ladybugtravel

Situation: We are arriving in Zurich mid-June, will depart Zurich early August (~7 weeks). In addition to Switzerland, we will travel to France & Germany via automobile (we need a vehicle for myriad reasons).
Issue: Our Visa card provides CDW and loss damage coverage, but for 30 days maximum.

Question: Should we segment the rental into two one-way contracts (i.e. return then pick up 2nd car at rental location mid trip), which adds a significant cost, naturally. Alternatively, is there another credit card which provides greater CDW rental duration? Would the lease-buy-back program solve for this? Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Michael

I often had the same problem as you--6 weeks in France with the Visa coverage only good for 30 days. But I was assured that I could return the car at the end of 30 days and pick up a new one for the rest of the time (different contract) with no problem. I simply rented via Autoeurope and arranged for the drop-off and pickup at the same agency closest to where I was staying.

Some may suggest a lease, but it represents a considerable increase in cost compared to a rental where the CDW is carried by the credit card. This is especially true if the car is leased outside France, as there is a charge for shipping the new car to the other country, and there is a charge for dropping the car off in a country other than France.

Comparisons are in order. Check rates for the type of car you want to rent at Autoeurope, and then check rates for a similar leased car with Peugeot or Renault.

http://www.renaultusa.com/

http://www.autofrance.net/rates-reservations/

KimSanJose

If you live in the US and have (or get before you travel) an Amex card you can sign up for their "Premium rental car coverage". It's a fantastic deal, we do this all the time when renting cars in Europe and sometimes even in the US. You have to sign up for it in advance but there is no charge to do so. After you sign up you simply use your Amex to book and pay for the rental. They charge you $25 for 45(!) days of primary coverage up to $100K. Primary coverage means your US-based car insurance company never learns about any issues so they don't jack up your rates. Best deal I've ever found. Beats the "normal" credit card CDW coverage hands down.

https://www295.americanexpress.com/p...verage/home.do

Sojourntraveller

Oh boy, do none of you people ever consider the possibility of having an accident and needing to make a claim?

Picture this. You are driving down a street in Germany, minding your own business when the car in front of you hits the brakes, you're momentarily distracted because you're admiring the sights, WHAM you rear end the car in front. No one hurt in either car thanks to air bags but the front end of your rental is wrecked. Now what? No problem you say, I'll just call Autoeurope or Hertz or whovever and get the car towed and a new rental. OK, that works.

Eventually, you return the rental. At the desk they say, 'you had an accident and I see that you declined our insurance coverage. How do you plan to pay for the damage?' No problem you say, 'I've got CDW on my credit card.' 'Well that's all well and good for you but we wan't paid here today by you. We have already put a hold on your credit card for the full amount of credit you are allowed on it but the car is a total write off and your credit card won't cover it all, so we want the balance from you today. How you go about getting the money back from your credit card company is your business.' Now what?

Sometimes trying to save a few bucks is fine if all goes well but if it doesn't you may regret having tried to save a few bucks. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-ti...car-rental-cdw

If it were ME, I would lease for 7 weeks with full coverage, no deductible.

ladybugtravel

Thank you Michael and Kim - two great solutions to explore. I appreciate your responses.

janisj

Sojourntraveller ex. Sojournertraveller: Millions of visitors have successfully used cc rental car insurance and many have had claims. It works fine . . . though not usually in the three I's Ireland/Italy/Israel.

ladybugtravel: As Michael and Kim say, either two under-30-day rentals or a 45 day-er w/ Amex are your best bets.

Kathie

I've been using the AmEx coverage for years - it is a great deal, especially for primary coverage.

greg

The possibility of maxed out credit limit exists, if only temporarily until you have talked to your cc company. RS recommends using a different credit card for CDW purpose https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-ti...car-rental-cdw

michele_d

We did a lease buy-back through Peugeot for nine weeks and it worked beautifully for us. We picked up in Paris and dropped in Rome. I loved having our own car and using the trunk for storage. It came with full coverage so no worries. All very easy.

ParisAmsterdam

Something I have not yet seen discussed... how much the car is worth. The prices of cars in Europe can be way higher than what you'd think.
I just had a look at the TravelGuard insurance recommended by Rick Steves... its got a $35,000 (US) maximum. Even a smallish Mercedes, Audi or BMW can be more than that. You'd be on the hook for the balance over 35K. Just another thing to watch out for...

Sojourntraveller

Some things fall in the 'sounds good if you say it fast enough category'. Relying on credit card CDW is one of them. But some people only learn the hard way.

There are far too many loopholes and caveats in credit card insurance coverage that could trip you up trying to save a few bucks. Add to that the nightmare of trying to deal with a dispute in Europe when you are back home. Even dealing with a dispute AT HOME can be a nightmare.
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-ca...-vary-1273.php

It's very easy for people in a forum to say, 'yeah, no problem', they aren't going to be paying the bill if it comes to that. YOU are ladybug.

My advice again is to lease with full coverage. Lease usually beats renting for any period over 3-4 weeks.

