Hello. I need help. I'm getting quotes for rental cars for 11 days...basic automatic micra w/ theft & CDW...and the quotes are skyrocketing all over...from $485 to over $600 US dollars. Is this what I should expect to pay? Thanks!

Where are you going (you have to tell Fodor's when you post, but Fodor's doesn't tell us)? If Italy, the lower figure sounds about right. <BR>

I'm soo sorry. <BR>It's IRELAND! <BR>Thanks!!!

Christy, Go to www.autoeurope.com, or <BR>better yet call them at 800-223-5555. <BR>You will not beat their current prices <BR>and have a promotion going on now for <BR>an upgrade and 10% discount. Call in July to get the deal. If Italy, it is <BR>always high---especially automatic.

Bob - the $485 is from AutoEurope. And the "upgrade special" doesn't apply to Ireland. But thanks for the advice!

Christy, <BR>You might want to check with Kemwel if you've not already done so. They do have a website. The theft and CDW rates are what are driving your costs up. Be advised that if you have an American Express card, it doesn't provide secondary coverage in Ireland. <BR>You might check with any other credit cards you hold and see if they do provide the coverage; you should then be able to decline the rental company's coverage.

We're alos heading to Ireland and although we have used AutoEurope in the past, we found the best rate was through Aer Lingus with whom we're flying. I'd try whatever airline you're with to see if they've got a better deal. <BR> <BR>PS I was also suprised at how expensive a car is in Ireland.

Thanks Wes & Maggie for the help. Unfortunately my USAA auto & visa won't cover in Ireland. Only one that seems to is Diner's Club. But it's an $80 annual card. Hardly seems worth it. <BR> <BR>I'm flying Aer Lingus too...I'll see what they quote. Thanks again!!

If you use a platium Visa C. C. to book a rental car. They will cover your CDW and Theft of car without any cost to you. <BR> I booked Hertz For 10days 8-6-16 for $279.us dollars prepaid for pick up at Amsterdam. Check with your credit card comp about cdw and theft of car coverage.

KJ- would like a clarification re: secondary ins. coverage with platinum visa. The original poster said her Visa wouldn't cover insurance in Ireland -- though she didn't indicate what color her Visa was. As Wes pointed out, at least one major company no longer gives secondary coverage for Ireland, which is the country the original poster is asking about. Since you mentioned going to Amsterdam, not Ireland, I wondered if you had occasion to confirm with Visa about coverage in Ireland. For accuracy's sake, please clarify if you specifically checked re:Ireland coverage, or if you are generalizing from what you were told regarding Amsterdam.<BR>PS -- I definitely remember a thread on the topic of rentals in Ireland, a few months back. Perhaps it will help (or, perhaps it's completely outdated info.) Probably worth a look, for those who need to know more about this.

According to American Express, they DO NOT provide rental loss and damage insurance for vehicles rented in: Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. <BR> <BR>