Let's Talk About Rental Cars

[WCUgirl]

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[DeltAlum]

You don't have to take any extra coverage.

The only reason you ever would is if your own policy doesn't cover you in a rental car.

[Rudey]

Go reserve online.

They have a million types of insurance.

They will sneak in some form or other so you gotta tell them you don't want it. No matter if they print up a fricking receipt already, make them reprint it without the insurance.

-Rudey
--Bunch of sleazy bastahds

[aephi alum]

You don't have to take extra coverage.

Some additional words of advice, though...

- Be sure to get your own gas. You'll be given the option to pay for the gas in the car when you rent it, so you can return it empty. Don't do this. Instead, fill up just before you return the car. The rental companies vastly inflate the price of their gas, and gas prices are quite high enough as it is.

- You're over 25, right? Some rental companies won't rent to people under 25, or will charge a young-driver premium.

- Sign up for the rental company's "preferred" membership. You go straight to your car, no waiting in line.

Have fun on your trips!

[CutiePie2000]

AVIS might be an "over 21", rather than an "over 25" rental company, but I don't know for sure.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by aephi alum
- Be sure to get your own gas. You'll be given the option to pay for the gas in the car when you rent it, so you can return it empty. Don't do this. Instead, fill up just before you return the car. The rental companies vastly inflate the price of their gas, and gas prices are quite high enough as it is.

I agree unless you will use almost or more than one tank of gas. In that case it can be more convenient to "buy" their tank of gas which is generally competitive with local prices. After the first tank, try to estimate how much more you may need and buy just that much. Try to bring the car back as empty as you can. They don't charge you for filling the tank if you bought it in advance.

If you don't think you'll use that much, though, aephi alum is right -- and in that case, be sure to fill up just before you return the car or they will charge outrageous prices per gallon.

[jb1617]

I used to sell insurance and this is exactly what I would tell my clients:
The coverages that you must have are liability, comprehensive and collision. That way the car and anyone injured by the car are both covered. The only thing that I am not sure about is the liability transfer to Mexico. I have done them for Canada, and I know that it didnt cost anything extra, just a rider on the policy was needed. But I would check with your agent for that, you most likely need some sort of insurance card for the car.

If you are thinking of letting your coverages transfer, keep this in mind--most insurance companies will cover a rented car but there are some exclusions. For example, only the coverages on your policy will transfer, so if you have liability only, you will need to purchase the comprehensive and collision coverages from the rental company. Also, if the rental car is in your name only, then you are the only covered driver. Your insurance may not pay out if a friend is driving at the time of an accident. And their insurance (if they have it) may not cover a loss if they are not on the rental contract.

My advise is to call your credit card company. Many of them (I know American Express Business Card does) will provide you with rental insurance as long as you use that card to purchase the car. That is what I do. However, you must be on the rental contract and you must be driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The one upside to purchasing the insurance from the rental car co. is that if you do have an accident, you just return the car and let them deal with it. Otherwise, if the rental car is in an accident, the rental company has their car fixed at a body shop of THEIR choosing and then bills your credit card--whether it is your fault or not. It is then your responsibilty to get reimbursed from your insurance company AND you will most likely be surcharged for the accident for the next three years for a car that you will never see again. Oh, and any interest that accumulates while you are having the claim settled, is your responsibility--insurance will not reimburse for that.

Sorry, this is probably more info then you were asking for, but I hope that it helps.

[CutiePie2000]

This is not intended to be a professional opinion, but if I was planning to do any driving in Mexico, I would make sure that I was insured up to my eyeballs.

[DeltAlum]

Actually, that's probably true. In fact, I'd probably go a step farther and not drive in Mexico. Let someone else do it.

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
AVIS might be an "over 21", rather than an "over 25" rental company, but I don't know for sure.

From Avis's website:

At most Avis locations in the US, the minimum age to rent an Avis vehicle is 25. In certain situations or at certain locations, the minimum age may be 18 or 21. In some instances a surcharge may apply for renters under age 25. Please check with Avis at 1-800-230-4898 for details.

I used to rent from Avis frequently, back when I was on travel. They'll rent to you if you're over 21 as long as it's for business purposes.

[honeychile]

My own 2¢ is to buy the insurance. You'll be driving a car that you're not used to driving, and you'll be out of the country.

The last time I rented a car, a military man in a jeep backed up into me at a stoplight. His trailer hitch went through my rental's front bumper, and guess who was found at fault? Me. I hadn't bought the insurance and camethisclose to being arrested for not having my insurance card physically on me.

This happened three years ago this weekend - which I remember as my insurance more than doubled for the past three years!!

If I had bought the insurance, my insurance company wouldn't have known about it, and it would have saved me thousands!!

[Tom Earp]

Re: Try Alamo.

Check Prices for evrything!

Some wont take Debit Cards even though they can be used a Credit!

Avis and Hertz dont try Harder, they are Expensive.

If Your Insurance covers You for driving Rental, do not take it. Rape is legal in Rental Car Biz!

[bluefish81]

Your insurance should cover everything, except for loss of rent if something were to happen to the vehicle and the rental car company wouldn't be able to rent it out. So I would recommend purchasing that coverage.

If you're going to be going to Mexico, pick up the coverage. As an underwriter, I always, always, always advise my agents that while the insured has coverage in Mexico and Canada, coverage should be picked up at the Mexican border. Mexico has weird laws and you don't want to end up in prison. Also, your cards that you have should tell you if you have coverage there, or your agt should be able to get you ones that show you do.

[jb1617]

Originally posted by AXiD670
This may be a silly question, but: what if you're using a debit card to rent the car? I know that, generally, 9 times out of 10 a debit card functions the same way as a credit card, but I was just curious if a debit card would offer this same protection. I can always call.

I honestly cant say for sure about debit cards, I dont know if they have the same kind of benefits. I would call to find out for sure.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by AXiD670
This may be a silly question, but: what if you're using a debit card to rent the car? I know that, generally, 9 times out of 10 a debit card functions the same way as a credit card, but I was just curious if a debit card would offer this same protection. I can always call.

The 'Big Three' car rental companies will not take a debit card, even one that's branded with the Visa or MasterCard logo for a reservation. They will accept if for payment when you return.

Re: driving in Mexico -- have you ever been in a cab in Mexico? They like to get where they're going in quite a hurry.

More info on driving in Mexico: http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/driving.html