now ripped off because we live in the uk

ookle

as if it wasn't enough to be in ripoff Britain!

I have been trying to hire a car for our upcoming visit to Canada. If I order the vehicle as a UK customer I pay almost £300. If I get a quote on US/Canadian website, the saving is over £100, even with the most generous exchange rate taken into account. However, the cheaper rates are not available to UK customers. It is exactly the same vehicle. Is this fair? Any tips?

dmg24

Book it when you get over there, or get a friend over there to book it for you?

StudentSaver_2

Could maybe be due to the fact that we drive on the other side of the road normally and are more likely to have an accident?

dzug

Are you sure it's really cheaper? Most North American sites quote you without insurance which is an extra when you get there. (Most of their domestic customers are insured for hire cars through their own car policy - no UK policy covers you for overseas hire)

Book here through Auto Europe, Holiday Autos, Car Hire 3000 or the like rather than direct with Hertz, Dollar, etc - it's nearly always cheaper.

hammy_the_hammer

i think it's also because a lot of american credit cards have insurance cover with them. as previously stated another option is they use their own car insurance to cover them for the car hire vehicle . i used to book car hire while i was there ( in non-touristy areas) but to be honest i had real doubts what i would be covered for in a claim situationt...i now book from here although the hire locations are more limited if you book with carjet , holidayautos etc ...the plus point is you have a better understanding of what you are booking.

seftonsun

Have to agree with the above. Domestic US and Canada quotes will noearly always be exclusive of insurance which you can then buy at the rental desk if your own insurance doesn't cover.

Quotes to UK customer will nearly always include SLI & CDW/LDW. A few years ago they would not have included this and the quotes would have been prettty much the same (subject to exchange rates) as the domestic customer in the US/Canada. But, unless you're stupid you would nearly always need these insurances so they are now generally quoted as standard.

If you booked the US/Canada rate and paid insurance at the desk I am sure it would be more expensive than the inclusive figure you have got at the moment on the UK site.

seftonsun

Have to agree with the above. Domestic US and Canada quotes will noearly always be exclusive of insurance which you can then buy at the rental desk if your own insurance doesn't cover.

Quotes to UK customer will nearly always include SLI & CDW/LDW. A few years ago they would not have included this and the quotes would have been prettty much the same (subject to exchange rates) as the domestic customer in the US/Canada. But, unless you're stupid you would nearly always need these insurances so they are now generally quoted as standard.

If you booked the US/Canada rate and paid insurance at the desk I am sure it would be more expensive than the inclusive figure you have got at the moment on the UK site.