We are about to book our LHR rental car for Sept 16-23 with Auto-Europe; yes, just a week away and prices have fallen since I looked three weeks ago. Indecision or laziness is a good thing.

We will rent a compact automatic from Hertz or Europcar using our Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa card which is a primary insurer. I am inclined to do this, although if there are any issues we will be bogged down in claims forms and potential unpleasantness.

MrsEJZ notes that the “no deductible” coverage would only cost about $70US for the week’s rental, and if this really means that, no matter what happens to the car on single track roads or in a flock of rogue sheep, we simply hand the keys to Hertz/Europcar and wave “good-bye” this is good money spent for a completely hassle free rental on the “other” side of the road.

Thoughts? Are we interpreting “no deductible” correctly? Is it really “walk away?”

EJZ

I advise you to make certain the no deductible covers everything you think it does. In particular,ask about the tyres and the windscreen. And if you end up paying for additional coverage at the counter, beware of possible dynamic currency conversion which Hertz, at one time, had written into their contracts. Yes, I know you are doing it through AutoEurope but just be aware of everything.

Right ... so how, in advance of making the booking, do I clarify exactly what “no deductible”means? Is this something Autoeurope can tell me?

I have had the unpleasant experience of being pressured at time of rental pick up to buy additional insurance (presumably from desk agents with quotas to fill) with horror stories of being responsible for the entire car cost if there is a paint nick, etc.

And we had a loooong battle with Avis a few years ago over a 6” paint scratch —caused by a branch on a narrow street — which they said would cost thousands to repair. The correspondence and paperwork took nearly a year. And that was in the US.

I've done it both ways -- up-buying to the full coverage through AE, and relying on my cc.

The last time I paid for the full top cover was when I was driving around Scotland with my cousin. I decided to take the easy way out so there wouldn't be any faffing about with insurance if there was damage. That was the trip where I destroyed at offside mirror -- it essentially exploded Would have been a very expensive repair with the directional signals, mirror, housing, and scratches on the quarter panel . . .

And when I brought the car back a week later . . . the rep at the National counter at EDI didn't even react. From my TR >>Settled our charges at Kilconquhar the night before so in the morning we just took out the trash and left a little before 7:00AM and got to EDI just after 8:00. National rep not at all concerned about the destroyed offside mirror - didn't even blink. Just said 'enjoy the rest of your trip'. (When we picked up the car last week, the card indicated a small scratch on the driver's side door. I looked and looked and could find nothing - then found a small scratch on the off side door. Went back into the office and had them change the notation and initial it. Little did I know that tiny scratch would be NOTHING compared to the exploded mirror ) <<

So it really is idiot proof

For just a $70 difference I'd consider it.

Don't see how DCC could be an issue with a pre-paid (in $$) voucher.

As I remember -- all exclusions if any were spelled out on the AE booking site

"No deductible with super cover" is the "walk away" rate
Covers roof damage, underside damage, glass and wheels.

"No deductible" rate might not cover the parts of car listed above.

"Refundable deposit" has started showing up on AutoEurope's website, usually with Dollar or Thrifty or other "Mickey Mouse" companies who hope that you don't notice and fall the trap of the lowest price. I stay away from those.

Janisj, DCC can be very much an issue if somebody goes to a counter and decides to take out additional insurance because they learned the insurance they had did not cover what they thought it covered.

"Super cover" I do not care, I would ask to be certain

If one books and pays for the top cover (super cover) there is nothing for them to sell you at the desk (well maybe other than pre paying a tank of petrol -- a BAD idea).

Last June, Europecar in Frankfurt tried to sell me a GPS for an additional 16 Euros per day, knowing that the car (VW Passat) comes with one from the factory.

We are going to Spain tomorrow, this time renting an Audi A3 with Avis through AutoEurope. We will see if they try the same trick.

What is DCC?

i will call Auto Europe later today to ask if “no deductible”= “super cover”

i understand and they will send me a PDF voucher that I must print. If I put it on a USB drive I suppose I can find somewhere in London to print it — just as FedEx shops on the IS will do for pennies a page. (Our London digs do not come with printing capability)

I’ve not always printed the vouchers from Autoeurope and have never had an issue picking up a car. Keep the PDF on your smartphone if you have one and show it when you pick up your car if you can’t manage to print it.

AFAIK, insurance does not usually cover you for collision with animals, read the small print as you might find other things you are not covered for no matter which cover you purchase.

DCC is dynamic currency conversion, when you purchase goods you might be offered a price in USD (I’m assuming you are from the US otherwise it would be whatever your own currency is) with exchange rate including a markup amount which is obviously unfavourable or a rate in local currency which is converted to your currency when it is added to your statement, at a conversion rate set by your credit card company. Of the 2 options, take the local currency rather than your home currency.

DCC —Sorry, was not familiar with the acronym. Yes, it is always a bad deal, and I always refuse it, choosing instead to be charged in the local currency.

If you really could get complete coverage for $70 a week, I'd take it, but that sounds unlikely to me.

Can't you read the policy to find out what it covers? Whenever I consider insurance, I read the policy of course, such as for travel insurance.

Autoeurope defines what that coverage means, you just have to read the details for the info. They say it means this (at least for HErtz, which I think is the only company they have offering that)

<<Extended Cover Includes
Liability Insurance
Fire Insurance
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) including damage to wheels, glass, underside and roof of vehicle with zero deductible
Theft Protection (TP) with zero deductible
Roadside Assistance>>

Christina: where did you get the idea AE only offers full coverage via Hertz???

Yes, they are quoting Hertz for $257 for an automatic compact for a week at the basic level of coverage and $324 for the “no deductible” which in the UK policies seems to be the equivalent of “super cover” in, say, Italy.

Others also offer the automatic with “no deductible” but are either pricier or companies like a Firefly .

I know much more now about the comolex world of auto insurance for rental vehicles than I did 24 hours ago.

thsnk you to everyone for the helpful discussion

>>or companies like a Firefly <<

Firefly is a subsidiary of Hertz . . .

Hmmmm....they are quite a bit cheaper than Hertz. Any reason to be scared off?

I don't know - I haven't used them but they are the discount side of Hertz. As long as you book through AutoEurope at least you'll have the support of AE's customer service.

Been using Firefly through AE for some time now. Never had a problem.

Their zero excess rates are reasonable but we do seem to be “upgraded”to bigger bashed up cars. This seems to be on the basis that : as we will not be paying for any damage, they may as well give us a damaged car.

In fact, the office in Sicily actually admitted this and my reserved car was sat at the side of the upgrade. They had allocated the smaller, immaculate car and changed the model when they saw the policy. I cared not one jot as it was perfectly safe just badly scratched which resulted in it blending in wel with the rest of the cars in Sicily.

Firefly’s customer service has been very, very good in Bordeaux, Sicily and Malaga.

Stay well clear of Goldcar in Europe. Many of their offices have a legendary status on how to fleece tired travellers.

I would take the extra coverage at $70.

I think it's a valid concern that AutoEurope won't convey all of their vendor's rules or that country's rules. Ask them to email you the full policy and email Hertz directly. That's all you can really do at this point.

I know you can keep everything on your smart phone, but I still print out things for a folder just in case. Including any emails.