Patty

My niece & nephew arrived Sat night and hired a car from Turin airport. Not long after starting their journey to my house they had a puncture. It turns out that its quite a nasty one and not repairable. They took out 'extra' insurance on top of the normal one - but the hire car company are being difficult and so it looks like they will have to buy a new tyre for the car at their expense. Its going to be expensive cos its a very nice Alfa Romeo. Can I just ask all of you if you think this is right ? Surely the extra insurance should cover all these eventualities ? Have they a leg to stand on ?
Any help very welcome

37100

With a hired car, 'fraid tyres aren't usually covered by any insurance. Not right no, but it's the same in the u.k.

TestaRossa

Who is it with? If they have a website you should be able to read what is covered on there. Then at least you will know if they have a leg to stand on.

Patty

37100 - I didnt know this - thanks anyway and I'll pass this info on to them.
TR - Thanks - I'll tell them to take a look but although they used Europcar - the paperwork says the offices are in Palermo.
Oh well - some you lose some you win ey

TestaRossa

There's two Europcars. The one everyone uses and the one in Palermo! I only found out when my OH suggested we do long term hire through the one in Palermo. I think the name is just a franchise name, did they book through Italy then rather than the UK??

indiebird

Awww sorry to read this Patty. Have you or they been back to the airport to speak to them in person or phoned the actual desk there? We don't use Europcar, we use Hertz and they have always been really helpful at the desk, but not so good if you phone up the callcentre iyswim. Dh thinks they might be covered for the tyre if they have the full insurance but you might want to go and speak to them and maybe it might depend on what caused the puncture.

Patty

TR - They did book this from the UK - so not sure why its come from Palermo.

Indie - thanks, we have phoned the desk and my OH spoke to them however the girl was a bit incompetent. We have to call tomorrow and talk to her 'boss'.
We'll do what we can but I'm not that hopeful.

duffer

I've mentioned this before and I'll mention it again; I take out an annual European insurance policy that covers the excess on car hire from Insurance4carhire. It covers excess on theft, excess on damage, and damage to windows, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof. It costs only £49 per year and you can get a massive 20% cashback from Quidco. For comparison, Hertz are offering super insurance cover to reduce the excess from £550 to zero for £12 per day. It's a no-brainer. Doh!

37100

We did the extra car insurance in the u.k. but it still didn't cover the tyre. Luckily we found a tiny garage in Wales and after much jumping up and down on the tyre the owner fixed it. So Duffer is super right and not just for the price.

duffer

If we were to have taken the extra insurance from Hertz for the car hire in UK for our trips in the summmer and Xmas of 12 days each, the cost would be £288. The cost of the policy I mentioned above is £39 inc Quidco cashback. The Hertz insurance is only to reduce your excess liability from £550 (and this is only if you are renting an average car, if you have an MPV or estate then the excess could be over £1000), you need to pay extra to cover personal belongings.

Patty

Thanks Duffer - I'll pass this on to them cos they travel quite alot and I'm sure this would be a really good idea to take this up.