Reading this thread has been quite revealing (I think). I have never taken out any rental company 'extras' like excess reduction, but have always been covered for that under my travel insurance.
However, I have always rented under the impression, rightly or wrongly (and this could well have changed in recent times), that in the event of an 'accident' that was my fault, I was covered for that damage (less the excess, which was covered by my travel insurance).
One occasion was about 20 years ago when we had a head-on crash in our hire car which caused it to catch fire, burn, and ultimately 'explode' (though only a little one, a muffled boom in the fuel tank area, not like in the movies)...we specifically declined any insurance 'extras', which ended up costing us our wallets and cameras, which perished in the fire, but certainly did not end up paying anything extra (in fact Hertz rented us another car the next day, after they picked themselves back up off the floor after hearing what happened to their car).
Anyway, just checking out a rental from Hertz in NZ which appears to tell me there is no insurance whatsoever included in the base rate: Can anyone confirm that i'm reading this correctly? I'm usually reasonably thorough when doing this sort of thing but cannot recall ever having to take out more than the 'base' rate before. I don't rent that often, maybe once a year.
Rate Details for Quote at top of page
Selected Vehicle Ford Focus or Similar
Compact 4-Door Manual Air Con
Total Approximate Charges 408.38 NZD
Base amount
Weekly: 1 Week at 343.00 NZD
Unlimited Free Kilometers
Rate Code: KSN2
Additional Items (included in Approximate Total Charges)
Tax 12.50 %
Airport concession fee recovery 20.00 NZD
Rate is guaranteed.
Total Approximate Charges 408.38 NZD
Optional Items (not included in quote)
Rates for Optional Items are exclusive of tax and other associated charges
PERSONAL EFFECTS COVER:
35.00 NZD Per Week
5.00 NZD Per Day
ACCIDENT EXCESS REDUCTION:
154.00 NZD Per Week
22.00 NZD Per Day
PROTECTION PACKAGE:
210.00 NZD Per Week
30.00 NZD Per Day
PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
35.00 NZD Per Week
5.00 NZD Per Day
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