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

tony2phones · Guru

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

OR flyfisher · Member

Thanks folks for sharing some helpful info about the car rental game... Michele, appreciate your passing info on the different companies used most recently ... especially working with US websites/reservations... and good insights Bob about how car size does not always "equal" price size... again will take a look at that as I keep checking out prices leading up to a final choice... may also look at again the specifics of my World MC coverage as a possible option along with the 3rd party excess to compliment it ...

One final question, again, does one do better with a quote "calling" vs. using the website? or does it matter? I suspect when looking for all the "hidden" prices with "non-Dooley" rental companies, talking to a sales rep might be best, then asking for an emailed quote to have it in writing... again any comments will be appreciated....

Brad

Michele Erdvig · Host

I rented from Avis last time. I got a much better price on avis.com in US dollars rather than avis.ie. They had the best rates for me last time. Plus I had two car rentals since partway through my trip I spent 4 nights in Dublin without a car. I've rented from Budget in the past but they burned me with a 2,000 euro charge (not hold) last time so I've sworn off them till they change their terms. But since you are going to purchase the insurance there will be no holds for insurance on your card.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

OR flyfisher -- Michele has an interesting technique in regards to Dooley. They allow you to "Save" a quote for seven days. There seems to be no limit on the number of times that you can do this. If you keep checking, often times you will see the rate fluctuating. This far out, there are usually some significant variations. Likewise, I've frequently seen deals on larger vehicles, since the 'smaller-the-better' misconception is SO widespread.

Last summer, in late June / early July, for the second part of our trip, I reserved a full size for 1/2 the quoted price of the compact. On the day, when I declined a Luxury upgrade, I was issued a Ford Focus (compact) -- which is actually my size of choice -- at the original, reserved price. As Tony has said, the difference in width between a Fiesta (Economy) and Mondeo (full size) is only 3-4 inches -- Hardly enough to matter significantly, on any road you are apt to drive on.

I've rented from Dooley a number of times, but there WERE two years where their prices just plain weren't competitive in the size/category that I required. One year, I used Budget and the other, Hertz had the best offer. If you are opting to purchase the FULL insurances, then FINAL price is probably your best deciding factor when choosing a car hire company.

I've only done that once, out of 19 or 20 rentals in Ireland -- as THAT hire was part of a 'Per Person' package. Otherwise, I've always used my MasterCard for insurance coverage. I sometimes supplement the MC with 3rd party coverage for excess -- that includes tires and glass. In 14 years, the only out-of-pocket damages expenses have been due to tire damage ...

Your mileage (and Comfort Level) may vary ...

Bob

OR flyfisher · Member

thanks Tony for your response ... interesting about "cheaper" insurance prices on Dooley's when contacting their office in this country...have only gotten quotes from their US website, but still seems higher than other companies... originally intended on using our World MC but after reading how companies are putting a 2000 E or more hold on your card, we are thinking the $150 one saves is NOT worth it especially as we are starting to think about also buying the "extra" coverage to eliminate our potential risk...

If we were seasoned veterans(as you and Michelle are) at driving and touring Ireland, I probably would be much more confident having "learned the ropes" ...but with this being our first time, and maybe our only time, we are starting to move toward buying the rental company's CDW / Extra coverage and not worrying about any potential car damage...

That being said, I am still finding Dooley's the highest after adding their CDW/Extra insurance coverages... I love that they are "upfront" with all the options, but after digging out these costs with the other mentioned rental companies, it seems Dooley is much higher...

Now, if one calls and talks to a rep at each company, does one get "better prices" quoted? I suspect that may be the best way to go, then ask for an emailed quote post conversation... any thoughts?

tony2phones · Guru

Point is to compare apples to apples. you may find that some quotes contain less "optional" but necessary extras on the Insurance front. also check Dooley's US office as they seem to have lower insurance pricing for US licence holders who are rightly or wrongly hammered by Irish insurance providers.

OR flyfisher · Member

Michelle,

we are starting to "heat up" our planning for our 3-week fly fishing trip in April, 2014...have really enjoyed your book and website for details...

we are now at the "dreaded car rental" part... we have been combing your latest comments on how best to proceed...have researched about 4 companies (Dooleys, Avis, Hertz, Budget)... as you mentioned in your comment, while Dooley's is the easiest to "navigate", they seem to have the highest prices...

