Heathrow car hire
Mar 11th 2010, 10:39 pm
#31
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Posts: 27
Re: Heathrow car hire
Thanks, that would be great. I would rather pay everything up front, so there are no surprizes when we get there.
Mar 11th 2010, 11:19 pm
#32
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Posts: 939
Re: Heathrow car hire
We got a great deal, so definitely worth looking at them, although you're taking a gamble as to which company. As far as we were concerned most of the companies are as much of a much-ness, so it didn't matter.
Let us know how you get on.
Mar 11th 2010, 11:27 pm
#33
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Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 8,416
Re: Heathrow car hire
It was Hot Wire - http://www.hotwire.com/car/index.jsp
We got a great deal, so definitely worth looking at them, although you're taking a gamble as to which company. As far as we were concerned most of the companies are as much of a much-ness, so it didn't matter.
Let us know how you get on.
We got a great deal, so definitely worth looking at them, although you're taking a gamble as to which company. As far as we were concerned most of the companies are as much of a much-ness, so it didn't matter.
Let us know how you get on.
Mar 11th 2010, 11:31 pm
#34
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Mar 11th 2010, 11:36 pm
#35
staying around
Joined: Jul 2003
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Posts: 2,328
Re: Heathrow car hire
Thats strange I have state farm and had to get a rider on my policy to cover a rental car in the US,this also covers any car not owned by me. Uk I always use my credit card for insurance
Last edited by candy wy.; Mar 11th 2010 at 11:39 pm.
Mar 12th 2010, 11:43 am
#37
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,014
Re: Heathrow car hire
So are we although we are not insured through any of the companies mentioned.
Mar 12th 2010, 3:04 pm
#38
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: Heathrow car hire
My AAA Insurance covers a rental within the US and as Candy said I also use my CCard whilst in the UK...I don't pay any access to drive a rental in the US.
Mar 13th 2010, 1:43 pm
#39
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5
Re: Heathrow car hire
When I rent in Europe I always get a good rate at Avis.com when using the discount code (AWD) "D005297"
Last edited by expatinus; Mar 13th 2010 at 1:46 pm.
Mar 14th 2010, 4:00 pm
#40
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 2,068
Re: Heathrow car hire
It was Hot Wire - http://www.hotwire.com/car/index.jsp
We got a great deal, so definitely worth looking at them, although you're taking a gamble as to which company. As far as we were concerned most of the companies are as much of a much-ness, so it didn't matter.
Let us know how you get on.
We got a great deal, so definitely worth looking at them, although you're taking a gamble as to which company. As far as we were concerned most of the companies are as much of a much-ness, so it didn't matter.
Let us know how you get on.
As for Europe, I used Enterprise last April. Was the cheapest I could find. New Ford Fiesta (40mpg), stick shift. Bought back all the reasons why I hate stick shifts!
Last edited by Brit3964; Mar 14th 2010 at 4:04 pm.
Apr 24th 2010, 11:11 pm
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 127
Re: Heathrow car hire
Thought I'd do an update on my car hire experience using carhire3000. It was very good
. We paid £226.28 to carhire3000 (including all insurances + taxes, full tank of fuel and two drivers) then $250 + tax = $300ish one way fee (which we knew about) when we collected the car from National. No other insurance or taxes required. I don't know if all rental firms do this now, but what was really great about National/Europcar was that after you've done the paperwork, they just say "get any car from zone 3" or wherever - so you can choose from a range of cars (I also hired a car from them from Heathrow for a couple of days after we sold our car in UK and they did the same thing). We chose a huge behemoth, a Dodge Journey, which was ideal for our 600-ish mile trip with luggage, dog and crate.
Infinitely better than Avis in Atlanta in February, where we were firstly sent to a car that didn't exist, then sent to a completely wrong car, then sent to an old piece of junk, then eventually to a slightly newer piece of junk which we grudgingly accepted (tired, pissed off, couldn't be bothered to argue for any longer
. Absolutely appalling service:curse. All for about four times the cost of our lovely behemoth.
Moral of the story: never book car hire directly with a rental firm (in whatever country you are) but use a UK-based discount website. The people at National car hire in Washington DC also recommended doing this.
. We paid £226.28 to carhire3000 (including all insurances + taxes, full tank of fuel and two drivers) then $250 + tax = $300ish one way fee (which we knew about) when we collected the car from National. No other insurance or taxes required. I don't know if all rental firms do this now, but what was really great about National/Europcar was that after you've done the paperwork, they just say "get any car from zone 3" or wherever - so you can choose from a range of cars (I also hired a car from them from Heathrow for a couple of days after we sold our car in UK and they did the same thing). We chose a huge behemoth, a Dodge Journey, which was ideal for our 600-ish mile trip with luggage, dog and crate.Infinitely better than Avis in Atlanta in February, where we were firstly sent to a car that didn't exist, then sent to a completely wrong car, then sent to an old piece of junk, then eventually to a slightly newer piece of junk which we grudgingly accepted (tired, pissed off, couldn't be bothered to argue for any longer
. Absolutely appalling service:curse. All for about four times the cost of our lovely behemoth.Moral of the story: never book car hire directly with a rental firm (in whatever country you are) but use a UK-based discount website. The people at National car hire in Washington DC also recommended doing this.
