Warning: Car Rental Rip-offs!! Some Require €2,000 - €15,000 Deposit to Decline CDW

Roy · Guru

RE: Warning: Car Rental Rip-offs!! Some Require €2,000 - €15,000 Deposit to Decline CDW

murphy · Guru

I wonder how "Journey Through Ireland" and "Easy Tour Ireland" are dealing with all these extra charges, as these 2 Hertz franchisees have offered all-inclusive options(except tolls) in the past. (with Journey we paid the SCDW at the time of pickup, but I'm pretty sure Easy Tour offers the prepaid CDW option). If I remember right, 2 years ago, a toll was added to our credit card statement after the fact, but it was only for the 1 toll amounting to $4-5 (on M50), and not a daily fee at that time.

Still have a trip to Ireland with our Grand daughter in the planning stages, and, yes rental cars is still the most difficult of all the decisions.

Dan

tony2phones · Guru

One Bank and Quinn as evidence is emerging a bit of a stitch up to cover a British Bank the Irish government refused to back..
E30 is a bit steep to cover 5 minutes extra paperwork but it might be tied in with the extra charges placed by Mastercard?
Hertz are on my personal 3 strike list but lots of folk are perfectly happy with them

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

So far -- for MY needs -- Hertz STILL has the better vehicle/price combination. Waiting to 'Firm Up' dates of our traveling companions before committing, though!

larissa · Veteran Member

Bob, I am in the pre-planning stages of my next trip. Are you using AVIS for your trip in June?

Michele Erdvig · Host

The lunatics are in charge of the asylum.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Yes, Tony. Sadly, ALL of the Rental Companies seem to now charge the 'Paperwork Handling Fee' for those who decline the Insurances. Most are in the 30 Euro range. I understand that they are trying to 'Make Up' some of the 'Lost Revenue', but . . .

STILL -- It seems unconscionable that these companies are still allowed to 'Bury' these additional charges in teeny tiny print -- often, on separate, 'Pop Up' screens that only show IF the customer knows enough to search them out!

It's a bad business practice -- Short-sighted and unethical -- In MY opinion --

Aided and abetted by an Irish Government that INSISTS on trusting various industries to always 'Do The Right Thing'.

Because, after all, that worked out SO well, with the Banks and Insurance Companies -- like Quinn! confuse

Michele Erdvig · Host

Well...That is interesting. confuse One more thing to add to the list. Someone is making money somewhere. Are you sure Ryan Air is not involved? biggrin

tony2phones · Guru

Remember there is an "Admin" charge levied by all rental companies when alternative insurance is used anything from E30 - E50..

--

That's a little bit of hidden under a rock from Hertz.. I knew they had the device fitted, I didn't know they charged for the "privilege"..

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

While researching car hire for June of 2014, I noticed THIS on the www.Hertz.com web site, vis-a-vis, "Terms and Conditions":

"If PlatePass is used, PlatePass LLC will charge you a service fee of $4.95 for each day of your rental including prior or subsequent days on which the PlatePass service is not used (capped at $24.75 per rental month) plus incurred tolls at the Toll Authority's cash toll rate or highest undiscounted toll rate. PlatePass LLC will separately charge your credit or debit card the applicable charges after the close of your rental. Charges typically take 1-3 weeks after the rental closes to appear on your statement, but a longer delay may occur. Cash customers will be invoiced.

Note: Certain toll roads do not accept cash. If you travel on such a toll road without a personal transponder that can be used on the toll road, you will be required to use PlatePass and be billed automatically as outlined above, or incur toll violations for which you will be responsible. "

Now, the way I read this, is that Hertz is charging US $4.95 -- Per Day -- for the M50 Transponder -- REGARDLESS of whether or not you actually USE it! On my 20 day rental, that would add a Hidden Surcharge of $25 ! ! ! --- AND, that is EXCLUDING the ACTUAL tolls (if any). Now, $25 won't keep me from using Hertz, but -- Since this is YET AGAIN, a HIDDEN charge -- It DOES really Frost Me!

Caveat Emptor -- INDEED!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome Bonnie. I hope you will find this a good resource as you plan your trip for 2015. You have plenty of time to make your trip perfect.

Most people decline the CDW insurance to save money. It costs less if your credit card covers the CDW free.

The benefit of purchasing as much insurance as you need means if you have an accident or damage the car you walk away with nothing else you have to do.

The 2,000 + charged by some car rental companies when declining CDW and using MasterCard insurance is refunded to your card if there is no damage.

Do you have a World MasterCard (or Visa in Canada) that covers you in Ireland? If you do not, then you will need to purchase the insurance.

