Car hire credit card confusion.

eDicky

rdf1988 wrote: »

However, I'm also seeing Theft Waiver Deductible 1400 EUR. Do need to worry about this?

Where are you seeing these things?

Who are you booking through, and with what actual car rental company (if any yet)?

The_Offside_Rule

I am just using comparison websites, such as Skyscanner, Travelsupermarket etc.

I'm also learning that most companies don't accept Visa Debit! I have a credit card but with a limit of only £150!

The_Offside_Rule

Right, I'm confusing myself again as I'm notoriously useless with insurance/policies etc, so I'll ask a direct question:

What must I do so that they will not pre-authorise any unaffordable excesses on my card when I arrive?

Thanks!

eDicky

rdf1988 wrote: »

I'm also learning that most companies don't accept Visa Debit!

Really? Where are you learning this?

eDicky

rdf1988 wrote: »

What must I do so that they will not pre-authorise any unaffordable excesses on my card when I arrive?

The only way to avoid the big pre-authorisation on your card is to buy the extra insurance to cover the excess from the car hire company itself, who will offer it to you when you arrive to pick up the car in Sardegna. Then, in case of damage there will be nothing to pay them, no excess, so there is no need for them to block the excess amount on your card. They will still want your card for possible extras like fuel or traffic fine costs.

But having said that (again), there is something lurking in my memory about some regions of Italy, including Sardinia, where CDW excess and theft and fire excess is doubled and/or unable to be covered by any extra insurance policy from the local hire company. In which case the card pre-authorisation to cover the excess cannot be avoided. Does anybody know about this?

cain74th

I will be travelling to Napoli next month for 4 days only and had a look at what the charges will be like at the car hire desk ....

- 12.50 EUR per day if I do not want them to block 750 EUR from my credit card. this will cover everything even if i start hitting some trees deliberately without them knowing (initially)
- if i don't accept their offer, they will block 750 EUR from my credit card, and if i damage the car by hitting trees, they will charge my credit card the full 750 EUR

what i have done:
- i purchased a car hire excess insurance here in the UK for less than £2 a day covering the excess up to £4000 (i think) which will mean if i damage the car, they will charge my credit card 750 EUR then i will need to claim the amount from my car hire excess insurer here in the UK the 750 EUR in sterling equivalent.

... so i guess, your option is to accept the car rental's insurance cover but best to find out how much it is for the duration of your stay before you get there. hope this helps.:beer: