Car Rentals: I Am Gobsmacked!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Car Rentals: I Am Gobsmacked!

wckc · Guru

We have rented from Dan Dooley each trip. I can't easily locate the charges from 2007, but we had 14 days Apr-May 2008, with excess damage waiver for $583.38. This year our booking is 14 days in September, with excess damage waiver $778.98.

The booking for our subsequently cancelled trip from April-May this year was $657.52 for the same 14 days. $120 more because of the volcano!

wckc · Guru

Michelle -

Since you book with Dooley I am assuming you don't have any issues with your World MasterCard damage waiver coverage? Our AerLingus mastercard is a World card, but I have been too afraid to go with their coverage and have been buying the Dooley insurance. Does Dooley just put a hold on your credit limit? If so, I think I might change our booking...

-wc

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

If you decline CDW Dooley puts a "hold" on your credit card of $2,000. It is not an actual charge. Plus they accept my World MasterCard with no problems. If you return the car with damage then they will put a charge through on your card and you must get reimbursed from MasterCard.

I have an email in to insurance4carhire.com asking them if their excess policy that covers tires, glass, undercarriage, etc. will work with MasterRental insurance through MasterCard. I will let you know what their reply is. They recently lowered their rates.

Since you are a repeat customer I would ask Dooley for a 10% discount and free upgrade. All they can say is no. It is worth a try.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Well, I checked with Dooley's site today and the price is in the 600s for the car. Makes me wonder if their booking engine is on the fritz.

Michele

wckc · Guru

Michelle -

Reading through the World MasterCard Guide to Benefits, The section on Master Rental Insurance says that you may be unable to receive benefits in Ireland. Dooley doesn't have problems with that statement? Do you take a letter from your particular card issuer, or just the MasterGuide to provide as proof of coverage?

-wc

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

Dooley accepted my MasterCard coverage with no questions. They never asked to see any paperwork about it. I had my MasterCard terms with me but did not need them. Although I do bring them with me each and every time. No car company has ever asked to see it.

The word "may" is confusing. It means that the car company must agree to accept MasterRental insurance in place of CDW. If there is a car company that does not accept it that is where the word "may" comes in.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Well, the closer I get to car rental date the lower the price is going. Go figure!

Michele

Rich207 · Veteran Member

I booked with Dooley on July 9 Shannon to Dublin for Oct 19-30 for a total of 250.47. I reserved a Ford Focus and included the CDW. The price was all inclusive according to my e-mail receipt. Booked it in Euros and was charged $317 to my Visa. Just checked today and the price was 355.00. Glad I booked when I did.
Rich

Michele Erdvig · Host

Rich,

There is no rhyme or reason to it. Just like airfares. Glad you got a good rate.

Michele

Cliff · Member

Well, we're looking at renting a "Renault Laguna or similar" -- 2 couples, at least 3 big suitcases -- with an extra driver. The 12-day rental price is fluctuating between $900 and $800. It's pretty steep. I had no idea the frequency of fluctuations and I'm kickin' myself for not going with a rate I stumbled upon several weeks ago while I was just researching the costs:$532.00!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Cliff,

Call the car company and see if they will honor the rate from a few weeks ago. All they can say is NO.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Yes!

Just logged into Dooley today for a price on a 28 day rental. It has gone from over $2,000 down to $458. The longer I wait the lower it is going. If you input the code dochara you can get a 10% discount.

Michele

murphy · Guru

I logged in also today on Dooley to check for March 29-April 10 2011, (12 days) and they are quoting $510 for Renault Laguna, and $664 for mid-size wagon. We need a car for 4 adults/luggage. Michele, I assume your $458 car is smaller? If so, the price for a mid-size doesn't look too bad, considering the cost will be shared by 2 couples. When I click "no" to CDW, a window pops up and says there will be a 2000 Euro "deposit" required. I hope this is just a hold, and not an actual deposit as you stated a few posts above, Michele...or did something just change? If I add CDW it raises to $574 & $728. When I add excess it raises to $766 and $920. Did you find out anything yet about insuranceforcar hire.com for the excess portion? I have just started looking. Kayak.com just leads me to Alamo/National...a part of Europcar, and no thank-you after last year's experience with National. The other reasonable priced company they show is Budget, but it clearly states that Budget won't accept my Citi World Master card, but will accept other world master cards disbelief

!?! Don't know what gives. Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

I am pricing the manual Ford Fiesta, their lowest priced car. Also looking at 28 days as opposed to 12. Last year the 2,000 was a "hold" not a charge. But you may want to re-confirm that. Don't know what's up with Budget and Citi World MC. You might want to double check with your cc that they still cover Ireland.

Insurance4carhire will cover the excess. They will also fill the gap if you choose to use MasterRental insurance (tires, glass, etc.).

