el collado kid

In all the years of hiring cars in spain we have never had a problem.We all ways took out full insurance at the hire desk on arrival.WE have written off one car damaged others and never had a problem,good service and back up by all companies including gold car.When my wife wrote the car off we rang the company a breakdown truck arrived in 3/4 hour took us and the car to airport gave us exactly the same model and color car, back to villa in 2 hours very happy

San Pedro

The difference is that you paid for the full insurance package and that's why you don't have any issues. When you do this you are not having to leave a deposit on your credit card so they would be unable to charge you any excess. The problems only start when you take out your own (much cheaper) insurance before leaving the UK.

frigilianafreddy

But it doesn't matter if you have your own insurance. Just claim from them. The malpractice only matters if you have both rejected their insurance and not bought an annual policy.

San Pedro

Not sure I understand that response. Are you saying it doesn't matter if the car hire company charges you for damage you haven't done?

Joppa

If you have a third-party excess insurance bought in UK, then eventually any damage caused should be covered by that insurance, even though the rental company will first take money from your credit card deposit and you have to claim later from insurance. The trouble starts when the rental outfit makes it difficult for you, by delaying or refusing to furnish required documents like accident report, invoices and receipts, which your excess cover insurer demands. Also rental firm can claim extra for lost business while the car is being repaired, which is covered by some but not all excess insurers.

San Pedro

That's all very interesting but I think some of you are missing the point. I am referring to Goldcar charging you (or your excess insurance company) for damage that you did not cause and not damage that you did.

Joppa

If you want, you can argue with Goldstar about your liability for damage, but at the end of the day, if you have excess insurance, it's simpler just to claim on your insurance and get reimbursed, provided you get the required documents from Goldstar, as I have said.

Notdunroamin

Just a point on private insurance.

When Brexit was supposed to happen on March 29th. 2019 a message appeared on the Insurance4carhire site stating that after that date new policies would be no longer be available to non UK residents.

Obviously that date came and went and currently there is nothing of a similar nature on their website but that doesn't mean their position has changed and that the bar will be reapplied for Dec 31st. or whenever the transition period does in fact end.

missile

I have annual hire car damage insurance. Much cheaper than paying hire car company.

Joppa

Hello Joyous777

Never heard of such an insurance policy. Problem you will encounter is almost all car rental companies refuse to deal with what they call a third party insurance company, claiming that they are not party to any agreement or contract with them. The rental contract you sign with Goldcar or any other rental outfit stipulates it's you who enter into an agreement of hiring a car from them and you are bound by their terms and conditions, which include having to make good any damage or loss you incur, either by buying a full insurance cover from them or forfeit part or all of your credit card deposit. What you will do afterwards to claim the cost from your excess insurance policy in entirely your own matter, and rental company has nothing to with it.
The only exception is if you are from North America and your credit card offers CDW cover on overseas rental. Sometimes you can then refuse CDW from rental company and your credit card will deal directly with them over a claim, though they may first reserve credit on your card for the disputed amount which is then released once the claim is settled. Normally only big multinationals like Avis and Hertz are willing to offer CDW-less rental.

Mark604

Surely there's not only me who thinks Joyous777's post sounds like a teaser advert. Especially with the capital letters in strategic places.

Patrick2976

I only used Goldcar once on a business trip to the north of Spain. I took several photos of the car at pick up and had the usual existing damage report their staff. I returned the car a day later and made sure the same chap gave me a document stating no damage - as well as taking another set of photos. Surprise surprise a few days later €450 was taken from my card with an email stating costs for vehicle bodywork repair. After a lot of time, phone calls and emails of complaint/proof of no damage - they eventually returned my money. Needless to say I never used them again.

Cape Blue

I see mention of Insurance4carhire as an annual policy(?) - anyone got any other recommendations for insurance companies?

At the moment I use my old US Visa card which covers CDW, but at some point I might no longer retain that account.

Joppa

I have an annual policy with insurance4carhire. One of the longest established excess insurers, they cover lost business charge from car hirers and you get good cashback by using Quidco or other cashback sites. Never had to claim so I don't know personally how their claim handling is, but they have a good reputation for customer care. Only cover UK and some other EU residents.
Using CDW offered by certain US credit cards is a good option for those who qualify for it, but usually only big multinationals like Avis, Hertz and National accept it and they aren't normally the most competitive even without CDW cover. By using a reputable hirer like Helle Hollis and Malagacar.com, you don't go wrong, and they are happy for you to use third-party excess insurance, but sometimes they offer full cover at a good rate. I often get a week's hire for a compact with full insurance from Malagacar for around 100 euro. Another good company is Wiber, but only with full insurance.

Mustard

I've had an annual policy with insurance4carhire for many years and it's saved me a fortune in CDW cover. The hirers are fighting back - I hired a car with Hertz in Dublin last summer and they accepted my policy but required a 1500€ deposit on my credit card which they didn't unblock for nearly a month after the rental finished.