Michael

I usually use my credit card for the CDW and have had a minor scrape and had no problems getting refunded what was deducted from my credit card. If one is a worrywart, I suspect that an annual fee for the Amex card plus the insurance fee would be cheaper than a rental with CDW coverage and <b>no</b> deductible or a lease. The problem is that a rental with a standard CDW coverage often had a steep deductible--I've heard of 800€.

Michael

had a steep = has a steep

Sojourntraveller

Yes Michael, a minor scrape deducted from your credit card by the rental company and then you claim a refund from your credit card company. Good that you made that clear.

Now, what if it is not a MINOR scrape and the amount they want to deduct is more than the credit limit on your card? They DO try to deduct it from your card and then you DO have to claim a refund. In the meantime, your card be be useless to you if they've taken your entire credit availability on the card.

What if, they put a block on your card on the day you rent (I've even had this happen in California), for an amount equal to the entire credit balance available on your card? As I did in that case, you hand your card to a hotel receptionist on check-in and they say, 'sorry sir, your card has been refused'. Fortunately, I am not easily embarassed, had them phone Visa who explained that the rental had maxed out my card and it had a $24k limit! I then had to use another card to register at the hotel. That was at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Nigel. As I say, I don't embarass easily, do you, does your wife?

As for the Amex card, how would you feel about having $30 or $40k put on it if the car is totalled? Pay at the end of the month in full is how it works with Amex remember? Won't be home till the second week of next month? Oops. Wait till you get home to claim a refund? Oops.

It's all about RISK. If you are willing to risk the potential problems, that's up to you. If you do not want to risk that, lease with full coverage and no deductible as I said to begin with.

A lease is not a rental. They won't even accept your credit card CDW coverage. But they also don't charge as much for coverage as a rental does. They are not in the same business making their money the same way. Why don't you read about it and understand it before suggesting something inferior to the OP who is looking at SEVEN weeks.
http://www.reidsguides.com/t_au/t_au_leases.html

I laugh at the rent for 30 days using your credit card CDW coverage then turn it in and rent again for the remaining time period. Do any of you reall think the insurance provider can't see that on your credit card statement? Do you really want to go to court if you total the car and argue that point of law? 'Duhhh, but I only rented for 30 days and then again for the rest of the time. It doens't say I can't do that, duhhh.'

You guys are trying to save a few bucks when in fact leasing will be cheaper anyway and in trying to save this illusory few bucks you'll possibly end up in deep sh*t.

Michael

<i>What if, they put a block on your card on the day you rent (I've even had this happen in California), for an amount equal to the entire credit balance available on your card?</i>

I've never had this happen, and I've rented a car every year for the last 14 years in a variety of countries such as France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Portugal. As I said, the worrywarts might want to look at getting the AmEx card with its low cost insurance which apparently it pays directly without requiring the client to first pay out of pocket and then put in a claim.

As for claiming that a lease will be cheaper, a Clio diesel would lease for $2348 for seven weeks while I can get a basic rental for a similar sized car for $1383 by renting two cars, one for four weeks and another for three weeks. These figures are approximate in that the OP might want an automatic, which is relatively more expensive as a rental. At any rate, the $900 differential between the lease and the rental is not small change.

BTW, I leased a car in 1971, in 2002, and in 2004. I am familiar with the system.

Sojourntraveller

"by renting two cars, one for four weeks and another for three weeks."

And you're gonna bet that if you have an accident in the last 3 weeks, no one will figure out what you did and why you did it.

There's being a 'worrywart' and there's being stupid.

Michael

<i>And you're gonna bet that if you have an accident in the last 3 weeks, no one will figure out what you did and why you did it.
</i>

Wrong. The Visa could find out that the rental was for seven weeks, which would void the CDW coverage. I do not suggest that anyone should not follow the rules of the contract.

janisj

>>no one will figure out what you did and why you did it. <<

Huh?? -- that is totally legal/OK re the terms and conditions. One has two different rental contracts and they do not affect each other.

I've done that exact thing 4 times over the years -- twice at the advice of the rental agencies involved.

Michael

<i> that is totally legal/OK re the terms and conditions.</i>

Thanks for the correction. I misunderstood the comment.

Sojourntraveller

You can lead a horse to water................

I'll say it one more time. The OP is looking at 7 weeks. The cheapest and smartest way to go is with a lease. What's more, it is risk free.

Arguing 2 rentals is legal is fine in theory. Then have a major accident and find out that having to argue it in court is a whole other ballgame. IF you have a major accident you can be SURE the insurance provider will do all they can to deny the claim. That's how they work. Even if they don't take it all the way to court, you can bet they will take it a long way before they pay out.

You guys remind me of people who say things like, 'I have the right to wear hemp clothing and wear my hair in dreadlocks when I travel.' Yes they do and then they spend 4 hours in Customs and Immigration while being quizzed, searched, checked for drugs, miss their flight and have to buy a new ticket. But hey, they did nothing illegal.

Something being 'legal' does not mean it will be hassle free. Tell me how many times in the 4 that you did it Janisj, that you had a major accident? Or find 4 people who did it and did have a major accident who can tell you they had no hassle over it. Your ASSUMPTION that because it's technically legal means it's a good idea to do it is simply that, an ASSUMPTION. Common sense and basic knowledge of how insurance companies work should tell you the flaw in the logic of that assumption.