Renting a car in France and UK-do I need to get the optional insurance coverages
 

..such as collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, liability insurance, and theft protection? We'll be in Normandy and Edinburgh.<BR><BR>Thanks!

Check your car insurance at home before you go. We did not, assuming we had collision coverage on a rental car. After a slight fender bender on the car we rented in France, we called our agent at home and found out we were only covered for an accident in the U.S. mainland. We had opted not to buy the optional collision damage waver and we were kicking ourselves. So check before you go!

Also, check with your credit card company. We will be renting a car in Le Havre in September and we're covered for theft, damage, etc. with our Visa card.

Liability is always included.

Most credit cards have around $25,000 collision coverage. Most cards exclude Ireland and Italy. So in the UK if you can handle the deductible you are covered.

Thanks for the advice - I checked my auto ins and they said only Continental US & Canada. I will call my credit card to check with them. Regarding covering the deductible in the UK, what is the best method (other than paying out of pocket)?

Sandy,<BR><BR>May be a Catch 22. If your credit card provides CDW you're probably still on the hook for the deductible in the event of an accident. You can purchase insurance to reduce the deductible but most cc's have a clause which voids their coverage if you purchase any insurance from the rental company.<BR><BR>Beware. The dedectible is hefty. It was in excess of $800 USD when we rented in the UK this June with Autoeurope (one of the companies recommended on this board). We paid an extra $10 a day for SUPER CDW which brought our deductible down to about $150 out of pocket. Of course we had no accidents but that is the nature of insurance.<BR><BR>Bottom line. Read the fine print no matter which option you pick.<BR><BR>