12perfectdays

Hello,
I'm leaving for Ireland next month (first time) and was getting all the paperwork gathered. Back in May I had called MC Assist and they provided a letter proving that I did indeed have MasterRental coverage with them and that Ireland was included for CDW.

My Guide to benefits was valid through August 31st, 2005 and anything that fell after that date would be found on the update starting 9-1-05. Got my letter in June and made a note to contact them 9-1-05 just to be sure as it seems everyone has a problem with car rental insurance (Ireland in particular).

The newest Guide mostly seems the same. The BIG THING is that <u><b>they are NO LONGER sending out the proof of coverage letter </b></u> that the rental agencies seem to want. The customer service rep basically told me that they are no longer providing the letter due to the amount of time and expense it generated. Coverage was still available <i>if the agency says they'll allow it</i> (ask when reserving).

Currenty the rental agency says bring letter, MC assist says &quot;sorry, No letter&quot;, just show 'em your Benefits Pamphlet and if that's a problem the rental agency should call MC Assist. I must say, I cannot imagine the rental pick up desk taking the time to call and wait to verify with MC assist!

My plan: Bring my May/June letter AND my newest guide to benefits plus a wing, a prayer and xanax...wish me luck, I'll let you know what happens!

isabel

When I was in Ireland a couple of years ago I did bother to get the letter from MC but the car rental people never ever asked for it. I think I'd be pretty comfortable with just bringing the phamplet with me in case of a problem. But these agencies rent to Americans all the time. I can't believe they don't know by now that MC offers the coverage. And in your case you have the letter. I really wouldn't worry about it. And by the way, we managed to get through 9 days of driving in Ireland without a scratch.

beach_dweller

Rented twice with Europcar/AutoEurope at Shannon Airport (Oct. 2004 and Aug. 2005). MC gave us only a copy of the benefits booklet, no letter. The agent at Europcar called MC to verify the first time--took less than a minute. The second time, she didn't even ask for the brochure or make a call.

12perfectdays

isabel &amp; beach-
Thanks for the reassurance
For some reason, the car rental is the one thing I have let worry me about this first trip out of the country and it really helps to hear that others have not had a problem.

Thanks!

mbc1

We just got back from our trip. We rented through Budget at Shannon using our MC and they never asked for a letter.

carolsc

Dan Dooley never asked for a letter (didn't have one anyway). This was May 05.

LoriNY

We just returned from France were we rented a car, and we declined the coverage offered and opted to have our AMEX card cover it. No letter was requested. However, I will tell you all this - we had an accident, and guess what - the coverage offered by AMEX is minimal at best. They will cover the damage to the rental car above the deductible, however we are personally liable for the damage to the car of the person who hit us, as well as liable for a daily fee for each day the rental car was out of service due to repairs. We have no idea what this is going to cost us when all is said and done, but a very expensive lesson learned is to take the coverage offered by the rental car company rather than counting on your credit card. Thankfully noone was hurt, just it appears our bank accounts.

Itallian_Chauffer

Have been to Ireland 7 times in the past 6 years, renting a car or van each time. I always use my Platinum Mastercard to waive the &quot;optional&quot; CDW. I've never had a claim, but I've also never brought a letter from the credit card company, NOR have I ever been asked for one. Only once or twice have I been &quot;pressured&quot; to reconsider the waiver, but at no time have the been insistant. Dunno who you are renting from, but I've used National, Budget, Sixt, Atlas, IrishCarrentals and Rent A Car Ireland. Acceptance of the MasterRental waiver IS at the discrecion of the rental agency, so you may need to either choose a different company, OR bite the bullet and purchace the extra insurance. Be advised, though, that the CDW coverage is actually pretty minimal (there is still a 1,000 to 1,500 Euro deductible, unless you also buy the extra, extra, SUPER CDW - for another 5-6 Euro per day!!!!). Even then, tires, side-view mirrors and window glass is usually not covered, and there is usually a 100 Euro deuctible (after the Super-CDW).
Good luck. Car Rental IS the worst part.

Itallian_Chauffer

Have been to Ireland 7 times in the past 6 years, renting a car or van each time. I always use my Platinum Mastercard to waive the &quot;optional&quot; CDW. I've never had a claim, but I've also never brought a letter from the credit card company, NOR have I ever been asked for one. Only once or twice have I been &quot;pressured&quot; to reconsider the waiver, but at no time have they been insistant. Dunno who you are renting from, but I've used National, Budget, Sixt, Atlas, IrishCarrentals and Rent A Car Ireland.
Acceptance of the MasterRental waiver IS at the discrecion of the rental agency, so you may need to either choose a different company, OR bite the bullet and purchace the extra insurance. Be advised, though, that the CDW coverage is actually pretty minimal (there is still a 1,000 to 1,500 Euro deductible, unless you also buy the extra, extra, SUPER CDW - for another 5-6 Euro per day!!!!). Even then, tires, side-view mirrors and window glass is usually not covered, and there is usually a 100 Euro deuctible (after the Super-CDW).
Good luck. Car Rental IS the worst part.

PaulH

Don't see what good a letter would do. I've had damage twice in Ireland on rental cars. Both times the amount was posted to my Master Card. I had to apply for reimbursement from Master Card after arrival in the States. Make sure you get the bill for the damages. Master Card will ask for it. And they don't re-imburse for damaged tires. Cost me $170 for a tire once.

Budman

Paul, cost me about $150 for a bubble in one tire. Damn that 18-wheeler who drive me off the road into the curb. .

I don't think any insurance would cover tire damage.

Itallian_Chauffer

Had to buy MY first tire this past June. Went to a shop in Killorglin right about closing time. The guy put on an off-brand for 100 Euro rather than the stock brand (which he had) that sold for 150 Euro. I'm sure the Rental Agency would have nailed me for at least 200, had I left it to them to correct.

tuscanlifeedit

Do any trip insurance policies cover the damage to a rental car that CDW and credit card DON&quot;T cover?

I am about to buy a trip policy and wonder if anything about cars can be included...

12perfectdays

Travel gaurd insurance (and I assume some others as well) have a policy that covers car rental but you must read all of the information.

I checked on it earlier this year for my upcoming Ireland trip and after being told that Ireland is one of the countries not covered (there were a few like Italy and Jamaica as well) I did not persue it. You should check into it. While I don't think any policy covers windows or tires they may cover much more in other expenses such as medical, a substitute rental and trip interruption.

I am renting from Dan Dooly and using my MC platinum. After these replies (whew!) I am not as concerned about the letter, it was just that the Dooley rep. was quite obsessive about my having &quot;THE LETTER!&quot;

Good luck,
Dawn