Hire Car Damage/Excess Insurance

mib150

Hi all,

Have hired cars out of Alicante for the last few years without any issue.
I have an excess policy with Chew insurance which saves me forking out for the hire companies own insurance (or so I thought!?)

I returned my hire car recently and unbeknown to me someone had gone down the side of it with a bag/trolley or the like. I was a little annoyed to only discover this when returning car! I looks like a scuff which would disappear with a little T-Cut without issue.
I was given a bill from the hire company (Budget) for €255, plus admin charge €65, plus tax @21%, plus location surcharge of 15%! total figure of €445 (£405)!
I thought - no problem I have my excess policy which will cover this.
I submitted all the necessary claim paperwork and received a cheque to the value of £280.
Chew kindly noted they don't cover any admin or surcharges in their policy, so I am down to the tune of £135.

The issue is that I'm pretty sure all 'damage' on hire cars is never repaired and the charges for any damage are excessive.

It makes you wonder whether just to take out the hire companies insurance so you can just hand back without worry or hassle??

richardw

.....Chew who?

mib150

richardw wrote: »

.....Chew who?

Chew Car Hire Excess Waiver Insurance (Mapfre)

eDicky

mib150 wrote: »

The issue is that I'm pretty sure all 'damage' on hire cars is never repaired and the charges for any damage are excessive.

It makes you wonder whether just to take out the hire companies insurance so you can just hand back without worry or hassle??

Correct on all points. If you purchase the hire firm's own (expensive) excess cover insurance you can forget about the consequences of any damage and they don't even bother to check for any on return (unless it's obviously major) - why would they..?