Car hire question

m.j.w

I have hired a car for 2 weeks over Christmas from Dublin airport through a broker and just wondering about the insurance. I got this very cheap so just don't want to be caught with having to get insurance when I get there as it seems it is included. It states

Rental includes:

Liability Insurance for injuries or damage to persons or things outside the car

Collision Damage coverage, rental limits potential vehicle damage liability to the deductible of approx 1350 euro

Theft Protection for the vehicle, rental limits potential vehicle damage liability to the deductible of approx 1350 euro

Unlimited km's

Rental does not include:

Insurance coverage for personal injuries to the driver or passengers. Optional coverage may be offered locally for an additional fee.

galvo_clare

It looks like you have insurance - the normal, basic insurance that comes with all car hire.

At the desk, they will try to sell you more comprehensive insurance which will get rid of your deductible. i.e. if you damage
the car, they won't come after you for the €1,350.

The extra insurance is usually priced per day and it's up to you whether you take it or not. I suppose it depends on how catastrophic
a charge of €1,350 to your credit card would be.

keithclancy

You got it through AutoEurope I guess ?

I use them and carhire3000 all the time.

If it was really cheap, it was probably Thrifty.

If its busy at Dublin Airport just get in the shuttle bus and head straight out to the pickup depot and do all the forms there, Thirftys depot is just down the Old Dublin road from all the other companies.

Also at the Airport desk they will try to convince you that you have to return the car empty, this is bull crap. At the depot they will give you the option to return it full.

Check for all damage carefully against the sheet, if in doubt head straight back in to clarify, check for a spare tyre, aerial etc and make sure the wing mirrors work properly.

Check the tyres for damage and thread (rented before one of them was bloody bald)

Also check for stone chips on the windscreen and make sure they are marked off.

I take a quick 5 pictures with my phone in highest resolution of each side (front back left right) and the roof.

Try to return the car within normal hours and make sure you get the returning agent to sign off on the form.

They'll put a hold of the excess (1350 euros) on your card and a seperate amount for the fuel, this will be returned in 3-5 working days as long as you drop it back full and don't wang it off anything.

Ask yourself the question, how often do you damage your own car and if you think that its a possibility buy car hire excess insurance from another provider for the year which is usually cheaper or for the same price in your country of residence (makes it easier)

If it was another company (Sixt/Hertz/Europcar) then the same rules apply, you can also just go to the depot at the car rental pickup.

When dropping the car back, there's an unmanned petrol station a bit up from it where you can fill up pretty cheaply, its also easier to fill there and go back down the old dublin road to the non thrifty rental companies.

Finally, make sure you check with the company if they will handle the M50 Toll, I think most will do it for you and bill your card directly now.

Hope this helps.

bear1

Some very good advice there Keith, very clear and concise.
I had the same doubts as I also have a car rented for 5 days from Cork Airport and I have the same basic insurance as well.
So am I right (havent rented in a long time) if I was to buy the full insurance, which I will anyway, will there be no amount held onto my credit card? It's arguscarhire by the way so I'm using Avis.

keithclancy

bear1 wrote: »

Some very good advice there Keith, very clear and concise.
I had the same doubts as I also have a car rented for 5 days from Cork Airport and I have the same basic insurance as well.
So am I right (havent rented in a long time) if I was to buy the full insurance, which I will anyway, will there be no amount held onto my credit card? It's arguscarhire by the way so I'm using Avis.

Only the deposit for the fuel.

The full insurance is the only real option when hiring with a debit card anyway.

mickdw

When taking the full insurance, you are obliged to return the car on its roof, backwards through the gates of the compound with 4 bald tyres.

Idbatterim

the below might be of interest for car hire excess... dont think it solves your issue though op...

http://www.insure4less.ie/car-hire-excess-insurance

Ashbx

Seems like you have basic insurance but I would definitely suggest doing a check of the cars exterior before driving away! Even if its a tiniest scratch, make sure it is noted before you drive off in the car!

bear1

keithclancy wrote: »

Only the deposit for the fuel.

The full insurance is the only real option when hiring with a debit card anyway.

Cool thanks. So if they would say to me that they need to hold for instance 500e on my card I can dispute this I'd imagine?

mickdw wrote: »

When taking the full insurance, you are obliged to return the car on its roof, backwards through the gates of the compound with 4 bald tyres.

I thought that was a given? I was planning of driving it off the Cliffs of Moher

keithclancy

bear1 wrote: »

Cool thanks. So if they would say to me that they need to hold for instance 500e on my card I can dispute this I'd imagine?

Well the deposit on your card is to cover the excess, so if there is no excess then there is no deposit.

bear1

keithclancy wrote: »

Well the deposit on your card is to cover the excess, so if there is no excess then there is no deposit.

Ok thanks. I'd imagine there would be 0 excess if I'm buying the full insurance so let's see as I've never rented with Avis.

keithclancy

bear1 wrote: »

Ok thanks. I'd imagine there would be 0 excess if I'm buying the full insurance so let's see as I've never rented with Avis.

Well its not cheap:

http://www.avis.ie/productsservicesie/additional-cover

Prices vary by car size. Cover in Ireland starts from €16 per day up to a maximum of €20 per day.

So for 14 days your looking at minimum of an extra 224 euros.

bear1

Luckily I'm only having the car for 5 days so it will cost me either 80e or 100e.

keithclancy

bear1 wrote: »

Luckily I'm only having the car for 5 days so it will cost me either 80e or 100e.

Mixed you up with the OP

Still .. a full year of Car Hire excess cover is cheaper than that.

bear1

keithclancy wrote: »

Mixed you up with the OP

Still .. a full year of Car Hire excess cover is cheaper than that.

I know, it just seems like such a hassle if something goes wrong.
I'd say it would make more sense if I was renting a few times a year

Greyfoot

I have to chime in here, as I am working in the trade for almost a year now, even though we are a small company compared to Avis, Hertz etc I have some insight how things work.

The basic insurance package will be equal to third party only with the excess of 1350 euros.

The amount of excess will be pre-authorized on your credit/debit card and will be released within 2/3 weeks, unless there is a claim.

I advise you to take note and pictures of ALL body damages prior to signing the contract in case you decide not to purchase the extra insurance. Big companies will try to rape your wallet on basically anything, especially on insurance claims/frauds.

Fuel charges probably will not appear on the contract, Avis and the other biggies almost always give out cars with a full tank. Absolutely make sure you fill it back up when finished, fuel surcharges usually sky high.


I would advise you to take the collision damage waiver no matter the cost, it is well worth the extra protection and peace of mind.