Which Car Rental company? worried about damage fee etc

[openseat]

I use Hertz because of work - but just a note to be careful if you are returning the car to a small location (like in the suburbs).
At the busier locations they don't check over the car that much when you return it, but the smaller ones are absolutely meticulous about their checking the car. I had a real battle when the small agency I returned the car to decided that the scratches on the rear bumper (caused by luggage going in and out of the boot) was written up as damage caused by me.
I have talked to agents in the busier locaions like the airport and city offices and they all say that such damage is just normal wear and tear - but obviously not the smaller suburban locations!

 

[Warks]

As for the annual domestic travel insurance for ~$250 to reduce excess etc - who is recommended as a provider? We've got a two week holiday in Tassie in Sept-Oct so would like to cut back the cost a bit.
Also I am self-employed and travel interstate for work. I've hired Avis most of the time and one of my main clients pays all my actual costs so I haven't worried about the insurance cost so have got the best. Now, however, with some other clients I am paying for it myself (obviously I 'charge' the client in the total cost but it's good to be able to minimise such costs.) An annual insurance policy would reduce the costs for everyone.

The fees and charges are another matter. My latest hire cost is $220 for two days of which only $102 is the car, $54 is the insurance and the rest is made up of "premium location surcharges" and so forth. Apart from wasting time taking the bus or taxi to the city and hiring from there I guess there's no way out of that.

 

[burmans]

As for the annual domestic travel insurance for ~$250 to reduce excess etc - who is recommended as a provider? We've got a two week holiday in Tassie in Sept-Oct so would like to cut back the cost a bit.
Also I am self-employed and travel interstate for work. I've hired Avis most of the time and one of my main clients pays all my actual costs so I haven't worried about the insurance cost so have got the best. Now, however, with some other clients I am paying for it myself (obviously I 'charge' the client in the total cost but it's good to be able to minimise such costs.) An annual insurance policy would reduce the costs for everyone.

The fees and charges are another matter. My latest hire cost is $220 for two days of which only $102 is the car, $54 is the insurance and the rest is made up of "premium location surcharges" and so forth. Apart from wasting time taking the bus or taxi to the city and hiring from there I guess there's no way out of that.

$250 a year seems a lot if all you are worried about is the excess insurance. ANZ had a deal with their FF card where you get rental cover for an extra $2/month. Makes you realise just what a rippoff the car rental companies insurance is!!

 

[AdMEL]

$250 a year seems a lot if all you are worried about is the excess insurance. ANZ had a deal with their FF card where you get rental cover for an extra $2/month. Makes you realise just what a rippoff the car rental companies insurance is!!

ANZ still have it - it's called Car Rental Cover. It's available on all ANZ cards and costs either $24 p.a. or $2 p.m. (free on Platinum cards), providing $2,400 cover with $350 excess (effectively $2,050 cover). A couple of things of note: on the positive side, it covers additional drivers and on the negative side, it only covers you if the standard excess applies (i.e. if you have a single vehicle accident with Hertz or Thrifty and the additional Single Vehicle Accident Excess applies in addition to the standard excess, it does not provide any cover).

Westpac also have $5,500 excess cover on all of their platinum cards at no additional cost. The downside to this is the high annual fee ($130-$295 depending on the card) and it does not cover additonal drivers unless they have an additional card on the same account. The upside is it covers most excesses including prestige cars and 4WD's and will cover the single vehicle accident excess.

I rely on both of these, depending on circumstances (Westpac if it's just me and ANZ if others are also driving). Although I've never had to claim, a friend has claimed on ANZ's cover and although it took a few weeks and required a bit of follow up, it went smoothly.

 

[Warks]

I was hoping not to have to get ANOTHER credit card! I've got four now which is two too many but the Wizard card for OS travel ATM use is free anyway so I can forget it. Got the Gold MC (CBA which sort of sucks compared to some) for overseas travel insurance and general gold benefits. Got the Visa from our bank which doubles at the ATM card here. Got the new Woolies QF card for the points!

Now what?:mrgreen:

As for the $250 per annum policy that was mentioned, I don't know if that's the cost but it would be paid for in a few hires of cars at the rate they charge. I've looked insurers up online and I get a whole range of 'options' which I haven't had the time to explore. Basically the only travel insurance you need here is theft of goods (good luck ever getting paid by an insurance company on that one!) and car rental excess etc. Any others?