Michele

divinemissmandy · Member

Hello everyone! I'm new here and I'm SO glad I found this board.
I have been researching car rentals and my trip to Ireland for over a year now. I have plans to go at the very end of Oct through beginning of Nov. I am now in the process of renting a vehicle now that I know how many will be in my group.
I was looking on the dooley sites (yes, both of them) The .ie gave me a quote that was almost $100 more than the .com. This is within 10 minutes of each other! Just Craziness.
But anyway, this is what I found on one page directly from the .ie site and wanted to share...

2010 Special Offers

FOR ALL OF 2010 we offer the following

NO TRANSACTION FEES/ NO CREDIT CARD FEES / NO CROSS BORDER / NO ROAD FUND FEES

LOCATION / DEPOT / AIRPORT FEES INCLUDED IN OUR RATES

Check Out Our Great LOW Rates

Belfast - Cork - Dublin -- Shannon - Galway - Kerry

"""""""All our web rates include all charges including Location FEE, Transaction & Road Fund Charges"""""""

You Only Pay What is Quoted... No Hidden Extras ! Thats Our Guarantee.

Call us today IRELAND +353 62 53103

USA 1800 331 9301 UK 0800 282 189

or e.mail us on info@dooleycarrentals.com

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mandy,

Welcome to my forum and thanks for sharing that info. You can get a 10% discount at Dooley if you use this code: dochara.

I just keep checking. The rates go up and down.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

The problem is not directly the rental company but their insurers, have you considered changing your cc provider if only for the duration of your trip.

There are mixed reviews about all Irish rental companies but as with all. negative reviews about Dan Dooley's are mainly based around the ques at the desk / sat nav options and of course auto transmition. The que problem is because you have a plane load of arivals who after a long flight expect (in some cases) superhuman efficiency from the one or two desk jockies. Sat nav might be desireable but to be honest can be as much use as air con on a cold raining cloudy day (we get a few of them would you belive) and the Auto option? well the rental companies are stung by the insurance because the overseas drivers who demand auto tend to have more accidents? and they dont get the tax breaks from the goverment that they do with manual cars (dont ask I dont know)

wckc · Guru

Has anyone ever had to avail of the insurance coverage from the World Master Card? I would love to save a couple hundred dollars, but I worry that we will have a problem and get screwed by the insurance coverage. I worry about that credit card charge for 10,000 euros to replace a car!

murphy · Guru

WCKC

Yes we did have MC coverage with a Citi World Master Card in August of 09. Had (what I thought) was minor damage to rear tail light lens, and a scratch on the rear bumper about 1 foot long. I estimated maybe $300-400. The bill was actually over $1800.00 and I was able to get about $1700 reimbursed from MC, after 6 months, several long distance calls to Ireland, and much paperwork. I wasn't able to get the "loss of use" reimbursed because I coundn't get the "fleet utilization log" from the car company. Would I do it again? Well we are about to find out. We have a trip booked for March 26-April10, 2011. I am in the process of trying to nail down a rental car, and I am experiencing "high prices" esp with full coverage....CDW and SCDW. So, unless I can find a decent price, I am tempted to roll the dice again! One eye-opening notice on "Budget" web sight, I believe, was a pop up notice that they did not accept "Citi World MC" I will have to get a hold of Citi and MC Assist to see if something has changed since last Aug regarding Citi.

If you do decide to roll the dice also....make sure you save all paperwork, file a police report if you have an accident, take lots of pictures before and after, and try to secure a fleet utilization log before leaving Ireland if possible.

Good luck Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

I know people who have had Master Card repay the car rental company for damage. The problem is that it is a process and takes time. Meanwhile, your card is charged. You must submit all the paperwork, police reports, etc. to Master Card. Provided the car company cooperates in a timely manner, it could take a month or so. If they don't, it could drag out for a few months.

Do what you feel comfortable with.

Michele

murphy · Guru

Wendy,

Michele is right, I could have opted to have Mastercard pay the car company, but when I filled out the blizzard of paperwork from MC, I checked the box to receive payment directly to me, and I should have checked the box for the rental car company to recieve the payment from MC. I think the car company would have dealt with MC in a more timely manner than they did with me. You live and learn!

Dan

wckc · Guru

Thanks so much for the info. KEith and I have discussed it and feel it's worth it to us to pay the extra $200 to get the car with the CDI & the excess CDI. I jsut got a bonus this week, so the excess fund won't be cutting into our spending money as much.

Michelle - I have been checking Dooley's websites every day this week. I booked on the 5th and paid $778 for a Class B car with CDI and excess coverage. Monday I got a quote for the same thing for $587! If I don't get a lower quote by Sunday night, I'll call them and cancel the original booking and go with the new one. With the cheaper rate that's like getting the insurance coverage for free!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

Way to go! Much better rate. There is a method to our madness.

