Ireland rental car insurance

Old Apr 7th, 2004, 09:47 AM
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Ireland rental car insurance

Has anybody been able to find coverage for vehicles through trip insurance and/or credit card protection? I'm not oppossed paying the rental company for thier insurance I'm just trying to find out if there is another way.

I have found trip insurance that will cover the damage to your vehicle but it will not cover other vehicles involved in any accident should you be at fault. Anybody have any luck with a more comprehensive trip insurance or credit card protection program?
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Old Apr 7th, 2004, 10:11 AM
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We rented a car from Hertz through Aer Lingus. We got a great rate and it was ALL inclusive, zero deductible, so there were no worries at all about who pays what. They didn't even check for any dings or dents because of the zero deductible. No special credit card, nothing. We were quite pleased and are using them again in the fall.
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Old Apr 7th, 2004, 11:30 AM
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If you do a search on car insurance and Ireland you'll get lots of threads as the subject has been discussed here lots of times. In short, VISA does not cover you for insurance in Ireland but Master Card does. Doesn't matter which bank it's through as it's the credit card company that does the insurance. Some people get a letter from MC saying they are covered in Ireland. I did, but no one ever asked to see it. I would call Master Card and check for yourself but as of last summer they did cover you in Ireland.
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Old Apr 7th, 2004, 12:08 PM
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Master Card still covers you in Ireland, but you need to have a gold or platinum card. I've reserved a car through Auto Europe and waived CDW, and they stipulated I'd need a letter from MC. MC will do this (they may need to be nagged).
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Old Apr 7th, 2004, 12:39 PM
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If you have one, use your MasterCard to rent your car. They'll cover the CDW insurance. I received the policy from my MC and read up on it before reserving.
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Old Apr 7th, 2004, 07:30 PM
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If MasterVard issues the policy, not the bank, then hopefully the policy is the same for everyone. Irlandes, do you remember if there is a deuctible on the policy? That has me a tad worried.
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Old Apr 8th, 2004, 08:12 PM
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You're also covered with Diners Club
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 06:15 AM
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Some unanswered questions here, so I called my insurance company and Mastercard, and this is what I found out:

1. My insurance company does not cover me in Ireland. I need to purchase my own liability (personal injury & property damage).

2. I am covered with my Platinum M/C for CDW with no deductable (any damage to my automobile) under the following conditions:

a. I use my M/C to rent and pay for the vehicle rental.

b. Other drivers are covered if their names are on the rental agreement.

c. Coverage is for up to 15 to 31 days, depending upon your M/C? (I don't know exactly what that means, but was told I was covered for 31 days).

d. You need a letter of coverage from the M/C to show to the rental agency in Ireland (I don't remember needing this before, but they faxed it to me within 5 minutes)M/C's toll free # is 800-622-7747.
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 06:43 AM
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You have gotten good information. I don't know what the 15-31 days means either, but as of last spring, you could only rent for 15 days with the coverage. If you wanted to rent for longer, you needed to return the car to a location different from the original point and get a DIFFERENT car. The good news is that most rental agencies in Ireland don't have a surcharge for dropping off at a different location. The other good news is that, I you make the exchange at a smaller location (I used the Galway airport) they likely won't have a vehicle like yours ready to go and you'll use the same car. Also, it's a bigger pain for them to check in one car and get you a different one, so they tend to give you the same vehicle. It went off without a hitch for me.

Bill
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 06:55 AM
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I was told MC would cover me for a maximum of 15 days. Could the difference between 15 and 31 days be the difference between gold and platinum cards? Anybody know?
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 09:49 AM
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I'm so glad to see everybody is in consensus about coverage on master card.

Thank you budman for listing the specifics. I am guessing that master card only covers liability for the car you are driving and would not cover damage to other vehicles involved in an accident should you be at fault?

Alternatively does the rental car company's insurance (auto europe's policy) cover damage to other vehicles in addition to one's own? Any other Discrepancies between the coverage from Credit card protection vs. the expensive insurance offered through the major car rental companies?
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 10:23 AM
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carolynk, I was told by mastercard that they would cover me for 15 days, then they looked at my account and changed it to 31 days. The letter they faxed me says "MasterRental coverage is provided for covered private passenger motor vehicles rentals that do not exceed 31 consecutive days."

I would call their 800 number to verify your particular case and have them fax you the letter.

cheriann, The car you are driving is covered. So, if you run into one of those brick walls and dent your fender, your car is covered -- you don't have to pay to fix your car. If you do damage to that brick wall, that is considered liability. If you are not insured for liability, you will have to pay to fix that brick wall. Same goes if you hit a car, sheep, dog, cow, or whatever you hit. Your car is covered. You need "to purchase additional liability insurance" if you want to cover the cost to the other person's car, sheep, dog, cow, or personal injury. As far as any deductable to that liability insurance, you will have to ask the rental car agent. I'm sure, for a price, you could purchase zero deductable.

Your M/C does not cover ANY liability -- it only covers collision to your vehicle. That's what CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) is.
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 10:55 AM
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Thanks. I didn't know all damage outside the vehical is under liability.

