slud

Does anyone who uses a no foreign-transaction fee Andrews FCU Visa card know if they provide CDW coverage on car rentals in Europe? The people at Andrews don't seem to know. But why offer a travel-useful card if you don't want to rent a car with it?

thursdaysd

You know, some people actually manage to travel without renting a car. I haven't rented a car on a trip outside the US since 2004, and I have done a LOT of travel since then.

Any answer you would get here would, in any case, be useless. You need a definitive and documented answer from the card issuer if you expect to rely on the information.

janisj

The information will be in the Andrews FCU Visa fine print.

And it will make a (HUGE) difference depending on which country(s) you are driving in . . .

Sojourntraveller

"The people at Andrews don't seem to know."

That's hilarious.

They don't know or the person you spoke to didn't know? It's called, 'let me speak to your supervisor if you don't know.'

AlessandraZoe

slud:

My advice? Just hire the car with a credit card (no foreign transaction fee) that has the service desk and insurance to service you. There are many of them. No need for Chip/PIN to hire the car.

Backstory:
I jumped through hoops to get the Andrews card because at the time it was the only Chip/PIN offered in the US and I knew we'd be traveling in some countries where those metro/train machines would not work without that type of card.

OMG--talk about onerous. It took so many documents to get the card and to call them before we went overseas took five phone transfers because one branch does not speak to the other. Good luck getting the info from them.

Again, just rent the car with a SOLID credit card and only use the Andrews if you need to pump gas etc.

The good news: Andrew's Chip/PIN does work well on most machines requiring such (although it does not always ask for the PIN).

The bad news: I would rather take currency for these machines than bother to call Andrews before I go. They are nuts.

AMEN Thursdayd:
Like Thursdayd, we do NOT rent cars anymore.

We have, over 25 years of traveling throughout Europe, become masters of Europe's great mass transportation systems. A hired driver or a self-cycle fill any gaps quite easily.

Good luck!
AZ

thursdaysd

BTW, a friend of mine also had a great deal of difficulty trying to get a CC from Andrews. She gave up, and I got mine from the Pentagon FCU instead. I had to join a support the troops organization but it was quite straightforward. (I do support the troops. I support bringing them home.)

Sojourntraveller

Being an American has its drawbacks when it comes to travel that is for sure. So much easier when you're from a more progressive (in terms of cards) country.

By the way slud, it might make a difference if you said where you are planning to go. There's a thing called the '3 i's' which refers to where you cannot use a credit card CDW. Ireland and Italy are two, I can't remember the third.

So if you are planning a trip to Italy for example, there's little point in worrying about CDW on the card.

Sojourntraveller

Found it. The third 'I' is Israel.

"This benefit is available in the United States and most foreign countries. No benefit is provided for motor vehicles rented in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, or Northern Ireland.Additionally, this benefit is not available where precluded by law or in violation of the territory terms of the auto rental agreement or prohibited by individual merchants. Because regulations vary outside the United States, we recommend you check with your auto rental company and the Benefit Administrator before you travel to make sure Visa Auto Rental CDW will apply."

Found that on this site: http://usa.visa.com/personal/card-be...ion-waiver.jsp

Interesting to note how they say in a roundabout way that it may not apply anywhere at all. LOL, always covering their ass.

DebitNM

The Andrews FCU credit card is a VISA and as such, it carries the same insurance as other VISA cards.

DebitNM

Posted too soon. I have the Andrews card and just got a new one as the old one expired [had it since 2011].

I read the brochure and the quote above my post is exactly what is in the brochure.

VISA Standard Protection Package.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/card-be...ion-waiver.jsp

flpab

Saving that Deb. We have had ours for about four years but never used it to rent a car with. More for gas, tickets and if we needed it as a back up. We are military so was easy to get for us.

clarkgriswold

What is the limit on Visa collision protection, 15 days?

janisj

>>What is the limit on Visa collision protection, 15 days?<<

Don't know if they are all the same, but at least one of my visa card covers for 30 days