Car hire- A complete headwrecker!!!!

Tillerman08

Can someone please explain to me what I need when hiring a car? I am being bombarded with excess damage waiver options etc and have heard that some of these extras are a waste of money. Basically I want to be covered and don't want to be parting with a shed load of cash for a minor scratch.

Also -has anyone used the following car rental site as they seem to be the cheapest www.gostarmedia.com. Would the all inclusive cover they're offering be enough or do I need those headwrecking extras ????


Thanks for your help

Berty

Where are you looking to hire a car?

I sometimes use http://www.arguscarhire.ie when Avis do not have a location.

Excess damage waiver is basically paying more money in order that in the event of a crash to do not have to pay the first €800(example amount). Instead you pay €0. You have to pay excess irregardless of whether its your fault or not. If it was not your fault, when the car hire companies sucessfully gets payment from the other insurer you get your money back.

Googling this subject normally brings up US citizens banging on about having free excess damage waivers from their US credit card companies. Ignore these googled subjects as you are unlikely to have a US credit card.

skibum

I have used these guys before: http://www.carhire3000.ie/, found their rates to be the best. I also took out seperate carhire excess insurance with these guys: http://www.carhireexcess.com/, cheaper than the hire company and is valid for multiple rentals over a year.

PadraigL

I am the same as skibum and have used "carhire3000" and "auto europe" to hire cars. I have also rang them to haggle, with good effect.
I have also used www.Insurance4carhire.com for excess insurance.

A tip I would give. When you get to your car pull it out of the parking space and do a full check of the outside including the tyres. Use a camera to take pictures and show them in the office before you take it.

I made this mistake the last time in Paris. Just checked 3 sides as the car was backed into the space and was tight to the car behind. When we stopped at a rest stop off the motorway I noticed that the back bumper had a huge hole in it and it was not mentioned when we collected it. Rang the rental desk at the airport and they said it would be ok. In fairness I never heard anything after.

Tillerman08

thanks for the replies- I am hiring car in italy and have used hertz in the past but find them very expensive. Will check out your recommendations. Thanks again.

Crubeens

I just booked a car for pick up at Malaga Airport with www.arguscarhire.ie and it was €100 cheaper than avis and around €200 cheaper than Hertz.

For an extra five euro I got CDW with zero excess - I'm assuming this means I'm covered for ANY damage to the car. However, I have never got zero excess for such a cheap price before - it has always cost me about a tenner per day. I'll be trawling through the small print on pick up day!

mcgrate

I also use carhire3000. I dont get any of the extra's or add-ons. They will offer them to you again when you pick up the car.
The main thing you want to know is; does it include collision damage waiver and what is the excess on it.