Car Hire CDW/LDW in Canada and US

humfer

Sorry. This will read like a really simple question and I’m sure it has been answered before. Have searched the forum but cannot fully find an answer. Next year looking to book separate car hire slots in Canada and US. As I understand both these countries don’t tend to include LDW/CDW as standard like most other countries, although i think Canada is slightly better than the US

Enterprise doesn’t offer as standard in either country and charges about 25-30 dollars a day. Hertz doesn’t offer in the US but oddly seems to include it in Canada IF you book via its .co.uk website

Does this mean that if I don’t take the additional cover with the rental company I’m liable for the total cost of repair or replacing the car? If so this could be in the region of 20-40k depending on the car. One option I’m looking at is the Worldwide plus policy from Insurance4carhire, but this also confuses me (it’s not hard) as it states it provides cover where rental companies don’t but also makes mention of covering excess up to £6500. So any amount over and above that I’m not covered for? Even with Hertz on its .co.uk option which includes the cover for Canada I’m still assuming there would be an excess anyway?

So it’s either take a big risk and don’t have the cover, pay the daily amount or take out a separate policy with someone like insurance4carhire. Latter sounds the best plan (as it covers for 1 year and multiple trips) but just want to be sure on the total amount covered

Sorry once again. I know I should understand this...

zappahey

When I lived in Canada, car rentals didn't normally include damage cover since it was usually covered by the renter's own car insurance or as a credit card benefit, hence prices often look cheaper. If you book through a UK site then normally CDW is included but with an excess payable. I usually look at something like ebookers which does a pretty good comparison across the rental companies and can throw up some bargains.

Insurance4carhire is really meant to cover the excess rather than be a full replacement for CDW and, in my personal experience works really well. I had to claim last year and, while there was a short delay (which they warned about at the outset), they paid up without any quibble.

EssexExile

Most US car hires include CDW, including Enterprise & Hertz if you are using their UK websites.

headpin

Is there any reason why you cannot used UK booking site for these car hires? They will normallyinclude CDW/LDWin US and Canada. Often there is no excess either. If there is an excess buy a separate insurance via a specialist insurer/provider before you go as this will cost the same as about one days cover bought via the hire company.

nilocmac

I have been thinking about the same issue and had more or less resolved it by the suggestion above.
But what about SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance). Do I need that as well?

EveryWhere

EssexExile is right. Just use the UK website and you will have all of the mandatory cover, including the minimum required liability insurance.

SLI just takes it from the minimum required to US$1,000,000.

If you want to take the belt and braces approach, then you can take a policy that covers everything.

https://www.bettersafe.com/Products/Car-Hire-Excess-Insurance-Protection
https://www.insurance4carhire.com/usa-canada-car-hire-excess-insurance
https://www.carhireexcess.co.uk (tick to include SLI)