Travelocity Rental Car insurance in Europe?

[speeder]

I know there have been some European rental car insurance threads and did a search but didn't find this question; anyone know if the insurance offered while booking on Travelocity is worth anything?

I'm in Paris and about to book a Hertz rental through their site, (waaaay cheaper than going directly to rental company). The rental itself is cheap and includes unlimited mileage, (Hertz counter I stopped by today has mileage limits that I would blow through), but the insurance is considerably more than the rental itself. I just had the same issue in Ireland. When you are at the rental counter deciding whether to accept their insurance, they explain that if anything happens to the car, I will be on the hook for it 100% and it's my responsibility to collect from whatever third party insurer I'm using. That's daunting.

If I take their coverage, I walk away from anything that happens, (w full coverage).

Still, Travelocity is offering full coverage @ $11 a day while booking vs. $60 a day from Hertz. My fear is that it would be worthless if needed and they would try to hold $20k+ from my card until fully sorted.

Thoughts? TIA.

[LakeCleElum]

For Europe, I first check to see if my primary auto policy at home covers it (often does). I then check with my credit card company. It often picks up the difference between the two.

Only claim ever is when a guy crossed the center line and hit me in Italy a few yrs ago. Hertz held $500 (Euros) on my credit card (deductible) until they collected from the driver at fault. I then got the 500 refunded.

Don't pay $60/day. Way too much.

[LWJ]

Visa. I did this. I was a little skeptical. It is fine. I was rear-ended in Slovenia. No problem. No hassle. Nothing. Just follow the Visa rules!

[motion]

Call your CC company(s) first and ask them. Keep in mind if something happens, you're still going to be out of pocket for deductible and loss of use.

The Travelocity/Expedia/etc insurance is worthless. Its a scam.

A buddy of mine got a windshield rock chip in a rental in Norway last year. They dinged him for $2,800 because he had no insurance and rolled the dice. Not kidding.

I hate to say it, but unless you have stellar CC insurance as a benefit, I would pony up the $60 a day. You could be out thousands if something happens.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by motion

Call your CC company(s) first and ask them. Keep in mind if something happens, you're still going to be out of pocket for deductible and loss of use.

The Travelocity/Expedia/etc insurance is worthless. Its a scam.

A buddy of mine got a windshield rock chip in a rental in Norway last year. They dinged him for $2,800 because he had no insurance and rolled the dice. Not kidding.

I hate to say it, but unless you have stellar CC insurance as a benefit, I would pony up the $60 a day. You could be out thousands if something happens.

Thanks, man. I spent too much time today talking to Hertz people but looks like I can book on their site and insurance is way cheaper.

[cairns]

If you're renting from Hertz or Avis in Europe you're already paying way too much. Go with Europcar et. al. and spend a lot less on the car and the insurance. CC advice above is on target. I've found Am-Ex is best.

[Jims5543]

I am leaving for a week for Ireland and was impressed by the cheap car rental rates, now I know why, I discussed this with the wife already and I will happily pony up for full coverage. I consider myself a good driver, my concern is driving on the left side.

I did it in Nassau, Bahamas, I actually rented a car for 1 day just to mix it up on the local roads for fun, I noticed while in Taxi's that the people there drive like maniacs, the crazy in me wanted to play with them.

So I rented a $20 a day ecobox, insured it to the gills and played chicken with the locals on their roads, traffic rules there were suggestions. If you left 1/2 a car length in front of you it was taken from you. It was the most insane driving I had ever been involved in.

Never put a scratch on the car, but there were pucker moments.

Motions post is my worst nightmare, trying to save $500 in insurance then something stupid happens and you are on the hook for almost 3K. Yeah, I'll take the full coverage please, I will be sure to tell them I am going to beat the piss out of their car too.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by cairns

If you're renting from Hertz or Avis in Europe you're already paying way too much. Go with Europcar et. al. and spend a lot less on the car and the insurance. CC advice above is on target. I've found Am-Ex is best.

I'm using Travelocity to find cars and picking the best deals. Dollar Rent-a-car, (Hertz), has won so far. When I got to the airport in Dublin, I was renting from Hertz w my Dollar reservation. Same company. Same here in France.

I posted about my cheap plane tickets in another thread, rental cars have been the biggest expense on this trip and that's with booking them for $10 a day on Travelocity. One week in Ireland was right about $700 USD w insurance, taxes, etc.

[motion]

Originally Posted by cairns

If you're renting from Hertz or Avis in Europe you're already paying way too much. Go with Europcar et. al. and spend a lot less on the car and the insurance. CC advice above is on target. I've found Am-Ex is best.

Normally I would agree, but my AMEX Plat Biz Card doesn't cover car rentals in Jamaica, Italy, Ireland and a handful of other countries Otherwise, its a stellar card for its $0 deductible included car rental insurance.

[Neilk]

If you have a credit card that doesn't charge you a foreign exchange fee on purchases, make sure Hertz charges you in the Euro (or local currency). One rental agency in France charged in dollars once without me paying attention and the exchange rate they gave me cost about $20. Heathrow duty free tries the same thing making it sound like it is a favor for the client.

[petrolhead611]

The Irish don't have the best reputation for safe driving so make sure you have full insurance. Try Holiday Autos for rental, and an insurance package much cheaper than the rental companies.

[Hendog]

We just got back last night from Ireland. I did a bunch of reading on renting there. In the end I got a Mastercard World Elite. It covers Ireland. You pay for the card but weigh that against the daily cost of insurance and the card pays for itself. You also get 4 passes to Priority Pass airport lonunges and whatever other benefits.

Edit: Rented from Enterprise/National. Paid 28.50 Euros/day for 12 days. Extended for 3 more days but cost approx 50 Euros/day.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Hendog

We just got back last night from Ireland. I did a bunch of reading on renting there. In the end I got a Mastercard World Elite. It covers Ireland. You pay for the card but weigh that against the daily cost of insurance and the card pays for itself. You also get 4 passes to Priority Pass airport lonunges and whatever other benefits.

Edit: Rented from Enterprise/National. Paid 28.50 Euros/day for 12 days. Extended for 3 more days but cost approx 50 Euros/day.

What is the cost of that card? Full coverage insurance on rental cars has cost me a lot on this trip but it's been a good learning experience trip in several areas, besides rental cars.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Neilk

If you have a credit card that doesn't charge you a foreign exchange fee on purchases, make sure Hertz charges you in the Euro (or local currency). One rental agency in France charged in dollars once without me paying attention and the exchange rate they gave me cost about $20. Heathrow duty free tries the same thing making it sound like it is a favor for the client.

Hertz offeres a choice of currencies but I did not see this until I got the final receipt. No one at the counter ever verbally offered me the choice. At several restaurants, I've been given the choice and it is always on the screen of their hand held cc machine that they bring to the table, (an odd difference for an American). Every one that I've looked at gave an exchange rate that seemed better to pay in Euros.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by speeder

Hertz offeres a choice of currencies but I did not see this until I got the final receipt. No one at the counter ever verbally offered me the choice.

Of course they don't offer you a choice unless you ask about it, it's probably a massive profit center for them that most people never notice unless told about it. I tried to fight it, but quickly figured out that it was hopeless. Would be a good class action lawsuit!

[Hendog]

The cost of the card is $150 cdn/year.
As for choice of currency; I thought it was rather odd the first time I was offered that choice but I selected my home currency (cdn) because of the warm fuzzy of "home". I know nothing is free and there's always a reason for something offered, so I analyzed the exchange rates from one vendor after making two separate purchases; one in Euros and the next in Cdn. The offered cdn rate at the pos was higher than the conversion rate from my CC. I always slected Euros after that.

[cairns]

Normally I would agree, but my AMEX Plat Biz Card doesn't cover car rentals in Jamaica, Italy, Ireland and a handful of other countries Otherwise, its a stellar card for its $0 deductible included car rental insurance.

Thanks I knew about Italy but had no idea Ireland was excluded.

[motion]

Originally Posted by cairns

Thanks I knew about Italy but had no idea Ireland was excluded.

From the AMEX website:

Coverage is available internationally, except for vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. Please note that, in the event any coverage provided by this policy would be in violation of US economic or trade sanctions, such coverage shall be null and void.

Also, they don't cover large SUVs, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, etc. and anything over $50K value new. Lots of exclusions.

I had no idea Australia, New Zealand and Israel were excluded. I've happily used my card for rentals in those 3 countries thinking I was covered. Luckily, no issues.

[matthewb0051]

Sixt is another Euro car rental company. Worth looking at to compare prices

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by motion

From the AMEX website:

Coverage is available internationally, except for vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. Please note that, in the event any coverage provided by this policy would be in violation of US economic or trade sanctions, such coverage shall be null and void.

Also, they don't cover large SUVs, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, etc. and anything over $50K value new. Lots of exclusions.

I had no idea Australia, New Zealand and Israel were excluded. I've happily used my card for rentals in those 3 countries thinking I was covered. Luckily, no issues.

Thanks for the info, I was going to look into this over the weekend before my trip.

I fully plan on just insuring with Hertz at the desk. Even if it doubles my rental rate I am OK with that. When I was in the Bahamas, I was 100% sure I was going to get into an accident driving, I was amazed I did not. I did have some close calls. As I said earlier, driving there is like playing chicken with every car you see. I had to flinch a few times.

I was going to lean on my Amex, instead I purchased (for $80) a 35K supplemental policy, I am sure the insurance company and I both hope I do not need.