USA Alamo - confused!

gipsygirl

:huh: We have booked a hire car with Alamo in Seattle for our visit in May this year ( got a really good deal with a link from the UK) We are just a bit confused about the insurance - i.e. we’re not sure if we need “top up” or excess insurance – it says “full insurance” but we don’t want to turn up & then they try to sell us extra insurance there - if needed we would rather buy that here before we go. We have looked at the website but we’re still not really sure if it does mean ALL insurance! (Obviously not personal injury – we are covered for this on our travel insurance) Sorry if I’m just being thick but any help appreciated!
Many thanks

Alamo Rent a Car (UK) Booking Confirmation

Pick Up: Seattle, SeaTacInternationalAirport
Rate Inclusions:

Description

Price

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) Full

Included

Extended Liability Protection (ep) (usa/ca: Up To $1 Mil)

Included

Consolidated Facility Chg 6.00 Per Day

Included

Concession Recovery Fee 11.10%

Included

Veh License Cost Recovery .46 Per Day

Included

Sales Tax

Included

State Rental Tax 5.9%

Included

Rta Tax

Included

Sports Facility Tax

Included

Unlimited Mileage

Included

3 Additional Drivers

Included

“Collision Damage Waiver is NOT insurance, it reduces or eliminates responsibility for damage to or loss of an Alamo rental vehicle as long as terms of the rental agreement have not been violated.

Please note in most countries the renter is responsible for damage or loss of the Alamo vehicle up to the minimum excess limit that CDW covers you for, this varies by country and vehicle type.

Exceptions
United States
In the US there is no excess applicable, the renter responsibility for loss and damage to the Alamo vehicle is zero. The protection applies as long as the terms of the rental agreement have not been violated.

sipost

Have recently got the same deal in Florida. Never been so cheap to hire in USA with Alamo via their UK web site. Cheaper than all of the other sites that deal with Alamo.
As far as I can see rental is fully insured with no excess - the only local insurance they might "sell" is tyres and glass.
You can even pre load your licence details on their website to save time and use their quick kiosks if there is some at Seattle.
All in all a cracking deal.

pollypenny

We usually use Alamo and never buy insurance over that which is included.

We go three times a year, as DS lives there.

gipsygirl

pollypenny wrote: »

We usually use Alamo and never buy insurance over that which is included.

We go three times a year, as DS lives there.

Thanks! Do they try & sell you extra insurance ( for windscreen, wheels etc) when you get there Pollypenny? Or are these included? Can't seem to find any mention about it on their website :undecided

pollypenny

They try to get you to upgrade and to buy roadside assistance. Resist!

We had a spat with Alamo last time. Arrived in January snow and were told they didn't have a compact car fir us, only an economy, which was too light in view of the snow. After an argument we did up grade, but rang the office when we arrived home and had a refund.

Alamo's website said free roadside assistance in the USA and they wouldn't give us that either, so very cross. We've never had trouble in Tampa, but the family have moved north.

It's always cheaper to order the car you want from the UK, rather than upgrade.

Bri1

gipsygirl wrote: »

Thanks! Do they try & sell you extra insurance ( for windscreen, wheels etc) when you get there Pollypenny? Or are these included? Can't seem to find any mention about it on their website :undecided

They always do try to flog you extra's you just politely but firmly decline, usually extra breakdown cover, personal injury/liability stuff you don't need, you must remember the sales people you pick up the car from are on commission so are quite keen on this.

I did find Alamo a lot easier to deal with than Dollar which have added charges fraudulently twice in the past couple of years, always read the receipt before you leave with your car, if you are asked to initial something read it first as it's usually extra's you are authorising