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Booking on a US car hire site + using UK excess insurance?

I got some flights this weekend for San Fran over the Easter holidays.
I've been in the area at the same time before & the car hire has never come to much over £200 - this time it is £360+!

If I use the US Alamo site, I can get the same rental for £234.
I am aware that many of the insurances that are always included in the UK price are not included in US prices.

Can I book the US site and be fully covered by a UK Car Hire Excess package? (eg, Questor 1 year policy @£75- which will give CDW for up to £50K?)

Are any elements of insurance missing from the UK Excess policies that would leave me vulnerable legally or financially? (or even worse, a the mercy of the US clerks trying to sell me stuff on arrival?!)

Thanks
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Comments

  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,496 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    (or even worse, a the mercy of the US clerks trying to sell me stuff on arrival?!
    They always try to sell you something!
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • Yes - one small mercy is that it's not Florida where they do the hard sell on the toll packages!
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    I got some flights this weekend for San Fran over the Easter holidays.
    I've been in the area at the same time before & the car hire has never come to much over £200 - this time it is £360+!

    If I use the US Alamo site, I can get the same rental for £234.
    I am aware that many of the insurances that are always included in the UK price are not included in US prices.

    Can I book the US site and be fully covered by a UK Car Hire Excess package? (eg, Questor 1 year policy @£75- which will give CDW for up to £50K?)

    Are any elements of insurance missing from the UK Excess policies that would leave me vulnerable legally or financially? (or even worse, a the mercy of the US clerks trying to sell me stuff on arrival?!)

    Thanks

    You would need this
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    Check if there's a limit on the third party liability. Sometimes this is quite low in the US eg $50k and you need SLI (supplementary liability insurance). Some may not even provide third party at all for US citizens, I think it's quite usual there for credit card companies to offer car hire insurance so customers rely on that.

    You can usually get SLI from the normal excess insurers.
  • Thanks. I knew there was something more than CDW needed - I wouldn't want to face US legal bills if anything went wrong.

    I usually get a cheap yearly excess policy even when I buy from UK sites with 'comprehensive' insurance already included to make sure all eventualities/excesses are covered - but the one I have doesn't have enough SLI so I'll have a scout through the options (thanks for the link Nifty)
  • Just checked - we went to FLA last summer so I still have my annual policy from icarhire insurance current... which covers everything but SLI

    Anywhere do SLI as a standalone?

    I suspect I am going to have to stump up £400 and use a UK site aren't I!
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,496 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    When I did the calculations earlier this year the Alamo UK all inclusive was cheaper than Alamo US with all the added bits. I was pointed towards https://www.alamo.co.uk/brits & there are other Alamo deals floating around at the moment. They are all slightly different, no of drivers include for example, so you have to check which best for you.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • Weeellll... I have gone ahead and booked on Alamo.com as it can be cancelled without charge. It was £234 for 11 days - the UK Alamo site is £406!

    On Money Maxim I can see a single trip US policy ('Bettersafe') with 1M SLI cover for £49. So £284 for both - still a good saving.

    I'll keep looking though as I'd prefer to do this through a UK site; but I doubt if I'm going to stand any chance of getting near that price.
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    EssexExile wrote: »
    When I did the calculations earlier this year the Alamo UK all inclusive was cheaper than Alamo US with all the added bits. I was pointed towards www.alamo.co.uk/brits & there are other Alamo deals floating around at the moment. They are all slightly different, no of drivers include for example, so you have to check which best for you.

    There is always someone advertising this nonsense.
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,496 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There is always someone advertising this nonsense.
    Please elucidate.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
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