Bad news if I'm reading this correctly. I just checked out auro europe's insurance policy and found this under terms and conditions:

Ireland no longer accepts credit cards to cover CDW/TP. If CDW/TP is declined the full value of the vehicle will be blocked on the CC. *Debit cards are NOT accepted locally if CDW and Theft are declined

So I guess MC can no longer be used!?!
Also if I'm reading correctly the CDW deductable through the car company is $900.00. Ouch!
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 11:03 AM
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RENTAL INCLUDES

* 13.5% Sales tax as of Booking Date: 04/09/2004
* Unlimited mileage and fire insurance
* Liability Insurance for injuries or damages to persons or things outside the vehicle.
* Rental includes Collision Damage coverage Rental limits potential vehicle damage liability to deductible of approximately $900 USD.
* Rental includes Theft Protection for the vehicle. Rental limits potential vehicle loss liability to deductible of approximately $900 USD.
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 12:04 PM
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Rental cars in Ireland automatically include liability insurance, from my understanding. Also, how do they block the full value of the vehicle on the CC if the credit limit is less than the value?
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 12:23 PM
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I think you are reading the wrong line on your voucher. The one line above the one you quoted reads:

"CDW insurance from any source other than Auto Europe, Europcar locally or Mastercard ( with written proof of coverage ) is not accepted in Ireland."

So, in other words, if you do not use your Mastercard to cover the CDW, and you decline the CDW coverage, THEN you will have to have the appropriate credit card blocks placed on your Credit Card.

If you use your Plat M/C and have the letter mentioned above, you are good to go!!!

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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 01:07 PM
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I don't know. I'm going to contact the company just to make sure. The page to fill out to rent the car in Ireland to has just what I pasted under the conditions and rules.

GENERAL TERMS

* Auto Europe does not provide insurance . Coverage is provided by the rental company, as indicated. Additional coverage may be available for purchase from the rental company.
* Optional equipment is on request for an additional fee. Applicable one way fees are estimates only & may change without notice.
* The rental invoice may only show the balance due on delivery. This assures that you will not pay unnecessary surcharges.
* Auto Europe strongly advises client to check if car is DIESEL or REGULAR GASOLINE at pick up .
* No penalties to change or cancel a reservation. * Deliveries/Collections are available on a request basis only, for an additional fee.
* Additional drivers sign on and pay a fee locally. Min driver age 21 , Max driver age 75. Drivers age 21-23 & 70-75 pay an additional fee locally.
** Ireland no longer accepts credit cards to cover CDW/TP. If CDW/TP is declined the full value of the vehicle will be blocked on the CC. *Debit cards are NOT accepted locally if CDW and Theft are declined
* Cars can travel into Northern Ireland at no additional fee. Cars can travel into Mainland UK; additional insurance is required at time of pick up.
* All rentals are based on 24 hour periods with a 3 day minimum rental, a full day is charged for any portion of a day that the vehicle is used.
* To contact Auto Europe toll free from Ireland 24hrs / day , dial 00 800 223 55555

I see it does have two astericks next to that restriction but does not have anymore details anywhere on that page.
http://www.autoeurope.com/car.cfm
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 02:57 PM
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This is what my reads. Mine has this CDW thingy that yours does not. I would call them:

GENERAL TERMS]
* Auto Europe does not provide insurance . Coverage is provided by the rental company, as indicated. Additional coverage may be available for purchase from the rental
company.
* Optional equipment is on request for an additional fee. Applicable one way fees are estimates only & may change without notice.
* The rental invoice may only show the balance due on delivery. This assures that you will not pay unnecessary surcharges.
* Auto Europe strongly advises client to check if car is DIESEL or REGULAR GASOLINE at pick up .
* No penalties to change or cancel a reservation. * Deliveries/Collections are available on a request basis only, for an additional fee.
* Additional drivers sign on and pay a fee locally. Min driver age 21 , Max driver age 75. Drivers age 21-23 & 70-75 pay an additional fee locally.
* CDW insurance from any source other than Auto Europe, Europcar locally or Mastercard ( with written proof of coverage ) is not accepted in Ireland.
** Ireland no longer accepts VISA or AMEX to cover CDW/TP. If CDW/TP is declined, & either of these CC's are presented at P/U, the full value of the vehicle will be blocked on
the CC. *Debit cards are NOT accepted locally if CDW and Theft are declined
* Cars can travel into Northern Ireland at no additional fee. Cars can travel into Mainland UK; additional insurance is required at time of pick up.
* All rentals are based on 24 hour periods with a 3 day minimum rental, a full day is charged for any portion of a day that the vehicle is used.
* To contact Auto Europe toll free from Ireland 24hrs / day , dial 00 800 223 55555
[HOURS OF OPERATION]
* OPEN Monday-Sunday 06:00 AM-11:00 PM
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 04:17 PM
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My AutoEurope voucher matches Budman's FWIW. Cheriann, strange that yours doesn't specify that it is VISA and AMEX that they no longer accept. Are you from the US? Did you just book your rental April 9? Mine was booked February 11 - wonder if they could have had a change of policy?

Ireland no longer accepts VISA & AMEX to cover CDW/TP. If CDW/TP is declined & either of these CC's are presented at P/U, the full value of the vehicle will be blocked on
the CC.* Debit cards are NOT accepted locally if CDW and Theft are declined.
* CDW insurance from any source other than Auto Europe, Europcar locally or Credit Card ( with written proof of coverage ) is not accepted in Ireland.
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Old Apr 9th, 2004, 04:26 PM
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Cheriann - I also looked at the upper portion of my voucher, mine does not mention anything about what percent tax I am paying, it is just included. I have no mention of the $900 deductible. Is AutoEurope sending you to Hertz or EuropCar or somewhere else?

YOUR RENTAL FROM EC ETHNIC INCLUDES]
* Sales tax as of Booking Date: 11-Feb-2004
* Unlimited mileage and fire insurance
* Liability Insurance for injuries or damages to persons or things outside the vehicle.
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