atmmom1

We are a group of four ladies who will be touring southern Ireland in late October visiting the townlands of the ancestors. Two of us will be doing the driving which leads to a question about the almighty insurance. If one of us uses Master Card to pay for the car and is therefore covered by Master Card for the insurance, how is the other driver covered for car insurance? We are cousins. Her Visa card company claimed that she would be covered for insurance if her Visa card is used, but I think not.
Second question is what model car should we request to accommodate four of us with four bags and four carry on bags total? We need an automatic.

Thanks!

aaireland

atmmom1: I would personally recommend going for a minivan - they are narrower and smaller than the American versions but still carry quite a bit. I know you can get an Opel (GM) version from National - I'm sure other agencies also offer their own equivalents. I have rented and driven around Ireland in these vehicles and they are easy enough to drive, even with the narrow roads here. I'd double check with your insurer that the credit card insurance will work in Ireland - I've heard of quite a few instances where that is not the case. Lastly, you will pay a large premium for driving an automatic so be prepared for that. I would check either autoeurope or nova rentals. I find they have the best rates.

wojazz3

Her Visa will not cover her in Ireland. This is from the who is covered section of the MC "MasterRental" page:
"The MasterCard cardholder and those designated in the auto rental contract as authorized drivers are covered." You should call them and see what this means. The number is 1 800 MC ASSIST. I would be surprised if she is covered, but you never know. Let us know what you find out.

Bill

nytraveler

Second the sugestion on the minivan. Even a "full size" sedan in europe will not hold 4 full-size suitcases (25/26&quot and 4 carry-ons. So unless you;re traveling light a sedan won;t really work.

Budman

Call Mastercard. As I remember, the rental had to be paid with the Plat Mastercard, and all eligible drivers had to be listed on the rental agreement in order for both to be covered.

That's what they told me, but I would recheck with Mastercard and have them fax/e-mail the letter of coverage.

beepee

We were there in April this year with 4 adults for 2 weeks. We rented a station wagon and this was able to hold our luggage and a cooler we had brought along to handle beverages and lunches. You can get by on a lot less clothes than you think. The only one who really cares if you're wearing the same thing is usually yourself. This price jumped up a lot when we looked at anything larger than a station wagon and the station wagon worked out just fine. We would rather spend our money elsewhere!

amyprib

If you have the MasterCard, then it says whoever is in the rental agreement is covered. Which means, you pay the extra 5-7eu/day for an extra driver and Voila! You have an extra driver.

I just did this in June. I had the MasterCard, and we added a second driver for 5eu/day, and there you go.. no problem. For an extra driver you have to pay that $ per day. But you can call MasterCard to double check on their coverage of the additional driver. But that's pretty much how it works.

wojazz3

amyprib:

Who did you pay the extra 5eu a day to? Was it the rental company. If so, I'm wondering how that works with what appears to be the rental company covering one driver and MC the other.

Bill

Sher

Bill. When in Ireland, we paid the extra $5 per day to Hertz when we arrived. They told me it was required when both my husband and I would be driving the car.
Now, we purchased full coverage from Hertz for this particular trip and I understood that the extra per diam was to cover both drivers for an accident.
This is what I understood, I am not saying correctly.
Sherry

amyprib

Bill,

We paid the extra 5eu/day to Hertz. For additional driver, no matter what, to Hertz it's extra 5eu/day.

I think that's just the money-maker part for Hertz, to charge extra for additional drivers. I dunno if that 5eu/day if part of their insurance coverage or just extra $ in their pocket. *shrug*.

But in my MC terms/conditions it basically says anyone on my rental agreement is covered by my MC insurance. Therefore, MC was actually covering both of us. I guess in order for MC to cover both drivers, she had to be on my rental agreement, and in order to get her on the rental agreement, we had to pay Hertz 5eu/day.
Definitely wasn't paying MC 5eu/day.

IrishEyes

MasterCard states: "The MasterCard cardholder and those designated in the auto rental contract as authorized drivers are covered."

In order to have an extra driver listed on your car contract you must pay extra money to the car rental company. It is their way of making more money. Years ago an extra driver was free. But that was then and this is now. Today the car rental companies nickel and dime you to death. All the more reason to use free insurance when you can.

wojazz3

Interesting. I've never had that conflict because my wife refuses to drive. It is an interesting scam, you pay Hertz so MC can cover you. hmmmmm

Bill

IrishEyes

It is not just Hertz that charges for additional drivers. All the car rental companies that I know of in Ireland do the same. Be glad your wife will not drive!

wojazz3

We both are!!

Bill