Hertz Car Hire - $5500 damage excess

[kamchatsky]

Hi all,

I am not sure if everyone already been aware of this, but recently I have made a booking on Hertz car hire in Cairns Downtown. I wanted to find out their damage excess so I ring their customer support centre. They informed me that there are 2 excesses. One is the Standard Excess (ADE - Accident Damages Excess) which is $3300. Then there is an ADDITIONAL Single Vehicle Accident Excess (SVA) of $2200 if the damage involved only care hire vehicle only (eg hit by kangaroo, hail, etc etc). That would mean excess of $5500.

The worst thing is that I cannot find Hertz T & C on their website. I have to physically ring support centre, then confirmed it by ringing Hertz Cairns downtown.

Most travel insurance I know only has collision damage cover up to $3000 so if renting in Hertz you need coverage of $5500 to make it worth while.

Is this policy only applies to Hertz, or it applies to a lot of car hire companies in Australia?!

So instead of going through Hertz I have made a more expensive booking with Avis and they informed me the most I would pay is $3000 excess if not taking additional insurance.

 

[Mal]

Hertz in NT has a similar excess.

Some 'highlights' from a copy I saw last year:

Full responsibility for hitting an animal between Dusk and Dawn.
High excesses that could be reduced, but not eliminated. (4wd's still had a high excess) and the single vehicle accident additional excess.

This is on top of fairly high base rates and limited km's per day.

Only limited bits of this info is on the Hertz website - instead you are asked to sign an additional slip of paper as part of collecting the car.

 

[markis10]

It all depends on the rate you are paying as to the liability you face, my CDP limits liability to $3000 as part of our contracted rates, that figure being also the figure that our travel insurance covers.

Some of the negotiated rates with frequent traveller schemes often give you the same lower excess and better rates, for instance I often check rates using both the QFF CDP and the Priority Club CDP, the recent QFF rent 4 days and get $50 off promo was 3% cheaper than my CDP, like anything it pays to shop around, the total liability on the car was $1500 too!

 

[mick]

Some of the negotiated rates with frequent traveller schemes often give you the same lower excess and better rates

I've achieved more favourable results in lowering excess by quoting my NRMA Auto Club CDP. Members of other automobile associations, eg. RACV, RACQ, etc. could also use their designated CDP. The rates and excess amounts by using the Auto Club CDP are generally better than FF CDP's, IME.

 

[kamchatsky]

The CDP I used is Entertainment Book rate with 1 free weekend day for 3 days hire.

I am going to try to use NRMA CDP to see if the excess is reduced.

 

[kamchatsky]

Good news!

Just rang Hertz to apply NRMA CDP and 10% off PC. Works out to be $85.44 instead of $66 for my 3 day car hire. However my total excess reduced to $1650 from $5500 which is much more reasonable.

Now I will just get travel insurance from to cover off the rest of the excesses ..... Is Colombus Direct the cheapest?

 

[Mal]

One of my gripes with Hertz is that you can't tell what additional benefits a CDP has until you actually do the hiring or call them up.

This is a perfect example of a difference in a CDP that you can't see unless you call.

 

[Philip76]

>Full responsibility for hitting an animal between Dusk and Dawn.

Are they saying that they can't find a company to insure them against hitting animals? That's strange because I can.

 

[Mal]

Are they saying that they can't find a company to insure them against hitting animals? That's strange because I can.

Hertz has their own insurance company (not sure though if that is who NT Hertz - an independent franchisee uses). Surely they can cover, but perhaps there are financial or other incentives for it not to be covered.

 

[Platy]

The last time I hired a car in Cairns CBD from Hertz (early 08) I was able to pay a CDW, which brought the excess down to $0.

 

[Skoogle]

Hertz in NT has a similar excess.

On a recent NT trip, my corporate rate reduced the excess to $700.

There are alot more scratches, including yellow paint, on the car upon returning. No extra charges on the CC yet. :shock:

 

[oz_mark]

The worst thing is that I cannot find Hertz T & C on their website. I have to physically ring support centre, then confirmed it by ringing Hertz Cairns downtown.