Bonnie C · Newbie

This is a wonder site! Thank you, Michele, for putting all of this together and sharing your experiences with everyone!
I am starting my research for a trip in August of 2015 for myself and my 14 year old daughter. I'm not going to hold my breath that the rental car issues discussed in this thread have gotten any better; however, I am curious as to knowing the differences/benefits to accepting/declining the rental insurance. It seems the majority here has declined it, but at the rate of 2000 Euros being charged upon pick up, it seems cheaper to accept the offered insurance. Any help with this would be great!
Thank you!

larissa · Veteran Member

AHHHH nice!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Keep in mind Marcelo's offer of a $50 discount coupon for Dooley: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t55198680/discount-coupon-at-dooley/

Michele Erdvig · Host

Larissa,

Feel free to link to my website, forum and/or blog. The more the merrier!

Michele

larissa · Veteran Member

Thanks Michele! Also, is it okay if I link your site into my blog? I am in the final stages of obtaining permissions for websites and such. I would love to include your sites wonderful advice for rental and everything else!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Larissa,

It couldn't hurt to call Dooley. All they can say is no. I booked through Avis.com and got a better price than Avis.ie

Thanks for the link to your blog. Cute kids! When I have a little more time I am looking forward to reading your Ireland section.

Michele

larissa · Veteran Member

OH, I forgot, I wanted to give you the link to my blog! I have been working on it since we got back! I am almost finished with it. Hopefully, I wont die of anticipation before I can get back in 2015.
http://www.larissasmuncy.com/

larissa · Veteran Member

Michele! I am so excited about this thread! I just finished your book for the second time! We are planning our next trip to Ireland in May 2015. We are hoping to take the Kentucky weather with us again and end up with NO RAIN; as we had none during our 10 days from May 29th to June 8th. It was wonderful in all aspects, and to tell you the truth, we had an itinerary, but we only followed it about 50% of the time. I hope to spend more time in the Connemara and Sligo region this time.

I have been reading all the comments about rental cars. We of course rented from Dooley (using your recommended DOCHARA code), and had no problems what so ever! However the entire rental for 9 days, ended up costing us around 800 dollars. I didnt think it was that bad, until I read the comments after we came back. I think we are going to look at AVIS.com and see about using them this round. I will say, we spent a lot on the car, but we went cheap and got deals at the b and b's and also by eating alot of pub food. Would you recommend calling Dooley with and AVIS price to see if I could get a better deal, or do you think I would be wasting my breath?

almoon · Member

And thanks to you Michele. This car hire business is not getting any easier. On with the planning!

almoon · Member

Thanks, Tony. I confirmed this with Dooley and am feeling much better!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony is correct. For some more details: http://www.irelandyes.com/cars.html

tony2phones · Guru

3rd party liability is built into the basic insurance which comes with the hire car.. it is a legal requirement.

almoon · Member

Good morning, all! I have been lurking for the past couple of years, keeping up on the trip reports.

We are planning our March trip and looking at rentals. Our World MC will cover us for damages to the vehicle up to $50,000. But they do NOT provide any third party liability. We have depended on our CC coverage for every trip in the past and we have been lucky to return 9 cars with no damage, and we have never been involved in a collision with another vehicle.

So I am just curious if this lack of liability is a concern? What if someone was injured in an accident caused by us and we are sued? Are we on our own? Has this happened to any of you?

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Many thanks. Wishing you and yours the best of the season too. Let me know if we can help in any other way with your trip.

OR flyfisher · Member

Hi Michele...just tuned back in... appreciate the "booking timeline" advice...hope you and yours are having a special holiday season...

Michele Erdvig · Host

My circumstances tend to be unique as I don't often know my exact departure date very far in advance. I tend to book a month to 2 weeks in advance. But the closer you get to departure I notice the rates creeping up. I would recommend at least a month in advance, more if possible. But don't book right now for next year. Wait till after the first of the year.

OR flyfisher · Member

Thanks Michele for your detailed advice... sound like a plan worth trying... calling, getting/ keeping quotes, and checking daily especially getting close to decision time...

one final question: how soon in advance do you finally choose to "book" (realize price would dictate some of this)? one month, two months or ? Since we are going the first week in April, will continue to search but would be helpful to figure a drop dead date... smile thanks...

Brad

-- Edited by OR flyfisher on Saturday 7th of December 2013 02:42:35 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

If you phone the different car companies you can always play one against the other. If you got a low quote from one tell the one you prefer to deal with about it and ask if they can match or come close. When I am ready to rent a car I check the prices online every day. A couple of years ago that really paid off with Dooley. The price was almost half for a few days. Since I had saved every quote (they email it to you) I was able to take advantage of the sudden price drop (which went back up suddenly later that week).

OR flyfisher · Member

Thanks Tony for your advice about "calling" vs. internet searches... also had forgotten about the Holy Week/Easter dates... also school is out from Good Friday til May 8th... all some additional items to factor in to our search and prices... will just have to do some ongoing prices checks...along with Michele's advice on rental companies choices...