Am curious which "other rental company", which you found at half of Dooley's prices(why are they higher?), you used this fall during your last trip? looked around some of your post trip comments, but couldn't find any info from you on the topic...

any details on the new company you selected, how booking, pick up went, #of days, size of car, bottom line cost, etc. will be helpful... thanks

Brad

Scappoose, OR

Michele Erdvig · Host

I print the reservation confirmation, which usually includes the "rules". Print the "fine print" and additional info from their website. If you have other questions email exchanges make for a paper trail. Print all relevant material, highlight the sections that apply and take with you. I usually put it all into an envelope and make a few notes on the outside of what is included for quick reference on arrival.

tony2phones · Guru

Printing emails gives Hard Copy to take to the Collection Desk. This may be first contact with the Irish on home ground.. do not judge the rest based on interaction with the commission cash junkies you encounter there.

aimeekm · Member

Itallian Chauffeur wrote:
The REAL 'key' is : " Coverage is not available where it is prohibited by law or by individual merchants . . . "
Nearly EVERY Rental Company Terms and Conditions specify that they accept certain US-issued MasterCards and Canadian VISA Cards.
I would want to have a SUBSTANTIAL 'Paper Trail' that documented the Rental Companies Acceptance -- PRIOR to boarding the plane to Ireland.
Bob

How would you suggest getting a paper trail? When the reservation is made, sending an email, is that the best option?

aimeekm · Member

tony2phones wrote:
"and most foreign countries." could be the key wording here... Ireland generally falls outside the "and most foreign countries" remit.. Then as Michele has said the rental company must accept the Underwriter for your card and some have strict guidelines on that, with good reason the length of time it takes some to make payment.

Yeah, I agree, which is why I was surprised which the CSR confirmed Ireland was covered. She actually said there were no excluded countries, so it looks like Israel and Jamaica are covered as well, which are generally excluded.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

The REAL 'key' is : " Coverage is not available where it is prohibited by law or by individual merchants . . . "

Nearly EVERY Rental Company Terms and Conditions specify that they accept certain US-issued MasterCards and Canadian VISA Cards.

I would want to have a SUBSTANTIAL 'Paper Trail' that documented the Rental Companies Acceptance -- PRIOR to boarding the plane to Ireland.

Bob

tony2phones · Guru

"and most foreign countries." could be the key wording here... Ireland generally falls outside the "and most foreign countries" remit.. Then as Michele has said the rental company must accept the Underwriter for your card and some have strict guidelines on that, with good reason the length of time it takes some to make payment.

Michele Erdvig · Host

As Bob translated from Visa's fine print, the car rental company has the final word on acceptance of your Visa Signature card. If using it cover your bases:

Print your documentation of acceptance from the car rental company.

Get your Visa card letter of coverage several weeks before your trip.

Bring the Irish phone number of Visa in case you have to call them from the car rental desk.

Put everything in an envelope to have handy at the rental desk if needed.

Follow Visa's rules to the letter.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks for the important info. Although I have a Chase business MasterCard that covers Ireland many of the car companies in Ireland do not accept it. Even though my World MasterCard charges a "foreign transaction fee" I have to use it instead of the Capital One card. Seems the Irish car rental companies want the word "WORLD" on the MasterCard.

I would check with your car rental company of choice to be sure they will accept the Visa Signature card. They may not have heard of it yet. I often have to "educate" the Irish car rental companies employees. Their training is sometimes lacking.

I would also call and get another letter of coverage several weeks before your trip. Some companies want a current letter not one from 6 months ago.

So goes the labyrinthine effort to rent a car in Ireland. wink

aimeekm · Member

I just got off the phone with the Visa Signature people from Chase .... and it appears they now cover Ireland!!! The new coverage was effective 11/1/13. I confirmed it on both my Marriott Premier Rewards card and my Sapphire Preferred. The CSR also said they would provide a letter confirming the coverage. (I won't need the letter for about 6 mo though)

So if anyone else has any Chase Visa Signature products, I'm thinking this will work for you as well!

Here's a link to the Chase Visa Signature benefits. https://4e59e702e954ef581695-a1c777e474ec752a9e33f3a9880bd778.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/VisaSignature_V0000025_BGC10331_ENG.pdf

Here's the language:

The benefit is available in the United States and most foreign

countries. Coverage is not available where it is prohibited by law

or by individual merchants, or is in violation of the territory terms of

the rental agreement. Please note: Regulations vary outside the

United States, so we recommend that you check with your auto

rental company and Benefit Administrator before you travel to

make sure your Auto Rental CDW will apply.

-- Edited by aimeekm on Monday 4th of November 2013 08:05:00 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Happy to help. You might also look into this for excess: https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/buy-insurance/hire-car-hire-excess.aspx

Genniep · Newbie

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

Michele Erdvig · Host

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

Genniep · Newbie

Hello biggrin I am in the beginning stages of planning my first trip to Ireland in Nov of 2014. My husband and I will be staying for 2 weeks and want to drive ourselves. I do not have a World MC, so to ensure I have this correct I would accept the CDI insurance and choose the excess waiver? Would this be the best way to have the leat amount come out of pocket in the event of an accident? My husband ad I both lived in Japan for 3 years so driving on the left side of the road is not new to us. I did a quote through Dan Dooley and for 12 days it shows an estimated $335.00 with CDIand LLI.