I've previously booked cheaply through www.easycar.com (although that was about a year ago). I've recently discovered http://www.carhire3000.com - the prices look good, but has anyone experienced them? Both these websites are just for the booking - one of the big companies (Avis, Europcar, Thrifty etc) handle the rental at the airport. I also used to know someone who managed Europcar rentals at Heathrow and she assured me that they do not actually have any "economy" cars, so always book an economy car, and you will always get upgraded to the next level of car for free!
Recently I needed to hire a car from Atlanta airport - stupidly I booked the car directly on Thrifty's website. When I got to the airport, they wanted to stick about $700 extra for insurance on! If I'd have used someone like http://www.carhire3000.com, the insurance (with zero excess) would apparently be all part of the charge with nowt to pay at the airport. I'm proposing to use them for my next USA trip in April and will post results here! I emailed them asking if "Your rental includes Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection with zero excess" really means what I think it means, and they assured me it did. It all sounds too good to be true to me.
I just checked them and to hire a Ford Ka (or similar) for a week from Heathrow would be £114.87 including all the insurance and stuff (but with insurance excess of about £600). Don't know how this compares to other quotes. And no, I don't work for the company...for all I know they could be completely crap!
Recently I needed to hire a car from Atlanta airport - stupidly I booked the car directly on Thrifty's website. When I got to the airport, they wanted to stick about $700 extra for insurance on! If I'd have used someone like http://www.carhire3000.com, the insurance (with zero excess) would apparently be all part of the charge with nowt to pay at the airport. I'm proposing to use them for my next USA trip in April and will post results here! I emailed them asking if "Your rental includes Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection with zero excess" really means what I think it means, and they assured me it did. It all sounds too good to be true to me.
I just checked them and to hire a Ford Ka (or similar) for a week from Heathrow would be £114.87 including all the insurance and stuff (but with insurance excess of about £600). Don't know how this compares to other quotes. And no, I don't work for the company...for all I know they could be completely crap!
Apr 25th 2010, 12:09 am
#42
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 485
Re: Heathrow car hire
Thought I'd do an update on my car hire experience using carhire3000. It was very good. We paid £226.28 to carhire3000 (including all insurances + taxes, full tank of fuel and two drivers) then $250 + tax = $300ish one way fee (which we knew about) when we collected the car from National. No other insurance or taxes required. I don't know if all rental firms do this now, but what was really great about National/Europcar was that after you've done the paperwork, they just say "get any car from zone 3" or wherever - so you can choose from a range of cars (I also hired a car from them from Heathrow for a couple of days after we sold our car in UK and they did the same thing). We chose a huge behemoth, a Dodge Journey, which was ideal for our 600-ish mile trip with luggage, dog and crate.
Infinitely better than Avis in Atlanta in February, where we were firstly sent to a car that didn't exist, then sent to a completely wrong car, then sent to an old piece of junk, then eventually to a slightly newer piece of junk which we grudgingly accepted (tired, pissed off, couldn't be bothered to argue for any longer. Absolutely appalling service:curse. All for about four times the cost of our lovely behemoth.
Moral of the story: never book car hire directly with a rental firm (in whatever country you are) but use a UK-based discount website. The people at National car hire in Washington DC also recommended doing this.
. We paid £226.28 to carhire3000 (including all insurances + taxes, full tank of fuel and two drivers) then $250 + tax = $300ish one way fee (which we knew about) when we collected the car from National. No other insurance or taxes required. I don't know if all rental firms do this now, but what was really great about National/Europcar was that after you've done the paperwork, they just say "get any car from zone 3" or wherever - so you can choose from a range of cars (I also hired a car from them from Heathrow for a couple of days after we sold our car in UK and they did the same thing). We chose a huge behemoth, a Dodge Journey, which was ideal for our 600-ish mile trip with luggage, dog and crate.Infinitely better than Avis in Atlanta in February, where we were firstly sent to a car that didn't exist, then sent to a completely wrong car, then sent to an old piece of junk, then eventually to a slightly newer piece of junk which we grudgingly accepted (tired, pissed off, couldn't be bothered to argue for any longer
. Absolutely appalling service:curse. All for about four times the cost of our lovely behemoth.Moral of the story: never book car hire directly with a rental firm (in whatever country you are) but use a UK-based discount website. The people at National car hire in Washington DC also recommended doing this.
Apr 25th 2010, 4:34 am
#44
And YOU'RE paying for it!
Joined: May 2007
Location: kipper tie?
Posts: 2,328
Re: Heathrow car hire
Also, fwiw, I've never had a problem with minor car rental companies (in fact, usually better with them) whereas majors have all been the sites of my biggest disappointments.
Apr 25th 2010, 3:49 pm
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 96
Re: Heathrow car hire
Yep can confirm that American Express have good cover. Husband hired a car in German and a deer jumped into the car - completely wrecked the front of a brand new people carrier. American Express sorted it out and we didn't pay a penny.
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