moo

Another Italy rental car question concerning deductibles. So, now that I have three cars rented (I only need one) I have what may be a final question. I need some advice on deductibles.

I am a Hertz gold club member. I have an automatic compact rented with Hertz that has a CDW and theft insurance deductible of 300 Euros on each category for the rate of $543. I thought this was a good rate for a low deductible so I booked it.

I also have an Autoeurope automatic compact car rented through Europcar with zero deductible for the rate of $562.

So the Hertz is a cheaper rental but I am taking a bit of a risk with the deductible but I have the gold status and can earn some points and I like Hertz. However, Europcar is fine too. Both would charge me for an extra driver of very comparable rates.

Do I risk the deductible and go with my go-to American company or do I not take the risk and go with the Europcar for a bit more in price but peace of mind on the deductible front.

What would you do?

Michael

I'd go with Autoeurope because just a slight fender bender will cost more than the $21 differential.

davispeets

Have you gotten a quote from Kemwel -- the sister company to Autoeurope? It was less expensive for my Italy car rental -- I booked a few days ago and it will be from Hertz for my particular locations. But, bottom line for me - I want the peace of mind of the zero deductible.

StCirq

Are we talking Europcar or AutoEurope? Michael's comment confused me.

Michael

It's a Europcar rental through Autoeurope.

StCirq

Oh, OK, then I'd go with AE, too.

polly229

What will your credit card cover? Some will take care of deductibles in excess of what your personal auto insurance covers.

zoecat

As davispeets suggest, check kemwel.com. They usually have the best prices for zero deductible.

But of the two you mention, I agree with others to go with Auto Europe. You'll feel so carefree driving around with zero deductible.

bobthenavigator

Yes, do AE or Kemwel---best customer service after the problem

kybourbon

So why don't you price the Hertz rental on AutoEurope? Choose the same street locations on AutoEurope as your Hertz rental and it should pop up. Can you earn points if you don't book directly with Hertz.

moo

AutoEurope just offered that deal through Europcar. I am not sure if they would price match since one element (the 300Euro deductible) is not the same. Also, I am not sure you can get points or gold counter service at Hertz if I go through AE. Hey maybe I will try. Thanks for the suggestion.

Although I have used Kemwel with great satisfaction, they did not have any of these deals on line. I suppose I could call and see what they can do.

See, I knew you all would steer me in the right direction -- HA no pun intended, well. . . maybe just a bit

Michael

polly229,

What will your credit card cover?

Most credit cards do not offer to carry the CDW with or without deductibles in Italy.

janisj

A scratched wing mirror will cost much more than the $19 (not $21) difference. I'd go w/ the zero deductible.

kybourbon

>>>AutoEurope just offered that deal through Europcar.

Michael

You should look up Avis, Hertz and Europcar location addresses for the city before selecting where you want to pick up.

and what fees you want to pay. This may depend on the country, but in Norway, Kemwel offered a one-way rental through Hertz that included a hefty fee, whereas Autoeurope had a higher base price but no one-way rental fee using Europcar. I tried to pick up a car in Bordeaux to be returned in Limoges. From the city pick-up, there was a one-way fee which was twice as high as the airport/RR station fee but the latter pick-up had no one-way fee. Both possibilities were with Autoeurope but the city provider was Hertz and the RR station provider was Europcar.

polly229

Our AmEx covers CDW, you don't have to take it at all but isn't valid in several countries (Ireland, Israel, and Jamaica come immediately to mind). So when we went to Ireland in '09, we got a World Master Card as recommended by many Fodorites to use there since it covers some of the countries other cards don't cover. But we had to call Master Card and have them mail us the specific information about foreign auto insurance coverage since it's not on their website or included in their new member agreement mailing.

Both of these cards have foreign transaction fees (2%?), though, which makes them more expensive to use. But still cheaper than buying CDW.

Since then we have gotten a Marriott Chase VISA which also covers CDW for most countries (though I think not the exclusions the World MC covers) and has no foreign transaction fees. Also a Schwab Platinum VISA debit card covers CDW and has no transaction fees. No deductibles, no CDW coverage at all needed. (In fact, with at least one, buying CDW voids the credit card coverage.)

Some people with World MCs said some rental companies challenged them on the CDW and tried to make them buy it. So we took a copy of the info they sent us but Hertz in Cork didn't question our declining coverage, so I guess they were familiar with the card.

plastic_paddy

Those credit cards won't cover CDW in Italy due to Italian law - CDW is mandatory to be included in the rate so must be taken (and is included in the upfront price with companies like AE, Kemwell and Holiday Autos).

The zero deductible with Auto Europe - is it truely a zero deductible or is it a refundable excess?

NYCFoodSnob

I mean, really. You're renting an automatic in Italy and questioning a €300 insurance deductible?

If the Hertz points matter that much to you, then go with Hertz. If you have no experience driving in Italy, and you're excessively worried you might be in an accident, and the €300 will break your bank if you do get in a fender-bender, then go with AutoEurope.

Some people fret over the smallest things in travel.