USA car hire: What is all inclusive?

Armbase

Hi All

Firstly thanks for all the posts on here about tools to search for the best price and the pitfalls of USA car insurance; CDW etc.

I have a quick question regarding hiring a car via the uk agent or in the US. It is a 10 day hire.

The US price is approx $235 and the UK is £168. Obviously the US price requires addition of charges at $12 per day to have proper fully comp. insurance. The best price seems to be Dollar. Really I think the price is okay (I've just estimated it from memory just now for an example). However the dollar.co.uk says the price is all inclusive.

Does that mean that I will turn up in the USA and be "FULLY" insured in any eventuality? Or is it peoples experience that I will turn up, after booking via Dollar uk, only to find I have an exorbitant excess and require additional insurance to bring that down?

All the best
Bob

iltisman

I booked a car through Dollar UK and opted for their Platinum package which supposedly included all insurances except personal injury, but on arrival in the US I was told that UK renters needed a futher insurance to cover for breakdown and accident recovery which added $90+ for 2 weeks rental.

steveo3002

book it through the uk and it will be like fully comp...just a excess to pay if you crash

u.s prices are plus insurance as most americans can use thiers

any u.k booked one should be all you need they always try to sell you add on cover for everything under which you can ( i do ) refuse

be carefull of a add on gold/platinum package thats a tank of free fuel...fuel is still fairly cheap there and it might not be a good deal ..my quote yesterday was £70 extra and no way would a tank of fuel cost that much

airline network has given me the best quote so far, and its a broker for dollar

Armbase

steveo3002 wrote: »

book it through the uk and it will be like fully comp...just a excess to pay if you crash

u.s prices are plus insurance as most americans can use thiers

any u.k booked one should be all you need they always try to sell you add on cover for everything under which you can ( i do ) refuse

be carefull of a add on gold/platinum package thats a tank of free fuel...fuel is still fairly cheap there and it might not be a good deal ..my quote yesterday was £70 extra and no way would a tank of fuel cost that much

airline network has given me the best quote so far, and its a broker for dollar

Airline network are £5 cheaper, do they also cover breakdown etc?

Thanks for your help.

All the best
Bob

steveo3002

someone has posted on another that they do cover it , all inc

ive used them several times and had no probs with being stitched up for extras or anything

kitchen_buff

Just make sure you have collision waiver damage included. This means you can walk away from any bump without financial penalty.

steveo3002

kitchen_buff wrote: »

Just make sure you have collision waiver damage included. This means you can walk away from any bump without financial penalty.

except the excess which will be stated...much like your u.k insurance

pompeyrich

steveo3002 wrote: »

except the excess which will be stated...much like your u.k insurance

Never had a policy excess on the "platinum" insurance from airline network, in the USA. This year I used US CAR HIRE as they were actually cheaper the AirNet. They give you the choice of Dollar, Alamo or Budget, there isn't much between the 3, so I would go for the cheapest. Alamo did try to get me to buy this new "enhanced raodside assistance" insurance but I declined, surely if they rent me a car and it breaks down, they have to recover/replace it anyway.

Armbase

kitchen_buff wrote: »

Just make sure you have collision waiver damage included. This means you can walk away from any bump without financial penalty.

I know it is obvious, however, you know how companies can reword things to look like your covered when your not.

Is Loss Damage Wavier the same?

Cheers
Bob

pompeyrich

Have a look at the website in the link above, here are a couple of relevant bits from the FAQ section


Is free 24 hour roadside assistance included?

• Free 24 hour roadside assistance is included with all car types. There are some exceptions to the cover where you may be expected to pay a call-out fee as follows:
  • Running out of fuel
  • Locking yourself out of the car
  • Windscreen replacement
  • Tyre Replacement
  • Key Replacement
  • Flat Battery
  More often than not the rental company will not charge you for call-outs for some of the above, although Alamo and Dollar offer (a non-compulsory) 'Roadside Service Plan' payable on collection of your car at approx $6 per day. Note, you are not required to accept this service if offered, and you can not claim back the fee charged if during your rental you do not use the Service Plan.

Is Insurance Excess Waiver Included?

• Our price includes Insurance Excess Waiver in the USA with Dollar, Budget, Alamo and U-Save other than for collections from New York and Alaska. This means that in the event of damage or loss of the car, or to 3rd parties or their property, then you are completely covered with nothing to pay towards to cost

optique

I can recommend US Car Hire: used them for a California hire, they were cheapest at that time and an additional driver was free, which wasn't the case with some others.