CDW/SLI in USA for a car >10 years old

somo999

Hi there.

We are travelling to the USA soon and renting a number of cars. All the CDW/SLI policies I have found specifically exclude cars greater than 10 years old. One of our car rentals specifically states that the car will be a 2010 model ie over this, and SLI is not available from the rental company itself.

Does anyone know of any UK policy that would cover this? 
Does anyone know if it is possible to get a standalone SLI policy (as all the rentals already include CDW)

Given that all except this 2010 car have been rented via Expedia.co.uk - do we even need SLI for the rest?

Thank you in advance for your help!

zagfles

SLI is important in the US because the third party cover that comes with the car hire often has quite low limits and the US is notorious for massively high compensation payouts eg if you have an accident and seriously injure someone. Check what the limits are.

CDW is usually included but usually with a big excess, maybe £1000 or so, so getting CDW excess covered is usually an idea. I've used insurance4carhire in the past but won't be any use for you as just checked and they have the 10 year old limit as well.

BTW do they actually mean a car that was built in 2010, or do they mean that's when the model was released?

somo999

Sorry for slow reply - and thanks for responding. I think they mean a car that was built in 2010.

So weird I can't get SLI (if I hit someone/something and cause injury to them... will it really matter how old the car I was driving at the time is?)

400ixl

Who are you renting these cars through (not Expedia, the actual rental company)? Sounds like some back street company.

The main rental companies would not have anything in their fleets that old, and you wouldn't know exactly what car you are renting in advance other than the class of car and some indication of the type of car in that class.

Renting in the US has very different levels, for US drivers the cover is very basic as they use the cover that comes with their own vehicle cover for much of it. For non US drivers they typically include CDW / SLI.

somo999

The one with the car over 10 years old is not a main stream company as the main stream companies aren't at the loaction. It's a local company but with excellent reviews.

The ones via Expedia are Budget and Europcar. 

Sandtree

Bit of a side route but AmEx Platinum Charge Card includes SLI as standard (£1m) but the card has to be used to make the bookings. No mention of any vehicle age limit in the T&Cs from what I can see.

May not be an option for you and the fees are high but you do get a pro-rata refund if you cancel the card so if you could set it up, pay, have the holiday and then cancel all in short order it may not be too expensive.