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

NiftyDigits

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

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:

Using Hertz, I only have the option for Pay At Location. For a RAV4, I get US$1317.73 inclusive.

Alamo BRITS; US$1005 plus their additional fees of Additional charges One Way Fee $300.42
Concession Fee Recovery 11.11% $33.37
Euless Sports Venue Tax 5% $16.69
Motor Veh Rental Tax $33.37

A total of US$1388.85 all in.

With Brits, Pay Now would be US$1335.85

As you write, one has to compare carefully.

dollywops

I looked for car hire through travel supermarket. The cheapest was Netlights. When I clicked on the link, it came up with Alamo. I paid £313 this morning for a RAV for 15 days, picking up from San Francisco Union Square and then returning to San Francisco airport. It was considerably more expensive to book through Alamo US. Out of curiosity, I tried the link on the first page and the pay now price is £375.

We have not paid for the satnav as we are taking our own. If anyone is interested, TomTom are charging £24.97 for the USA maps, and I have just posted a 30% discount code on the discount code forum.

dollywops

If anyone is interested, this is what my booking is and what is included. This is for 15 days.


Is there anything else we need?

Car Type: IFAR - IFAR Toyota Rav 4 or Similar
Provider: Alamo Car Rental Published
Confirmation Ref:

Supplier Account No:
CAR HIRE
Pickup Date:
Pickup Time: 15:00
Pickup City:
Pickup City: 340 OFarrell Street San Francisco California . 650-238-5309
Dropoff Date:
Dropoff Time: 14:00
Dropoff City:
Dropoff City: San Francisco Airport 780 McDonnell Road San Francisco California 94128 650-616 2400
Plan Description: Fully Inclusive SFO NF
Plan Inclusions:
Unlimited Mileage
Collision Damage Waiver
Loss Damage Waiver
Theft Protection Insurance
Local & State Taxes
Supplemental Liability Ins.
Airport Surcharge
Four Additional Drivers
Zero Excess

Murphy_The_Cat

Dollywops

It may be a good idea to remove your confirmation number from your post.

dollywops

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Dollywops

It may be a good idea to remove your confirmation number from your post.

Apart from that (thanks), is there anything else we need?

Murphy_The_Cat

dollywops wrote: »

Apart from that (thanks), is there anything else we need?

It all looks good to me.
The only thing to consider is if the RAV will be big enough for you ? If not, it'll be a lot cheaper to amend your booking at this end before going, rather than at the other end when the ever so helpful and friendly chap/ess at the desk tries to persuade you to upgrade.

dollywops

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

It all looks good to me.
The only thing to consider is if the RAV will be big enough for you ? If not, it'll be a lot cheaper to amend your booking at this end before going, rather than at the other end when the ever so helpful and friendly chap/ess at the desk tries to persuade you to upgrade.

There are only 2 of us going. Whilst our luggage allowance is 3 x 32kg each (we are only going UC courtesy of Virgin flying miles and Tesco and Amex), we are probably only going to take 3 hold cases and the lady I spoke with at Alamo here assured me the RAV would take 3 cases. I am assuming she is correct.

visidigi

Gilly_flower wrote: »

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

Worth having another check - https://www.usrentacar.co.uk is now showing decent rates again for the Easter period.

Its only £12 more than what I booked it for 6 months ago...