DSR

Have a couple of quick questions for the board about car rental insurance in Scotland, specifically regarding Hertz.

For peace of mind, would like to get liability insurance, but Hertz doesn't seem to offer it (at least it's not an option listed on the web-site). Other car rental companies, Avis in particular, give an option to purchase liability insurance. Does any one know why Hertz wouldn't give a similar option? Or is liability included in one of Hertz's other insurance packages?

Second, can someone explain what "Super CDW" is? I've seen two conflicting explanations - one stating it is a supplement to CDW and the other saying it is an alternative to CDW.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

njc

You might check with your credit card company. USBank Visa provides included insurance coverage for Hertz vehicles if you use your cc to pay.

Patrick

Yes, just be aware that if you do have a wreck, that it can take months and months to straighten it out with your credit card company. Meanwhile the rental company can charge you whatever they want for damage and put in on your credit card. In my case we're looking at still trying to get payment of the over $6000 in charges by Avis, until Visa will pay it. They probably will but it's now been over three months. Insurance is not needed UNTIL you have an accident. For peace of mind, I'll never again rent abroad without taking the full insurance so you can walk away if there is a problem.

obxgirl

Hertz offers 3rd party liability insurance for all its rentals because they are legally obligated to do so. You'll find it if you read deep in the bowels of the rental agreement terms & conditions.

Super CDW isn't an alternative to CDW, it's an optional surcharge which reduces your "non-waivable excess" in the event of an accident. If you go only with CDW and damage the vehicle, Hertz will stick you with costs of 500-1000 GBP of "non waivable" costs. If you pay the additional Super CDW, your "non waivable" will be reduced probably to nothing.

Many credit cards do offer CDW and lots of people use this option. However check what it is your card actually covers. Some have limits (mine is $25K) and some don't cover certain vehicles (luxury and SUVs). And beware that to further intimidate you, Hertz will tell you that if you decline their insurance you will be responsible for the full value of the car in the event of an accident.

All of this, again, is buried in the rental requirements. I suspect it's not a coincidence that the info is difficult to uncover.

It's not just Hertz. All the companies do it. I think it's an unhappy combination of legal extortion & a crapshoot. Ultimately it's about the degree of risk you're willing to take. Hertz hopes you're willing to take no risk and are willing to pay them exhorbitant fees for the privilege.

letour

That's odd that Hertz isn't offering liability insurance in Scotland. I rented a car from them a few summers ago in Edinburgh and paid for the liability insurance on that one. I can't remember if the insurance was the key factor that added so much to my weekly rate, but it was unusually high. I had been nervous about using my credit card to cover my insurance on that occasion and was willing to essentially pay for "redundant" insurance.

These past two summers, I have opted to let my VISA card cover the insurance liability when I've rented in France, but I did understand that I would get charged directly on my card if the car was damaged.I was aware that, as Patrick points out, Hertz would bill my card directly for any repair costs and that VISA would eventually reimburse me. Patrick's unfortunate experience is a wake-up call, however, because one can see how delayed the reimbursement process could become while tying up one's credit. As consumers, I suppose that we might suggest to VISA that, as a policy, they consider offering immediate reimbursement of any such insurance charges until the matter is settled. The credit card company that offers that feature might have a leg up on the competition.

I would add that the Hertz agency in Edinburgh went over my car upon return in scrupulous fashion, whereas the French Hertz simply had me park the car in a hard-to-reach lot and never ventured to look over the car in my presence. Finally, I was told by VISA that my card would cover the Super CDW as well, so I did not opt to take that out either.

Good luck!

obxgirl

Hertz, like all the rental car companies, includes 3rd party liability insurance in their base fee because they legally have to do so. It's not an option.

letour, Someone at VISA misinformed you if they told you your CC covers Super CDW. Super CDW is nothing more than a term manufactured by Hertz et al to get you to pay more cash up front. And it's an option you can only add when you actually rent the car....typically when the agent peels you off the ceiling after telling you that taking only the CDW leaves you with a $1000 non-waivable cost.

If you opt to take the car company's insurance, it is NOT redundant. VISA makes it clear that their CDW is in effect ONLY if you decline all other CDW/LDW.

jsmith

In defence of car rental insurance using a credit card instead of the Hertz insurance, I had an accident in Scotland in March 2003. The charge of $939 was charged against my credit card on March 20, Hertz reimbursed me by a credit of $381 to my card on April 10 for the excess of the estimate over the actual and I received a check from Visa's insurance company for the balance which I deposited on May 5. A week was lost since I spent another week in the UK before making the claim upon returning home. Considering that the close for my CC is the 12th of the month and payment generally due by the 1st of the following month, I had only 5 days when I was out of pocket for $558.

The cost for 8 days of insurance would have been $80.

Hertz and Visa were very helpful in providing documentation by Email to speed the reimbursement process.

DSR

Thanks to everyone for the info!