Nigel H

We've found a car we want to hire in the States (from Budget) for our holidays, but I'm puzzled by all the insurance terms.

I've a very simple question, what is the excess I'd pay in the event of an accident.

I don't want to pay more that say £50 and the Budget Web site isn't at all clear on this. In the past when I've hired cars in the states I seem to remember taking out a policy that reduced the excess. The quote I've got from Budget includes the following

# Local Tax (TAX)
# Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
# Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF)
# Airport/city surcharge
# Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI)
# Unlimited Mileage

Snazy

Best bet is to just take all inclusive. Some wont actually rent to you without you taking a full policy out (Gold Cover)
Far less hassle

CDW and SLI are your friends, take them

Also check out Car Hire - Car for Rental - Holiday Car Hire | Dollar Rental Cars. Very good, good rates, full inclusive.
Im just in the middle of deciding who to book mine with. Tempted by the Ford *spits Explorer this year

Robocop

If you don't take CDW or LDW as they call it over there, then you'll be liable for the full value of the car in the event of any damage/claim.

Microstar

Consider Car Hire Secondary Insurance, Rental Car Insurances.

The Chief

Little tip for you here.

My old fella has been doing this for years, he takes out the minimum cover and his Amex card covers you and the car in case of any damage

Robocop

This used to be only for US or Canadian Gold Amex card holders. If anything happens, the full amount is charged to yor Amex card and you then reclaim your expenses from Amex. This may well have changed now to include UK registered cards, but personally I used to hate it when US customers refused to take CDW because their card covered it.

The fun started when the hit something. One drove straight through a car park barrier stating on their accident form "In the US, the barrier automatically goes up." After you've paid it does over here as well. Another one hit a Taxi who claimed for damage, loss of earning etc.

Nigel H

Thanks for the responses - sorry, looks like I didn't make the question clear.

The Budget quote I've got includes CDW and SLI. What's the excess going to be with these? If it's small (i.e. £50) then I'm happy. If it's big, say (£500) then I want some extra insurance as I don't want to carry it around.

The Chief - thanks for the tip - I'll read the Ts and Cs on my Amex card

jimbo54

Budget arent the best choice, l rent a car each year in the U.S, just like here you need to shop around l have found this year that Dollar car hire are the best/ cheapest option, you can buy a full tank off fuel when you book for $10 this price includes insurance cover for a second driver. For 10 days hire lm paying £292, for a 7 seater. lnsurance cover includes LDW,TAXES, ADDITIONAL DRIVER, HOMELAND SECURITY FEES??? FACILITY CHARGES,SLI,AIRPORT SURCHARGE,UNINSURED MOTORIST PROTECTION, UNLIMITED MILEAGE. Check out www.airlinenetwork.co.uk

COLZO

I`m sure it was Dollar we hired with last year. Full Insurance for the 2 of us and full tank of fuel (never used it all), excellent service for just under £300 for 2 weeks. Oh booked a 4 door economy got a 2.7 V6 Chrysler 300!

Nigel H

I've spoken to Budget and they tell me that with SLI and CDW there's no excess

Thanks for the advice on where to rent. Budget gives me the car we want (a BIG SUV ) at the locations we want. None of the others could do that. The cost's OK as well.

billythekid

check out Yes Car Hire

I have used them many times for the US and always had very good service.

Snazy

Aaaah thats what you meant Yeah no excess, all covered
What are you getting from budget then ? The Explorer or bigger?
Dollar do the Dodge Durango, but cant find it listed for Florida And they cant get one in either.

Budget has tempted me with the Explorer for £318 for the 2 weeks with Gold cover. Dollar at the moment want a bit more for the Jeep Cherokee

Nigel H

Snazy,

Yes its an Explorer. I think that will be big enough for 3 of us TBH I just wanted an enormous SUV don't care what it is

We've got some odd plans for picking up/dropping off and Budget works best. And at £259 for 8 days the cost seemed reasonable.