Michele

nraiello · Newbie

Hello,
Had a question about Dan Dooley. We are travelling between 9/10 and 9/19, arriving and leaving from Dublin. We rented the smallest automatic transmission car and at the time of booking in July, the agent asked me how many drivers and I said just my husband. She replied that she would need to speak to him since he will be the one driving and that we would have to pay in full 30 days prior to traveling. When my husband called back, he asked the agent if it was customary to pay in advance as he had never heard of this before. Her reply was that there was nothing she could do about it. Is this normal? I suppose it's too late now, but I just wondered if that's the normal practice. Thanks!

wckc · Guru

We've always prepaid, and made the reservations via the website. We only pay for, and list, one driver but I give them my drivers license to copy and they add a note to our contract that in case of an emergency we will call and have them add me to the contract. Haven't had to actually do it yet, but that way we know that we won't get stranded in the case of an emergency, but we don't have to pay the big extra driver fees!

Michele Erdvig · Host

nraiello,

Dooley usually asks if you want to pay now or later. I suppose it depends on the agent you talk with. I always pay at the time of booking so I don't have to think about it on arrival.

Wendy,

Good idea about the "reserve driver".

Michele

David_Mullins · Newbie

An Irishman who returned to Ireland after a 20 year gap and I was shocked at car rental prices. Especially the differences between advertised prices and actual prices according to market rates. This may sound strange but when I asked for an explanation from rental companies there is a big difference between public, tourist and business customer rates. I hate this distinction and attitude because there seems to be a hidden link with insurance companies, there biggest customers and car rental companies.

To get around the issues, negotiation of the rental deal must be clear. Business use or private. long term (1 week or 1 day), pickup - drop off at airport or pickup at hotels? etc etc. Its not always clear which is cheaper or better. I did notice that separating insurance is advisable because of the recent scam of charging excess of $150-300 for a door scratches caused by Ireland ridiculous narrow car park spacing. Here are my tips

1) Extra insurance can be purchased elsewhere and covers many various travelled countries. Get rates for basic insurance cover prices from the rental company. Other insurance companies specialise on Excess cover options with various travel circumstances and indpendent of Rental company.
2) Photograph your car before you drive off
3) Insist on full tank of fuel and CLEAN car
4) Don't pay for Airport pickups. Some companies collect you for free.
5) Be wise to online rates- there are usually wrong. Phone the company and speak to a competent manager.
6) Even the big companies make mistakes - check for compensation for non service.
7) Break downs are a major problem- make sure you know what to do and what you get. I used many companies and surprisingly most did not know what to do except waste your valuable time.
8) Car phone hands free feature is a must - make sure yours work or get a discount.
9) Do not take a car if its wet or just been washed - you can not inspect it properly. It must be clean and dry.
10) DON'T take cars with Rental company advertisements on outside of car.
11) Get a MAP provided for FREE and complain strongly if its not provided. (its a disgrace in Ireland that companies do not provide up to date maps)
12) Make sure that pickup time is the start of rental, not the booking time. Tuesdays and Thursdays may have special offers.
13) Pay attention to Toll roads and try to avoid them. Peak times you may find that they are full of crazy drivers.
14) pay attention to cars or trucks that pull over to let you pass. They are courtious and its unique in Ireland. But pass when its safe for YOU not them.
15) Other Cars driving over road pot holes and speeding cars on the laybyes may cause windscreen chips - keep your distance.
16) There is a Twitter page for finding cheap fuel in Ireland - but I have to find it again. tweet me @david_p_mullins

-- Edited by David_Mullins on Sunday 29th of August 2010 07:05:52 AM

-- Edited by David_Mullins on Sunday 29th of August 2010 07:06:24 AM

-- Edited by David_Mullins on Sunday 29th of August 2010 07:07:15 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

David,

Thanks for your input. There are as many rules (all different) for each car rental company in Ireland as there are grains of sand on Inch Strand.

Michele

Cliff · Member

Well, I finally caught a rate that seemed fair enough for a car that seemed big enough. But now I'm not so sure if it will be big enough for the 4 of us and our luggage. We're all packing as light as we possibly can, but I'm just concerned what will happen if we get to Shannon and find we can't fit all of our stuff in the trunk.

I've asked Dooley if they rent luggage racks. I've also asked whether we could upgrade -- if necessary -- on arrival. I haven't heard back yet about either question, so I'm posing them to the forum.

Has anyone ever had need to upgrade a rental vehicle -- and, if so, how much of problem did it create?

Has anyone ever successfully rented and installed (or had installed) a roof top luggage rack? Or, for that matter, is it even advisable to use one?

And has anyone had experience in upgrading (or attempting to upgrade) a rental vehicle?

We're leaving from Dulles on the 11th of September. (We have a connecting flight from Logan to Shannon. With three good sized airports in the Baltimore Washington region, you'd think at least one of them would have flight directly to Ireland.) We have a nice itinerary loosely planned out, have booked hotels, etc. So it's come down to the rental car as the last thing that might cause us apoplexy.

Any recommendations, suggestions, or prayers will be appreciated.

Cliff