I'll be renting a car in France using my Visa card which covers CDW with no deductible. Auto Europe rep told me I could buy a "security pack plus" since my own car insurance doesn't provide any coverage for rentals oversees.

How do you deal with coverage other than CDW?

Regardless of what you decide, by all means DO this: upon acceptance, visually INSPECT the car for dents, damage however slight, etc., and have that NOTED on the form you'll get from AutoEurope

Second, if it is a manual transmissione, make certain you KNOW how to put it into REVERSE BEFORE you drive away.

I know it sounds absurd but on some models the Reverse isn't as obvious as you might think.

Have you considered getting a car with an AutoEurope "inclusive" rate?

Have you checked the prices on their sister company website Kemwel..sometimes cheaper for the very same car.

Also check on AutoEurope's European web pages - often better deals there than on the US site.

And finally, take photos of the car before you leave the rental lot and again when you turn the car in. Ask the clerk to indicate on the return form that there was no damage to the car.

StCirq,

Could you please post the AutoEurope site for France? Thanks.

Hi, Underhill.

It's www.autoeurope.fr

Thanks for the replies and the suggestions; I plan to take pictures.

When I first started looking into renting a car, I checked a couple of places based on Fodorite posts but they required accepting CDW coverage.

I will double check rates on AE's French site. I still don't know what the folks who are "frequent renters" do re insurance other than CDW.

esm, I'd suggest you ask europcar if the daily car rental rate includes liability insurance. I went through the same questions you did the last time I went to Europe, and all of the companies I queried told me that liability insurance was included in the basic rate. When you think about it, it makes sense, because otherwise the rental companies would be exposed to all kinds of liabilities when their cars are involved in accidents. It may well be that collision damage to the rental vehicle is all you need to worry about.

Thanks, St-Cirq.

Another company who includes the CDW as part of the deal and also comes up cheaper than some bigger car rental companies is

www.economycarrentals.com

I've used them in Croatia and Bosnia and was very happy with the service. I'd certainly consider using them again in other countries.

Thanks for the replies. I think the rep who was helping me was new (she kept putting me on hold to go ask her supervisor how to process my request). The email contract that I finally got from AE says liability is included.

julia. we are using them in Portugal next week, so I will let you know.