car hire excess insurance

[haselbury]

I've just been on holiday and I think was badly stung by Europcar's (and the others') excess car insurance. On the net I can see it's possible and immensely cheaper to buy an off-the peg-policy before I go from an independent provider like Travel Supermarket. Anyone got experience of this please? and advice?

many thanks

[rendelharris]

haselbury Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've just been on holiday and I think was badly

> stung by Europcar's (and the others') excess car

> insurance. On the net I can see it's possible and

> immensely cheaper to buy an off-the peg-policy

> before I go from an independent provider like

> Travel Supermarket. Anyone got experience of this

> please? and advice?

We bought insurance for ?40 when we moved (because we were hiring a van for a couple of days) which covered us for excess up to ?500 for a whole year, in the UK and Europe. We made more than that back just by being able to accept a ?500 excess from the van hire company, no matter what we might save on car rental for the rest of the year. Can't remember the company at the moment - it was the cheapest on confused.com. Well worth it.

[Lazero]

I've got car hire excess insurance. Had it since February and thankfully had no cause to use it, so I can't comment on the ease of claims etc. But their customer service has otherwise been very good (getting documents out, recently informing me of change to terms). I use these guys: http://www.insurance4carhire.com/

I mainly use it for Zipcar, but they do also cover more traditional car hire. On a recent thread about Zip cars, some other companies were mentioned: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1664751,1665516#msg-1665516

Well worth doing - Avis were ripping me off with insurance, when I supposedly had a good discount through work! From now on I will turn down any and all insurance/ excess upgrades.

[Loz]

I've used it and it does save you money.

But, beware some of the cheaper, dodgy car hire firms in southern Europe which you often find in the car hire search engines. My experience was with Goldcar in Italy - they point blank refused to accept my insurance and refused to release the car to me unless I bought theirs. Mind you, if you google the company you will find many complaints about their shady practices.

So, if you stick to the car hire household names, you will save money with the 3rd party insurance.

[Ruskin]

We've also been with Insurance4carhire though also never had to claim.

[DaveR]

I've used Questor for the last few years:

https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/car-hire-insurance.aspx?advertiserid=300325&gclid=COLK3Y_Cp84CFc4V0wodAlIDqg

?40/year to cover the usual ?1000 or so excess. Well worth it if you hire cars a few times a year.

[Lowlander]

Loz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've used it and it does save you money.

>

> But, beware some of the cheaper, dodgy car hire

> firms in southern Europe which you often find in

> the car hire search engines. My experience was

> with Goldcar in Italy - they point blank refused

> to accept my insurance and refused to release the

> car to me unless I bought there's. Mind you, if

> you google such firms you will find many differing

> complaints about them.

>

> So, if you stick to the car hire household names,

> you will same money with the 3rd party insurance.

Goldcar...avoid like the plague. Just finished a two year battle to get ?1000 excess cover back from them - they retained it with no invoices alleging an incident but wouldn't give an invoice for the "repairs". Got the money back via credit card under Section 75.

They added the excess cover in a very underhand manner.

I had excess insurance with AXA but they wouldn't pay without said invoice....

Loz's advice is sound - use a reputable car hire company and credit card in addition to the excess cover.

[malumbu]

Don't usually take it out but boy have I been lucky - hiding scrapes and one time having to replace a tyre. Well known that this is a good source of revenue. Useful to hear of a separate policy

Goldcar were in deed shysters. In Spain you had the choice of the usual suspects whose headline (but all inclusive) prices were high. Goldcar - the queue was well over an hour, and then they loaded me as well as that bloody daft you pay for all the fuel even though you use half of it.

They are a regular source of complaints so this is not just me whinging.

Also been stung by the "you need a credit card" or else you pay a lot more. 9/10 times it doesn't matter buy Goldcar and one other biggy were really fussy even though they accepted a debit card for the main payment, Buyer beware and if it seems too good to be true it is too good to be true!

[1maura]

I use insurance4carhire - have done for more than 10 years. Ive only had one claim in that time and whilst the car hire firm debit your card with the cost for damage at the time, you then claim from insurance4 car hire. I think it took about 10-14days from when I claimed to get the money through -less excess which was ?50 I think..

[Alan Medic]

A different sort of question but don't really need to start a new thread about it. My little runaround was hit last week and subsequently taken away by my insurers to a garage. I exchanged details with the driver who did it (car was parked, really bad driving).

My question is, will my car be repaired at any cost given it's undoubtedly going to cost more than the car is worth or will the other insurance company try to make me an offer for the car to be written off? If so what can I expect them to offer a) the value of the car which is very little or b) something large enough to persuade me to accept? Is there a c)?

[Lowlander]

Sorry to hear about your car. If repairs approach anywhere near the value they will likely write it off and offer you a cash sum.

It will probably be paltry, and you may have to bargain to get something reasonable.

Use a car valuation website (parkers) and look at what similar cars are going for on Autotrader.

If it's way below, hold your ground, threaten to complain and mention the financial ombudsman.

Good luck.

[Alan Medic]

Thanks for that. I intend holding my ground if I'm offered a paltry amount. Just wondered if I can insist on it being repaired? I don't see why not. I'd be happy to accept a decent payoff as we don't really need the car and I'll get more exercise. But I've probably spent more than its worth to someone else this year alone with a full service, new tyres etc.

[maryf]

does we get insurance for the sectional garages as well?, as i am considering regarding having one at my place for comfortability and enhancing value of my house.