No car hire excess am I covered?

[Quando Quando]

Hi I am hiring a car in Greece for 5 weeks without CDW.

My travel insurance offers excess payout of up to $4000

I know some insurance companies will ask you to take every measure possible to reduce their costs. But I feel I am obliged to reduce my costs and not take out the CWD.

In this case there is no excess and I am liable for the entire cost of the car (prob worth $10k) but the policy only refers to "excess".

Am I likely to be covered?

 

[serfty]

...
Am I likely to be covered?

Short Answer: NO

Long Answer: If there is no mention of excess in any of the rental agreement documents then it is likely you will need additional insurance.

If you travel a lot you can get an annual policy to cover most car rental issues.

Otherwise, perhaps it would be less expensive to hire using an all inclusive package. For example, check out Arguscarhire.com - search over 550 car hire suppliers worldwide.

 

[Quando Quando]

no CDW am I covered?

thanks Ive checked but the costs are way more expensive for a family size car Hyundai Elantra/Volvo S40 1000/1200 euros so I seem to have a good deal..

I will enquire whether they offer CDW

 

[Dave Noble]

Hi I am hiring a car in Greece for 5 weeks without CDW.

My travel insurance offers excess payout of up to $4000

I know some insurance companies will ask you to take every measure possible to reduce their costs. But I feel I am obliged to reduce my costs and not take out the CWD.

In this case there is no excess and I am liable for the entire cost of the car (prob worth $10k) but the policy only refers to "excess".

Am I likely to be covered?

I would check carefully with your insurance company over their excess payout. What matters is what the insurance company requires for you to be covered , not what you feel you should need to do

If you have no coverage, your liability could be a lot more than $10,000 ; a brand new car is likely to be a lot more than $10,000 plus there is also the risk of being liable for costs for loss of useage

If your insurance company does require that you take out excess coverage, then you might want to look at coverage from somewhere such as insurance4carhire.com who do a good value annual policy which is designed to covers you without the need to take out excess reductions

 

[Quando Quando]

yep understand.. unfortunately the insurance companies I have looked at including TID And SCTI are refusing to clarify.

They just refer to the vague PDS like parrots.

 

[serfty]

Is your Greek booking cancellation?

How did you make the booking?

Have you checked out argus for a similar booking (with argus, you need no insurance, possibly, other than personal effects wich would be covered by TID in any case.

FWIW, I have used TID before and do believe there is no car rental cover for rentals that to not use the (peculiar) Australia and new Zealand style policy of inclusive insurance with large excesses.

 

[Quando Quando]

Argus will charge me 2401.82 euro (more than 2x) for a Toyota Avensis or similar. Although Im sure its better (newer model) I cant justify the cost.

I will need to seek out their CDW or purchase a policy from insurance4carhire for 79 squid.

 

[serfty]

Argus will charge me 2401.82 euro (more than 2x) for a Toyota Avensis or similar. Although Im sure its better (newer model) I cant justify the cost.

I will need to seek out their CDW or purchase a policy from insurance4carhire for 79 squid.

There you go; always worth checking options.

FWIW, did you try www.driveaway.com.au ?

 

[Quando Quando]

Tried that too... even more expensive. :shock: