Car rental in Europe - Independent insurance

always_sunny

I am looking to rent a car in Europe for few weeks and the excess on the insurance seems very high (EUR1500). I can choose to pay some EUR65 to get it to zero.

Online (on confused.com) I seem to be able to get independent insurance for car rental for half the price for the whole year.

Does anybody have any experience and have suggestion?
Thanks

CM66

I use ihirecarinsurance which is just under £50 per year and covers the excess. However, with these policies you still have to let the rental companies hold the excess amount on your credit card, and in the event of anything happening you would then claim it back through the insurance.

WAYT

http://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/compare-car-hire-excess-insurance

always_sunny

thank you - beside the excess amount kept on hold, is it pretty straightforward?

WAYT

always_sunny wrote: »

thank you - beside the excess amount kept on hold, is it pretty straightforward?

Yes and no. Depends on with whom you rent. The big names, AVIS, Hertz etc, usually no pressure/problems. If you have an incident, just get an invoice for damage before you leave, in order to present it to the insurance company.
GoldCar and the like with their low headline prices and you'll be asking for trouble. High pressure tactics, expensive tank of fuel with a full/empty policy.,,, they have their own thread on this forum.

TadleyBaggie

I rented from SixT in Portugal this year and opted to use the iCarHire policy instead of their own (more than half the price). When I was at the desk I was asked if I wanted their excess insurance, I showed them a copy of my policy and this was OK.

However do check the car for damage before driving off. I was told at the desk the car had no damage, on inspection there were a couple of noticeable scratches on the drivers side and a obviously kerbed alloy wheel. I got them to note these on my rental agreement.

always_sunny

hmmm sounds it's easier to get the insurance directly!

pompeyrich

always_sunny wrote: »

hmmm sounds it's easier to get the insurance directly!

It is and if it is going to be a one off trip probably the convenience outweighs the savings and potential hassle of a stand-alone policy. I have only had incidents when covered by the car rental companies insurance and it is just a matter of signing a form and that's that.

Check that the €65 covers everything, as often tyres and windscreens aren't covered by standard CDW policies and need additional cover, this is included in the stand alone policies but again any damage would have to be paid and claimed back.