Thank you in advance for anylight you can shed on the subject for me!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Larissa,

Thanks for letting us know that you survived the car rental morass and lived to talk about it! biggrin I have found Dooley to be great. However, next time I have to go with another company that is half their price. I will let everyone know how that goes.

Michele

larissa · Veteran Member

So, I got back from our 10 day trip in June of this year. Let me tell EVERYONE, I loved dealing with Dan Dooley! I am a little country girl from Kentucky and didnt understand all that renting a car abroad entailed. They were super nice and very accomidating. We even got a discount on the extra waiver at the desk in Dublin Airport! Our cost for an automatic (I would reccomend everyone to get one in Ireland if you are from America) was around 900 USD. We had a few little dings from a ding from a car door to hitting the curb at a round about. When we returned the car, they said it looked fine, and NO EXTRA CHARGES APPLIED TO MY CARD!!! I will use them again in May when we return for our Northern tour!

tony2phones · Guru

That you should check with your provider... SCDW should leave you with the first couple of hundred of Any total claim including all taxes. CDW would mean the loss of All your "Hold" Credit card insurance is something else and covers only damage, not towing charges or admin and loss of income etc etc.. you should know what your policy covers in the fine print..

suse · Member

In addition to theses charges/holds I need clarification on VAT tax. A coworker just warned me. For example if we "total" a car, (not planning on that!) and its worth 30,000 Euros I assume my cc ins will cover but we would be charged VAT tax (20%) on the value of the car? Is that true? Would that happen if we took out the CDW and super CDW? We arrive August 24h so I am trying to get all my details in order. Thank you so much!!

Suse

Michele Erdvig · Host

I agree that it is strange what the credit cards are doing. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Some people get certain offers in the mail and others don't. My husband and I both have the same card. I get many more points per dollar spent and he gets less. I can only surmise that there are a bunch of factors that we will never know about that determine who gets the offer of free insurance coverage in Ireland.

It is like deciphering the DiVinci Code but in this case it is the Credit Card Code. confuse

Rocky Bay · Member

Jodi wrote:
I have a Aer Lingus World Mastercard that covers the insurance. I have called MC and they have confirmed that they do cover the insurance in Ireland. I am not endorsing the card just that it covers the Insurance.

I have had an Aer Lingus World Master Card for many years and successfully used it to cover my CDW charge until 2010. When I noticed they no longer covered Ireland, I called them and it was confirmed over the phone. I also received a letter from them, which I have long since disposed of, indicating that Ireland was no longer covered for CDW for its card holders. It is odd enough that the same company only offers the coverage to certain cards within its "family" and not all of them but how can two people with the same card and one of them gets the benefit while the other does not???

Rocky Bay · Member

-- Edited by Rocky Bay on Saturday 3rd of August 2013 05:04:06 PM

aimeekm · Member

Thanks Bob. Good to know. A 5,000E cc hold is a deal breaker for me. So it looks like my best option is to get a rental w CDW & SCDW. I got some quotes, looks like it'll be around or under $500 (12 days), so that is affordable.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I just had two rentals with Hertz. Both times, I waived the insurance, using my World Master Card. I am also a Gold Plus Member. I was advised BOTH times that a 5000 Euro Charge would be lodged against my Card, for security. I had pre-paid the first (and availed of my Gold Plus Discount), but merely lodged a reservation for the second. Reviewing my receipts, I was NOT charged the 5000 Euro fee on the first rental, but I WAS charged it for the second one. MAYBE they would have waived it, had I 'PUSHED' my Gold Plus Membership, but I don't know. I DO know that the desk clerk mentioned the 5000 Euro Charge, BOTH times. Be aware that Hertz also charges a 30 Euro 'Administrative Paperwork Fee', if you opt to use a Credit Card in lieu of insurance.

Due to high 'Foreign Transaction Fees' on my Master Card, the ONLY thing I use it for -- OVERSEAS -- is for Irish Car Hire, so the Charge or Hold doesn't impact my trip.

Interestingly -- Hertz charges 5 Euro for ACCEPTING a Debit OR Credit Card in payment. Although I understand that this is likely a means to recoup costs charge them by the Credit Card -- It seems entirely disingenuous -- given that Hertz REQUIRES that you provide a Credit Card as a Condition of Rental ...

Bob

aimeekm · Member

Hello ... new to the forum. In the beginning stages of planning a May/June 2014 trip (i.e. this isn't the first you'll hear from me!). I'm trying to get an approximate budget set, car rental is one of the biggest unknowns to me right now.

So assuming I get a World MasterCard w CDW coverage in Ireland, what's the best way to avoid a large hold on the CC? I think I read that Hertz places a minimal/$0 hold for Gold Members? Is that right, did I imagine that?