enjoy car hire - anyone used them?

ZERO EXCESS does not mean NO EXCESS. Zero Excess will only cover the normal items of damage and loss. It will not cover certain exceptions. Usually these include glass (windscreen, side screens, etc) loss of keys, damage to locks, tyres and wheels, the underside of the bodywork. Additionally if you use the car for something specifically excluded (off road driving on tracks or the beach etc, racing, rallying, etc) then the insurance will not cover damage that results. Similarly if you drive under the influence of drink or drugs or are generally negligent you will have no cover. So there are a number of exclusions where you will not be covered, either at all or where there is an excess still to pay. These amounts will be taken straight off your Credit Card “deposit” - in effect they just reserve this sum against your credit limit- that you left when you picked the car up. (You need to check how much they reserve on your card as if you only have a low credit limit you may find that they have used most of it up and when you try to use it for a purchase it may be refused as it will take you over your credit limit. The limit is reached because reserved sums are counted as being spent because they could possibly be charged later and an authorisation guarnateeing them was given when you left your card details..

If you want to cover the items such as the tyres, wheels, glass, etc then there are a number of insurance policy's avaialable for this purpose which you take out before you go and certainly before the hire commences. This can be useful as if you suffer say a puncture, then often the hire company will charge for a new tyre and it will be charged at top prices (£250 is not uncommon on a small compact car). Furthermore, they may even charge for the loss of revenue from not having it avaialable to hire whislt it is being repaired!! An Excess Insurance which will cover these types of risk costs approx £2 per day for EU/European Cover (£3 for US/Worldwide) or around £40 (£50 Worldwide) for an annual policy which will cover any number of trips and car hires so long as they do not individually exceed a given period (often 16 days - or can be longer for a higher premium). These policies have a limit of cover often £2000 - £3000 per claim. But this should be adequate for tyres, keys, glass and the like.

Check out the following for details and prices:

http://www.carhireexcess.com/
http://www.insurance4carhire.com/
www.worldwideinsure.com
http://www.confused.com/car-hire-excess-insurance

Remember that this is like any non mandatory insurance in that you pays your money and takes your choice. It's a gamble basically! However, you can often get and will be pushed to take similar cover from the car rental companies when you turn up at their desk. It is a nice earner with big commission for the agent. The big players will charge you a shed load more than these specialist policies, whilst the local/national companies, if indeed they offer it, may be more competitive. But if it turns out that they do not offer it, you will have missed the opportunity to take it out yourself beforehand because as far as I am aware you cannot commence these type of policies once the rental has commenced.

As with any insurance please check the small print and especially the exclusions and limit or cover before deciding whether the policy is suitable and you wish to buy.
Good luck.

Glad you are sorted but ..dont think Carjet are one of the cheapest out there

Melb did you book, I am also getting cheap prices, and wanted to know if it all went smoothly?