Car rental excess insurance

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Sat 24 Jan 2009 18:03
Car rental excess insurance - Happy Blue!
I have been stung twice in my last two car rentals for 'damage' which I am disputing.

The second rental was made using a well known broker who have washed their hands of the matter saying they have no knowledge and want copy documents which needless to say I have not kept. The extra charge has simply appeared on my credit card statement. I will be complaining to my credit card company as well, when they open on Monday morning.

I have heard about insurance for renters, which covers all the excesses and other charges that one may incur. Has anyone bought this cover and more importantly, have they claimed successfully on it?

Edited by Pugugly on 24/01/2009 at 18:05

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 24 Jan 2009 19:07
Car rental excess insurance - LondonBus
Yes - have a look on moneysaving expert website - under travel. Article there.

I've not linked - 'cos I assume Dave/John would not appreciate.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 24 Jan 2009 19:09
Car rental excess insurance - ukbeefy
Also check what the insurance covers in terms of the location of rental...one of the excess cos covers rentals near home as well as further away...alot only cover holiday over 150kms away..
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 24 Jan 2009 19:14
Car rental excess insurance - Bill Payer
www.insurance4carhire.com seems to be the main one - NatWest used to do it cheaper (using the same company) for their customers but haven't seen their scheme mentioned for some time.

Think it only covers rental abroad.

The snag to be seemed to be that you might have to fully settle any damage and then claim it back. What happens if you write off the car?


Amex Platinum card covers all extra insurances too, but, when looking at the US, I found all inclusive deals through UK brokers were no more expensive than booking without insurance directly with US rental companies.

Edited by Bill Payer on 24/01/2009 at 19:16

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 26 Jan 2009 09:59
Car rental excess insurance - rcspeirs
Amex Plat card insurance is useful, but only applies if the car rental is associated with a flight or hotel booking.


Another 'insurance' that I always do now is use my camera phone to take lots of photographs when I return the car (including the dials to prove mileage and fuel guage).
Whilst a photo probably doesn't stand as watertight legal evidence, I find it extremely useful to prove to rental company that your story is the true one.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 26 Jan 2009 10:38
Car rental excess insurance - Falkirk Bairn
When I used to work & hire cars say 2 x per month - I always got the hire co to check the car was OK@ drop off point.

I was chased for damaged spare / missing spare- I refuted it and said their employee had signed it off - end of story. I heard no more.

Spare tyre + alloy wheel - £400 was their estimate.


RECENTLY
In the USA a major car hire co was fined massively for charging the public RETAIL charge rather than the trade price. i.e. they made a revenue stream out of damages rather than recoup their costs.

That judgement would work wonders in the UK if the matter could be pushed through UK Courts.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 26 Jan 2009 15:08
Car rental excess insurance - Bill Payer
Amex Plat card insurance is useful but only applies if the car rental is associated
with a flight or hotel booking.


Please make your own checks but I don't believe that's correct.

You simply have to be on a trip. From the rules:

?Trip? means a journey outside Your Country of Residence; or a journey within Your
Country of Residence which must include a flight, or at least one night pre-booked
accommodation away from home. Trips can be up to 120 consecutive days or up to
240 days during each 12-month period, but must commence and end in Your Country
of Residence.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance