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

visidigi

Gilly_flower wrote: »

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.

To be honest, I've used the UK sites for our Easter trip to California this year - booked the car at the beginning of November - that same car is now 50% more expensive that it was back in November - it seems the rates, especially those of Dollar went through the roof towards the end of December and have gone up a little since then.

Keep hold of your alamo booking - you're likely the need it unfortunately

Murphy_The_Cat

NiftyDigits wrote: »

There is always someone advertising this nonsense.

Hello nifty

You've said this previously and I've also asked you previously - why is it nonsense ?

Gilly_flower

visidigi - I did wonder if it was purely timing - I would usually have booked flights (and therefore car hire) much earlier - I didn't think we were going to get away at all until I tried the 'leaving from Dublin' trick.
So I managed to get affordable flights only to find everything else has increased. Bah!

EssexExile

If anyone is interested, this is the latest special offer on Facebook: http://uscarhireoffers.alamo.co.uk/main.php?version=car-hire-usa
It worked well for me last time although their prices do seem to go up & down like a fiddler's elbow.

Murphy_The_Cat

EssexExile wrote: »

If anyone is interested, this is the latest special offer on Facebook: http://uscarhireoffers.alamo.co.uk/main.php?version=car-hire-usa
It worked well for me last time although their prices do seem to go up & down like a fiddler's elbow.

I've just run my car hire for this year through the link that you've put above and the (maligned by nifty;)) Alamo Brits quote for a direct comparison.
& for me, Alamo Brits comes out at £119 cheaper.

NiftyDigits

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I've just run my car hire for this year through the link that you've put above and the (maligned by nifty;)) Alamo Brits quote for a direct comparison.
& for me, Alamo Brits comes out at £119 cheaper.

Post the dates and location. We'll do a comparison.

NiftyDigits

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Hello nifty

You've said this previously and I've also asked you previously - why is it nonsense ?

When I did a comparison with my usual provider, the rates were not at all favourable.
Oddly, now that I have entered a trip for this year, some rates are comparable....though again, not mine.





Alamo Brits, then Hertz. Same criteria for both.

Murphy_The_Cat

NiftyDigits wrote: »

When I did a comparison with my usual provider, the rates were not at all favourable.
Oddly, now that I have entered a trip for this year, some rates are comparable....though again, not mine.





Alamo Brits, then Hertz. Same criteria for both.

Hello Nifty

I'll give you my details as long as you don't come and stalk me on my holiday :beer:

For an exact comparison, please use
Collect DFW 14:30 18.07.15, drop off DEN 18:30 01.08.15
Vehicle Full Sized SUV 7 Seats Chevy Tahoe or similar
Driver age 45
Extra Driver YES
Free Tank Of Fuel NO
Sat Nav NO
Pay Now And Save YES

There is a one way hire charge that may need adding on top (some quote it including one way and applicable taxes). The one way I have is $383 to be paid locally).

The current price showing on Alamo Brits is £1066.74 (+ £254.88 one way charge). On the Alamo link above its £1185.28 (+ £254.88 one way charge). On regular Alamo its £1244.54 (+ 254.88 one way charge)
On US Rentacar its £1126.67 (+ one way charges similar to above) only one driver , or £1207.33 ( + one way charges similar to above) incl extra driver and free tank of fuel.
With Hertz its £1530.01 plus £297.04 one way charge
Carhire 3000 £1398.61 plus one way charge to be advised. no extra driver.
Avis £1617.95 plus extra driver, but including all one way charges & taxes
I did spot a possible pricing glitch with one site, but I've run out of time to fully research it !

NiftyDigits

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Hello Nifty

I'll give you my details as long as you don't come and stalk me on my holiday :beer:

For an exact comparison, please use
Collect DFW 14:30 18.07.15, drop off DEN 18:30 01.08.15
Vehicle Full Sized SUV 7 Seats Chevy Tahoe or similar
Driver age 45
Extra Driver YES
Free Tank Of Fuel NO
Sat Nav NO
Pay Now And Save YES

There is a one way hire charge that may need adding on top (some quote it including one way and applicable taxes). The one way I have is $383 to be paid locally).

The current price showing on Alamo Brits is £1066.74 (+ £254.88 one way charge). On the Alamo link above its £1185.28 (+ £254.88 one way charge). On regular Alamo its £1244.54 (+ 254.88 one way charge)
On US Rentacar its £1126.67 (+ one way charges similar to above) only one driver , or £1207.33 ( + one way charges similar to above) incl extra driver and free tank of fuel.
With Hertz its £1530.01 plus £297.04 one way charge
Carhire 3000 £1398.61 plus one way charge to be advised. no extra driver.
Avis £1617.95 plus extra driver, but including all one way charges & taxes
I did spot a possible pricing glitch with one site, but I've run out of time to fully research it !

I don't get an option for a seven seater. Just a 5 seater Chevrolet Equinox or similar for £998.56.

Murphy_The_Cat

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I don't get an option for a seven seater. Just a 5 seater Chevrolet Equinox or similar for £998.56.

Hi Nifty
on Alamo Brits and Standard SUV Hyundai Santa Fe 5 seater is coming out at £655.08 (+ one way) and a Intermediate SUV RAV 4 5 seater is £631.49 (+ one way).

What is abundantly clear is that folk need to have a really good research before they part with their cash on a car hire. In my case, Alamo Brits is a cracking deal, but for other people, it may not always work that way.:beer: