airport car rental warning

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Used to travel 70k miles per year. Why rent cars when there is Uber?

Last time I tried to Uber several weeks ago it took two hours to get picked up from the Tampa airport. I don’t think as many people are driving for them right now.

[Hendog]

Usually your credit card will cover you when renting a vehicle, no?

Back in 2017 we travelled to Ireland. I was reading on some blog post regarding travel there and came across an issue with rental car insurance there. Apparently Ireland is considered a “conflict zone” much like Israel and some other hot spots in the world, so your credit card won’t cover you there…except the Master Card World Elite card. So I applied and got one of those cards. Once at the rental counter in Ireland, I presented my World Elite card and sure enough they allowed me to waive their insurance and I was covered. Besides that little anecdote, can’t you just use the coverage from your credit card?

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=Hendog;11312158]Usually your credit card will cover you when renting a vehicle, no?


They won't allow it at some car rentals without a written 'proof of non-owned car coverage.'
That's my original complaint on this thread.

[Hendog]

Right. There's not much wiggle room there. I guess you either "walk away or drive away". They'll get away with it once, but the next time that client will be the wiser (hopefully). The old adage here is "fool me once..." you know the rest.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yep...especially off-site rentals. They have you trapped.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I went and double checked based on this thread, I’m renting with Hertz out of TPA at under $60/day. Some of you guys are either in white hot travel markets or getting totally ripped off.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I am going to Virginia next month to help my son move from Blacksburg to Madison, Wisconsin. After pricing a rental car and a Uhaul truck it came out cheaper to ship my truck there. I’ll just see a bunch of sites driving home that I’ve never seen before.

In May? Should be gorgeous in every location.

[speeder]

Yep, I rented in Ireland a couple years ago and the rental was very reasonable but the insurance was a total mugging.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Hendog

Usually your credit card will cover you when renting a vehicle, no?

Back in 2017 we travelled to Ireland. I was reading on some blog post regarding travel there and came across an issue with rental car insurance there. Apparently Ireland is considered a “conflict zone” much like Israel and some other hot spots in the world, so your credit card won’t cover you there…except the Master Card World Elite card. So I applied and got one of those cards. Once at the rental counter in Ireland, I presented my World Elite card and sure enough they allowed me to waive their insurance and I was covered. Besides that little anecdote, can’t you just use the coverage from your credit card?

The Mastercard World Elite series and the Visa Infinite series both give you PRIMARY rental insurance...when you wrap that rental around a truck, the credit card insurance is hit first, THEN your personal insurance.
Most credit cards (even when they say that they cover rentals) are SECONDARY, which means they kick in after your private insurance is used up.

[Laneco]

Regarding insurance -

Step#1 is to check with your own (or your business) insurance to see if you are already covered. We are for all US rentals but not for rentals in Mexico, etc. One gig on this is that your personal insurance may not cover the "loss of use" that rental car companies want, so there is that angle (the missed days of rental while the car is being repaired).

angela

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Originally Posted by GothingNC

Tourists are now renting U-Haul vehicles in Hawaii due to the rental car shortage.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.caranddriver.com/news/amp36217613/hawaii-u-haul-renters-high-prices/

If you rent a car in Hawaii from a cheapy place, buy a bug bomb upon arrival, the car are infested with roaches.
DON"T BRING BUG BOMB ON PLANE

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Laneco

Regarding insurance -

Step#1 is to check with your own (or your business) insurance to see if you are already covered. We are for all US rentals but not for rentals in Mexico, etc. One gig on this is that your personal insurance may not cover the "loss of use" that rental car companies want, so there is that angle (the missed days of rental while the car is being repaired).
angela

Step#2 is bring the proof with you. Otherwise..all for naught.

[stevej37]

Rented today from Hertz at FLL
Was ready with my proof of insurance for the rental....they didn't ask for it.

The agent told me (three times)...while he was pushing their insurance... "you're own insurance rate will go up..if you have an accident without using our coverage"

His remarks really make me wonder how honest these guys are.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Rented today from Hertz at FLL
Was ready with my proof of insurance for the rental....they didn't ask for it.

The agent told me (three times)...while he was pushing their insurance... "you're own insurance rate will go up..if you have an accident without using our coverage"

His remarks really make me wonder how honest these guys are.

Well, they will. Your insurance will pay for the accident, and will go up, usually. Unless you have one of the few cards that does primary rental insurance.

[David]

I wonder if these changes are somewhat due to Uber and Lyft. The ones I’ve gotten in recently sure seemed like rentals and no the driver’s actual car.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by David

I wonder if these changes are somewhat due to Uber and Lyft. The ones I’ve gotten in recently sure seemed like rentals and no the driver’s actual car.

If the car you got in matched the car in the app, then it's unlikely. They'd have to basically create a whole new car profile as soon as they rented a car, each time. Unless you think they're doing long term, multi-month rentals, which might be the case.

[RANDY P]

If I'm paying I don't rent from the airport unless it's absolutely necessary. Taxes there are punitive. Save money, uber to off-site rental agency.

As for additional coverage- I usually get it if it's under $10 a day extra.

Why? Because I simply don't want the headache of my insurance co. trying to stonewall payment in the event rental gets damaged and I don't want to wait for AMEX to deal with coverage- all in the meanwhile the rental agency is trying to get me to pay, directly.

It's worth the $10 or so a day just for the piece of mind of throwing them the keys and walking away.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by speeder

In May? Should be gorgeous in every location.

You are so right! It’s just plain beautiful here.
Went hiking on the Appalachian trail to Dragons Tooth. Wow It’s like the movie Avatar


We missed our connector from DC to Roanoke. $600 for a Highlander..Yikes!!

[Wayne 962]

National car rental Emerald Aisle - you just walk in to the lot, pick out your car, get in, and drive to the booth. One minute at the booth, and you're on the road. I rush to get off the plane just so that I can maybe snag the mustang or the charger instead of being stuck with an econobox...

-Wayne

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Wayne 962

National car rental Emerald Aisle - you just walk in to the lot, pick out your car, get in, and drive to the booth. One minute at the booth, and you're on the road. I rush to get off the plane just so that I can maybe snag the mustang or the charger instead of being stuck with an econobox...

-Wayne

That’s my favorite too. I also have President’s Circle on Hertz because they match Delta airline status but in my experience the cars aren’t as nice that you choose from.