For rentals in Australia, Hertz will subject to certain exceptions under the Rental Agreement associated with Prohibited Uses, Prohibited People and Full Responsibility Uses, be responsible for any loss of or damage to the Car, except for the first AUS$3,300 (including GST) Accident Damages Excess (ADE) or such other amount specified on the Rental Agreement. Additional excesses of AUS$2,200 (including GST) may apply for damages resulting from a Single Vehicle Accident and damages resulting from Water Damage (other than by total or partial immersion) or other such amount as specified on the Rental Agreement in addition to the ADE as is specified in the Additional Terms. Optional Maximum Cover (MAX) is offered for AUS$34.90 (including GST) per full or partial rental day or other such amount specified on the Rental Agreement. With MAX, other than damages resulting from a Single Vehicle Accident, Water Damage (other than by total or partial immersion), or by a Car not driven by an Authorised Driver, you have no liability to Hertz for damages which occur during the rental period or which result from Your rental or use of the Car (including tyre and/or windscreen damage). Optional Accident Excess Reduction (AER) is offered for AUS$25.90 (including GST) or such other amount specified on the Rental Agreement per full or partial rental day to reduce the standard ADE. With AER, other than damages resulting from a Single Vehicle Accident, Water Damage (other than by total or partial immersion), or by a Car not driven by an Authorised Driver, your liability to Hertz for damages which occur during the rental period or which result from Your rental or use of the Car (including tyre and/or windscreen damage) is limited to the amount of the ADE as noted on the Rental Agreement. The additional Single Vehicle Accident and Water Damage Excess, or Your responsibility for damages resulting from a Car not driven by an Authorised Driver, cannot be reduced through the purchase of MAX or AER.

and more...

(b) Your liability to Hertz for Damages resulting from a Single Vehicle Accident is limited to the sum of (x) the ADE PLUS (y) AUS$2,200 (inclusive of GST), or such other amount in addition to the ADE as is specified in the Additional Terms, unless MAX is offered to and accepted by You as noted on the Form and if MAX is accepted and noted, You have no liability.

(c) Your liability to Hertz for Damages resulting from water damage (other than by total or partial immersion) is limited to the sum of (x) the ADE PLUS (y) AUS$2,200 (inclusive of GST), or such other amount in addition to the ADE as is specified in the Additional Terms.

 

[brett-au]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

They do slug you the full amount and just for good measure they add an administrative charge on top of it (its in the T&C). My excess should have been $1500, but with SVA & SCG (look for em) it came to $4190.71 (I think).

I did try and get them to explain how they calculate the charge, but they failed. Something like charge + stamp duty * gst.

Several weeks later (as reported in other posts), they will refund the amount. I got about $3990 back.

Key points - stay away from the words "underbody damage" and I'm grumpy that I can rear end a car and do $$$$, but scratch a single panel and they double the excess.

 

[beardoc]

One of my gripes with Hertz is that you can't tell what additional benefits a CDP has until you actually do the hiring or call them up.

This is a perfect example of a difference in a CDP that you can't see unless you call.

Yes - it's my gripe about them as well - it means I can't book online and be done with it - I have to book online, and then call them.

My professional association CDP gets me a $770 ($700 plus GST) excess, but I often use the NRMA CDP if it is a longer rental, as it's often cheaper, and I can cover the rest with excess cover from the RACV. When I get the Platinum Charge Card from Amex, I won't have to worry about the excess - I'll just book the cheapest available!

 

[JohnK]

Is there a Qantas CDP when booking with Hertz? If so how does this compare with other CDPs?

 

[Mal]

Is there a Qantas CDP when booking with Hertz? If so how does this compare with other CDPs?

Some CDP's:

American Airlines FF (May be Plat version as they have a few): 217692
Qantas FF: 297302
Amex Travel Related Services: 1022855
Visa Platinum (Aust): 1022855
CX Asia Miles: 1075363

It is pretty important to ensure that you are authorised to use a CDP, as this can seriously affect your insurance coverage if you need to make a claim and were never authorised to use it.

 

[JohnK]

It is pretty important to ensure that you are authorised to use a CDP, as this can seriously affect your insurance coverage if you need to make a claim and were never authorised to use it.

I think the Qantas FF CDP Discount Plan is available to all Qantas FF members. How can one find out what the total excess would be under this CDP?

 

[Mal]

I think the Qantas FF CDP Discount Plan is available to all Qantas FF members. How can one find out what the total excess would be under this CDP?

Call Hertz and ask, or make a booking and turn up and check the paperwork. Excess could vary at different Hertz locations though. No way to check online that I'm aware of.