes practically everything, including the first tank of fuel and extra driver. I've never been pressured to add anything on top on collection.
I always used to get a great deal from netflights, but have also used usrentacar and Car3000 (which has a new name now). The past few times I've used the UK sites for Dollar and National, who are very competitive.

ChristineL

The simplest advice is to book via a UK site and then you'll get enough insurance for most things. So if using one of the car hire companies directly then use the ones with a co.uk ending (like https://www.alamo.co.uk) . But if you book via an American site with a .com ending (like https://www.alamo.com) then all insurance will be extra. And it'll be A LOT extra!

About the only thing missing from a UK based site will be the lost keys / vehicle recovery. I never take that and in 30 odd years of renting cars in the USA I've only needed it once and that was last year when I accidentally locked the keys in the boot. :doh: By the way it cost me $60 to get someone out to that.

You need to shop around for the best deals as they change frequently. And if you need more than one driver then do look at the gold / platinum deals that include this. I've signed up with Hertz, Alamo and Avis and get notified of their discount deals and usually I book direct with them. My shortlist of good, reliable sites to try is:

https://www.alamo.co.uk/brits (the "brits" bit is code for readers of the book "Brits Guide to Florida" and it gives good deals in all US states.)
https://www.netflights.com
https://www.allstatescarhire.com
https://www.avis.co.uk
https://www.hertz.co.uk (if you're an AA member try the discount code 504335)

have fun.

Battleaxe44

Do not forget to get the International Driving Permit now needed in Florida before you rent the car. you get this from the Post office, I think ours cost £5.50 each. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit

We use Hertz and hire from the UK and always have our own worlwide CDW/LDW insurance, taken out here in the UK on an annual basis , it costs less than £100.00, my husband is over 70....(never have had to use it in over forty years of car hire and driving overseas) and do not buy anythng extra from the car rental desk, even though they try to sell it to you. As Gold Members they know better than to try to sell us anythng and we generally end up with an upgrade, but do not take a Jeep if they offer you one (horrible vehicle) if you are to drive hundreds of miles.

shaun_from_Africa

ChristineL wrote: »

The simplest advice is to book via a UK site and then you'll get enough insurance for most things. So if using one of the car hire companies directly then use the ones with a co.uk ending (like www.alamo.co.uk) . But if you book via an American site with a .com ending (like www.alamo.com) then all insurance will be extra. And it'll be A LOT extra!

This is not correct.
If you book using the Alamo.com website and provided that you put your country of residence as the UK (or any other EU country if that is the case), you will get exactly the same cover as booking via Alamo.co.uk.
Both rentals will include full CDW and Extended protection and in both cases you get the option to add roadside assistance and personal accident cover.

shaun_from_Africa

Battleaxe44 wrote: »

Do not forget to get the International Driving Permit now needed in Florida before you rent the car. you get this from the Post office, I think ours cost £5.50 each. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit

The requirement for UK driving licence holders to have the international driving permit have been withdrawn.
It was changed back in early April.

ferf1223

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

This is not correct.
If you book using the Alamo.com website and provided that you put your country of residence as the UK (or any other EU country if that is the case), you will get exactly the same cover as booking via Alamo.co.uk.
Both rentals will include full CDW and Extended protection and in both cases you get the option to add roadside assistance and personal accident cover.

I think that Dollar.com is the only one (that I can recall) that doesn't distinguish, doesn't ask for country of residence at the time of booking...at least that's how it used to be when I used to book with them as I had primary hire car insurance on my (US) credit card...now I don't bother as booking via a UK 3rd party isn't that much more expensive than doing it the other way and less hassle if anything did go wrong.

ChristineL

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

This is not correct.
If you book using the Alamo.com website and provided that you put your country of residence as the UK (or any other EU country if that is the case), you will get exactly the same cover as booking via Alamo.co.uk.
Both rentals will include full CDW and Extended protection and in both cases you get the option to add roadside assistance and personal accident cover.

Thanks for the correction. Alamo and Hertz do seem to have this sorted now but not Avis. Avis.com does ask for your country but then still quotes without any insurance. While Avis.co.uk quotes with the necessary LDW/SLI/UIMP etc. insurance included.

ABARKIE

Battleaxe44 wrote: »

Do not forget to get the International Driving Permit now needed in Florida before you rent the car. you get this from the Post office, I think ours cost £5.50 each. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit

Hi

You dont need this

It's been cancelled / reversed on April 2013

I hired a car in June 2013 and didnt need it

Thanks

jackieblack

Backbiter wrote: »

I always go for the Platinum option which includes practically everything, including the first tank of fuel and extra driver. I've never been pressured to add anything on top on collection.

We do the same.
Peace of mind and no hassle on collection. Worth every penny

Murphy_The_Cat

You pays your money, you takes your choice.
In 30 years of motoring I've never lost my keys, never had a breakdown and never broken a windscreen. I've never had a one year old vehicle that needed enhanced breakdown coverage either. All things that are covered by a typical Platinum package.
I've previously used the usrentacar gold package which includes an extra driver & tank of fuel, but not the 'extra' named above.
Crunch the figures and work out whats best for you

Previously, the 'hard sell' has been done to me regarding car class/size. Please don't rely on people telling you to book a 2 door compact car as they never have one and they'll be forced to upgrade you -- this is no longer true. On my last trip there were plenty of Chevrolet Spark type/size vehicles available and I'd be hard put to think of a something that I'd rather drive less than a car like that.
If you fancy a larger/more suitable car, book it in advance at this end first !