Booked car rental through HotWire - need insurance - where to go?

jumperabv3

I found a great deal for car rental at JFK airport for 5 days...
My only concern now is the insurance or also known as CDW ..

HotWire recommends to go through their partner - Allianz Global Assistance - they charge $54 for 5 days.

I also found iCarHireInsurance.com who charges 30 GBP ($49.5) for 5 days...

There is always the option of taking the insurance directly from the company (Hertz) but they told me over the phone they charge $29.95 for their CDW ... which is quite expensive....

What option would be the best one to pick?
Or perhaps you got better alternatives?

Would love to hear your suggestions.

Thanks!

jumperabv3

jumperabv3 wrote: »

There is always the option of taking the insurance directly from the company (Hertz) but they told me over the phone they charge $29.95 for their CDW ... which is quite expensive....

Okay, this information is wrong ... apparently the person I spoke with over the phone had no clue what he's talking about ... I decided to go to the Hertz website and see it for myself, then called them again and they verified that's their prices:



So effectively, it costs $9/day to have a LDW ... which is $45 in total which is cheaper than what HotWire asks for ... but it doesn't cover you in case you hit another car - for that you need to pay an additional price of $12.95/day .... which makes it $21.95/day in total for a peace of mind.

Is this the best option or does iCarHireInsurance.com can offer you a better rate that includes both LDW and LIS?

:think:

What about dealing with all the hassles in case you do need them so you send paperwork and such ... and for a little bit extra you can get everything taken care of by Hertz itself?

What would you do?

InsideInsurance

is it just CDW that you need? In the USA its possible to hire a car with no or highly limited third party insurance in some states but its high risk not to buy this too. Some car hire excess insurances will include supplimentary TP liability cover on their US policies and others dont so make sure youre comparing oranges and oranges

Google Car Hire Excess Insurance and you will find a lot of providers. For pure CDW you can easily find providers at £20 for 5 days

jumperabv3

InsideInsurance wrote: »

is it just CDW that you need?

Well ... is there any provider that can cover you both for CDW and for 3rd party damages as well with a good price, and all in once?

The LIS (Liability Insurance Supplement) Hertz offers for $12.95 you say is quite a "must have" in case you hit another car ... but it's only if you were to blame that you would have to pay damages to a 3rd party, right? And who exactly can assess whose fault is it really? The police?

I'm not too sure really what to take ... if it's possible to buy the whole thing to cover yourself from a reliable place that would serve you in case you need it and don't give you a hassle then that's what I'm after ... if not then I guess I would just take it with Hertz itself for $9/day and think about the additional $12.95/day not sure...

InsideInsurance

The ones I know sell it as an annual policy rather than a daily but their annual price isnt much more than the 5 days with Hertz and provides worldwide cover so if you hire frequently it represents better value

I would be fairly sure you can find other Excess Insurers that cover CDW and SLI, it'll be more than european CDW only cover because of the SLI but comparing annual pricing it should be around £40 for 5 days

jumperabv3

Thanks ... it's $9/day with Hertz to get the CDW (aka LDW) ... so that's the same price most other companies offer...
In total for 5 days it should be $45 but they charge $54 since they count 5 days as 6 days (they count days as days and not as 24 hours from when you start)...

Taking the SLI for $13/day means another $78... so $78 plus $54 is $132 which is around 80 GBP, slightly less than the annual price for a while year ...

I'm just debating with myself whether we need this SLI or not ... I'm not intending to hit any car, but there are some murphy laws etc. - so it's probably wise to consider it ... or maybe negotiate the rate a bit with the desk ... tell them if you make $7/day I would take it ... otherwise I won't ... something like that?

Yeah, seems like those are all the options available really ...
Thanks btw.

InsideInsurance

jumperabv3 wrote: »

Thanks ... it's $9/day with Hertz to get the CDW (aka LDW) ... so that's the same price most other companies offer...
In total for 5 days it should be $45 but they charge $54 since they count 5 days as 6 days (they count days as days and not as 24 hours from when you start)...

Taking the SLI for $13/day means another $78... so $78 plus $54 is $132 which is around 80 GBP, slightly less than the annual price for a while year ...

I'm just debating with myself whether we need this SLI or not ... I'm not intending to hit any car, but there are some murphy laws etc. - so it's probably wise to consider it ... or maybe negotiate the rate a bit with the desk ... tell them if you make $7/day I would take it ... otherwise I won't ... something like that?

Yeah, seems like those are all the options available really ...
Thanks btw.

CDW only insurance here is going to be around £4 a day but does have the slight disadvantages of (a) being a reimbursement model and (b) probably meaning you need to leave a higher deposit/ authorisation

The US law varies a lot by state on what compulsory insurance is. If you look at NJ for example its only $10k of injury per person, $25k total injury for an accident and $5k of property damage. It wouldnt much of an accident to exceed the property damage at all.

Of cause just because thats the legal minimum that doesnt mean that is all the hire car company gives you and so finding out what the basic cover they provide should also be factored in with what additional cover you may need

jumperabv3

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Of cause just because thats the legal minimum that doesnt mean that is all the hire car company gives you and so finding out what the basic cover they provide should also be factored in with what additional cover you may need

Thank you for the advice. Yes, I agree a reimbursement model is more annoying than having the rental company take care of it. I actually once had an accident, not a terrible one, but I had everything included, and so I got a replacement car, had to fill no forms at all, and literally paid 0, nada ... the company took care of everything for me, and it felt great.

I think it's down to negotiation with them in the desk ... try to tell them to bring down the LIS price ... I mean if I don't take it they lose money (that's the likely event) ... how flexible you think they are at the desk?