While searching the web for a good price from a reliable car rental company I found www.insurance4carhire.com They have coverage of all the extra insurance you need in a year long policy for car rental in Europe at a flat cost of 49GBP. I hope I have explained this clearly, my head is spinning from looking at so many rentals. It can be used to suppliment any car rental company and it is certainly cheaper than picking up their additional coverage. Does anyone have any experience with this company or one offering the same service. Not being accustomed to driving on the British side of the road we prefer having the extra coverage, and this seems to be a good solution to that expensive insurance. Any comments? Thanks, Deborah

Looking for your opinions, please. Deborah

This is a new one for me and, after checking their website, I think I'll consider this for our next trip.

It's inexpensive enough and would certainly seem worth the peace of mind that comes with it. Try it!

TuckH, no you try it first!!! My husband, I am sure, is afraid I'm going to get us in a situation which we will both come to regret. As you can guess, he is not the risk taker in our family!!! It does sound like a really smart thing to do if you want all the extra insurance, doesn't it? Can you think of any negatives with a company like this other than no rental companies will honor their policy. How's that for thinking of the worst case???Deborah

Deb, as I said, I'll look into it (and probably try it) for my next trip - this summer. If you'd care to wait, I'll let you know then.

You asked for comments and opinions, so I offered up mine.

Think about it; it IS insurance and you'll never know its worth until you have that incident (hopefully not).

Why don't you contact them directly with your questions and/or concerns?

That looks really good but there is some terminology that is British which I'm not sure as to what this policy really covers, so I'd be sure to check on that. It talks about the policy covering the "excess", and I have a feeling that this policy could only cover the insurance deductible, not be an entire insurance policy for all costs. It may be that you are still required to have coverage under your own policy or one you buy from the rental company and this is only for the deductible. I'm not sure, but I think that's what the term "excess" means in UK -- maybe someone else can make more sense of it. That does seem awfully cheap to cover all liability and comprehensive car rental insurance for a year.

<Can you think of any negatives..>

from their website > terms & conditions > exclusions...

"...loss or exposure
whatsoever resulting or arising therefrom or any consequential loss directly or indirectly caused by
or contributed to by or arising from (a) ionising radiation or contamination by radioactivity from any
nuclear fuel or any waste and the combustion of nuclear fuel or (b) the radioactive toxic explosive or
other hazardous properties or any explosive nuclear assembly or nuclear component thereof."

This may be an issue for you, as I'm sure that if you are caught-up in a nuclear blast the undue worry about the value of the vehicle would offset any good feelings you had of finding a bargain.

Seriously, it looks to be pretty good - but read the terms & conditions section thouroughly.

I don't think it would be a matter of a rental company not honoring the policy - the insurance would probably reimburse you, and you in turn would be responsible for reimbursing the rental company.

Thanks for the comments and TuckH I really was teasing you about my "you go first" comment, I do appreciate your opinion. Baring any nuclear fallout, I am having a difficult time finding a problem with this company. I thought excess insurance would be anything not offered in the original contract, everything additional would be excess. Sorry if I am beating this to death but I really got taken the last time I rented a car in the UK. It's all that dollars to pounds difference you know. Mix up the symbols and you can pay alot more money than you expected!!!Thanks for the help. It does not appear anyone checking fodors today has used this company. I appreciate all the suggestions and will continue to look into this company. Deborah

I don't think it is a bargain if you have personal travel insurance, but then again it is all so confusing!
Check the inclusions on your rental car agreement..
then check your personal travel insurance.
For example
I'm renting a car from Hertz for the UK.
CDW is included in the rental price BUT the variable is "damage to the vehicle is covered, subject to a waivable damage excess" This excess can be reduced to zero by purchasing optional Super CDW...extra cost 500 pounds!!!!
confused I am...
my travel insurance pays for any rental car insurance excess I am liable to pay as a result of damage to, or theft of, a rental car....
thus I don't think the cover offered by Insurance 4car hire is needed as I already have that type cover in my personal travel insurance....
what I want is cheap comprehensive insurance of the rental vehicle.Any one out there know of a good insurance company who offers that?
Read a horror story the other day where a lady had an accident and the rental car was written off. She was later charged with negligent driving (she had not been drinking etc, she ran off the road)the insurance company refused to pay as she was at fault. She had to cough up the cost for a whole car!
Wished I'd studied contract law a bit more carefully!!

Kimerley, yes that is confusion with a capital C regarding insurance for me. Is your personal travel insurance policy with an independent company specific for one trip or is it through your own insurance company? I've used travel insurance to cover lost luggage, is it that same type of policy? Wish someone on this board would take pity on the "insurance language challenged" and give a clear, concise expanation of all the insurance jargon. Thanks for your suggestions, Deborah

Deborah,
I think I've worked it out...insurance4carhire just covers the excess only, it is not comprehensive insurance.
So....use this company if you do not have personal travel insurance (mine is specifically for my trip organised by the travel company I used. This cost me $239AU for 2 for 31 days)
but
if you have specific travel insurance you should be covered for the rental car excess in that policy.
I've just emailed my travel insurance broker to ask if the excess covers flat tires/slashed tires etc. Apparently a lot of them don't cover it.
good luck