Ambre Solaire

We are renting a car for a couple of months and are purchasing an Annual Excess Insurance Policy. Do we advise the hire company that we have this policy or do we keep quiet about it ?
I may be a bit suspicious, but have a thought if they know about this Policy that suddenly they may find a problem when we return the car to the airport car park for them to collect

Any advice ?

Sherlock Holmes

When renting anything anywhere (after a bad experience in the UK) I'd photgraph the vehicle when you pick it up and when you leave it. Hope that isn't too cautious for you.

Further to that, inspect the vehicle before you drive off and if there are any minor marks, scratches etc., note them and make the hirer note them.

petew

When I return a hire car I always ask for a signature on the damage form stating "agreed no damage". The reaction varies from virtual refusal to extreme reluctance. You tend to think "why not?". I think damage excesses are a major earner for car hire companies.

jdr

There is no need to tell them, although they may try to sell it to you, if they do then tell them you are already covered.
If you have a prang or they charge you for undercar damage just forward their bill onto the other ins company.

agoreira

I always use the excess insurance, and I thought I would definitely be using it this year. After renting for more than 25 years without a scratch, my luck ran out this year. Fearing the worse, I took the car back, pointed out the damage, and the guy said, Ah, a leeetle scratch, señor! No problem! and I was on my way, a relieved man. I have checked my account since, just in case,but 6 months later, nada.

frigilianafreddy

I have used insurance4carhire for 4 years. Cost £39 this year. Returned a sixt car hire with a little dent and was charged €190. Insurance paid up no probs.

I never check the car now as I have the insurance and they pay up.

No need to tell the car hire company - but they will possibly ask to swipe your card for a 'security deposit'

Last time I was out I told hellehollis i did not want their excess insurance. I fully expected them to charge me for a rather large scrape on the bodywork, but no, they didn't bother

agoreira

Ditto, the same company. I haven't had to claim, but have heard good reports from those that have.

Ambre Solaire

Many thanks for all your advice. It would appear that insurance4carhire policy for Europe are 31 days max, we require 60 days. I have located a few insurers that will cover for 60 days per trip, just reading "the small print" trying to find one to cover keys as well

Kind regards

agoreira

You can do an annual policy, £79, with 60 days max continous.
Under worldwide
http://www.insurance4carhire.com/Pro...D=1666&curID=1

Ambre Solaire

Hi

Yes, thanks for that, but we usually never travel out of Europe now, so that is £30-£40 more than other Insurers I have seen.

Regards

Ambre Solaire

We have finally booked our car hire and have discovered that there is no
insurance excess to pay,( see below) which is great. But that leaves me wondering if tyres wheels keys etc are not covered, which policy do I need to ensure I am fully covered.

On reading through lots of sites, I can only see Car Hire Excess Insurance, which obviously only covers only the excess part.

Or am I being a bit dim ?

Our rates include comprehensive insurance on your hire car (including collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance and third party cover) and Public Liability Cover. (NB. Tyres/wheels, keys, the underneath of the car, traffic or parking fines and towing charges are excluded).

NO INSURANCE EXCESS IS PAYABLE

bobd22

Try carhireexcess.com covers 60 days including keys tyres etc £39.99 thats who I use

Rotor

Amex cards sometimes include this cover, its worth asking with all cards.

Ambre Solaire

If posting a reply to my question, can you read my posting 11, as the goal posts have changed !

Thanks for your advice

jdr

I have never heard of a cover with no excess, even our own car has an excess on it.
But I have just been told by her indoors that apparently they are available, the charge for hire being much more.
Usually there is now a 600 quid excess on hire policies, you take out the excess cover to pay for this if needed, it also covers the undercar and tyres etc, as these are the latest cons they try on.
If that policy is cheap then it sounds too good to be true.