Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Car- rental insurance, Puglia, how to be best covered- Help!!!

Car- rental insurance, Puglia, how to be best covered- Help!!!

Old May 16th, 2012, 01:52 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car- rental insurance, Puglia, how to be best covered- Help!!!

Kawh has just reminded me in another post about checking have proper car insurance!
(thanks kawh)

Arhh, had mental note to double check ages ago but totally slipped mind.

We have booked through Avis and not sure what insurance level is from memory- our confirmation says "Included-Vehicle Damage Cover (CDW), Vehicle Theft Cover (TP)"

Any tips on how to be sure we book the correct insurance (i assume kenwel is a car rental agency?)

Apologies if i sound like i know nothing re insurance, its just we live in london without a car and only ever drive (well my bf does, i don't drive at all) when we go abroad.

We might try and call avis and sort it out before we go, is there an insurance term we should be aware of out there in terms of being 100% covered?

thanks all
HG001London is offline  
Old May 16th, 2012, 03:26 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Liability insurance is provided by the rental company - it is mandatory and the owner maintains it. You do not need to worry about this coverage.

Rental companies do not carry physical damage (collision, comprehensive/vandalism) coverage on their fleets. They transfer the responsibility for all physical damage to, and including theft of, the automobile to the renter through the rental agreement.

CDW/LDW and TP are NOT insurance products. When you purchase them the rental company waives (ergo "waiver") or alters through the imposition of a limit on liablity, the provision in the rental agreement that makes you responsible for any physical damage or theft of the vehicle.

CDW/LW/TP is mandatory in Italy - the rental companies must charge you for it and you must buy it. There may be an additional option for you to pay even more to reduce the limit of your liability to an amount even lower than the amount capped under the mandatory CDW product.

Your credit card issuer may offer a product that IS insurance that reimburses you for any amount you have to pay under a rental agreement as damages to the vehicle. This insurance is excess to any CDW/LDW "benefit" that you may have acquired in the contract..
Aramis is offline  
Old May 16th, 2012, 07:31 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You mentioned Kemwel... did you book the Avis car through them?
Kemwel are brokers who do not rent cars themselves but that have a reputation (along with their parent company AutoEurope) for good customer service. If you have questions or concerns I would telephone them to see what is included, what is not and what is available.
ParisAmsterdam is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 03:31 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
See if the discussions on this thread are of any help; I'm in the same boat as you. I know next to nothing about auto insurance, least of all in Italy!


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...c-question.cfm
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 04:37 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks eks, will take a read,

Paris, apologies i only mentioned kenwel as it was on another post, which prompted me to the subject.

We have booked though AVIS only, was just wondering whehether Kenwel was like a third party service but thinkg i follow who they are now.

Aramis

thanks for your detailed info, that is really helpful for a novice like me so basically the rental compnay will state to me what is our maximum liability is if some type of collision happens and we may have the option to reduce this amount for a higher price?
HG001London is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 05:41 AM
  #6  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi HG,

>the rental compnay will state to me what is our maximum liability is if some type of collision happens and we may have the option to reduce this amount for a higher price?<

Yes. You probably want the "Zero deductible".

Have you looked at prices at www.kemwel and www.autoeurope.com?

ira is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 06:24 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've rented cars many times in Europe. While I'm not rich, I have just spent loads of money on a flight, paid extra for a room with a view, etc. so when it comes to auto insurance I always opt for zero deductible. I want to be able to tell the car company, "I've had accident, the car is In ditch, here are the keys, now don't call me. " and I always light a candle in any church I go into as an added protection. It's worked so far.
rfbk50 is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 07:07 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is often the option of "reimbursement of the deductible" rather than zero deductible, on the Italian car rental sites such as Kemwell.it and Autoeurope.it.

There are also quite a few exclusions to the damage coverage in Italy, or so I've heard. You should probably read the very fine print. Are the windshields covered? The undercarriage? etc etc. What about theft?
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 11:16 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Theft insurance is mandatory in Italy as well.
StCirq is offline  
Old May 17th, 2012, 12:27 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hey thanks all, we seem to have theft insurance on our confirmation email, i think when we get there we will just look to reduce the access to "zero deductible" to be on the safe side, Thanks all really apprciate your help, just had my partner read through the entire thread to get a feel for what we should do, he is also very greatful!
HG001London is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kram
Europe
30
Aug 5th, 2012 10:19 PM
cathygreen
United States
4
Jul 12th, 2006 05:51 PM
loro
United States
5
Mar 31st, 2003 04:47 AM
Martha
Europe
11
Oct 6th, 2002 01:43 PM
Amy
Europe
4
Jun 28th, 2002 11:50 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -