travelnmymind

Hi! My family is travelling to CA in September.We are from Asia. I'd like to find out, if we rent a car from websites like Orbitz, Travelocity, etc. and get the insurance that they have there ($9/day--cheaper that at the counter). Will the people at the car rental accept this or will they still insist in selling us other insurances they have at the counter?
I feel the websites insurance is reasonable already but if the car rental will still ask us to get more insurance that will be very costly.

clarkgriswold

Orbitz is just an agent, whatever price they are offering you is probably coming from the car rental company and is the same price that you would pay if purchasing directly from the company. The $9 per day is just for collision insurance. You also need liability insurance in case you damage somebody else's car or cause injury to anyone. This is the "extra" insurance that they will tell you that you need.

As a non-U.S.- citizen, you might be able to find all-inclusive rates that include all insurances and taxes. AutoEurope and TravelJigsaw have been mentioned here before...check them to see what exactly is included. There are also extra charges for one-way dropoffs, for 2nd driver, for children's car seat etc that might not be included. If you rent directly from the car provider such as Hertz.com, they will note all these optional charges, but Orbitz etc may not tell you all the options.

PaulRabe

Check this article for more info on the many types of insurance that the car rental company will try to sell you:

www.travelsense.org/tips/carrentaltips.cfm

You may need one type (you BETTER have liability!!!) but not the other (personal effects? -- it's WORTHLESS if your effects are stolen five seconds after you leave the car!!). Check with Orbitz about what kind of insurance you are getting, and then decide if you want any other kinds when you get to the counter. Remember that the person at the counter gets a HUGE bonus by convincing you to buy something there, so be prepared for at least some salesmanship.

I should mention that you should also become familiar with the "gas pre-purchase" scam, in which they will charge you for a full tank of gas even if you return the car with half a tank. Just fill up the tank to the rim just before you return the car, keep the timed receipt for this purchase, and you'll avoid this legalized robbery.

clarkgriswold

Hertz has special rates for citizens of select countries, these rates include collision and liability insurance and all taxes. So if you book at hertz.com, you will have no further surprises. At the top of the page, choose your country.

lcuy

Alamo also does this. You choose your country at the top of the page, and many countries not only trigger lower rates, but those rates also include insurance coverage and taxes!

travelnmymind

Thanks alot for the advice!