Car Hire - breakdown asistance

[bobo_UK]

Hi All,
I've read a few posts about people booking pre paid packages here in the UK and then when they go to collect there car they are being told they need to take out breakdown/recovery insurance.

I've driven many times in Florida before and have never heard of this, in fact ive always presumed it would be included in your hire agrement.

Does anyone have any views on this ? Is it necessary or just another dollar money spinner ?

Hope someone can shed some light on this.

Thanks
Bob

 

[kevg1889]

we ended up somehow agreeing to be upgraded, and also having to pay for a full tank of petrol as well as this roadside assistance agreement. None of these were compulsory, but I somehow agreed to it all, at a cost of over $300. By the end of the holiday, I was glad of it all. The upgrade to a Chrysler Sebring was very nice and extremely comfortable, which made my first driving experience more enjoyable. We used the full tank of fuel (and more, even though I did not intend doing any driving at all!!) As for the roadside assistance, this was the best money I ever spent! On our last day, as we were loading the car with our luggage, I left the keys in the ignition, and the doors automatically locked themselves, leaving us locked out. We were in a real panic, as our check in at Sandford was in less than an hour. I phoned the assistance line, and thankfully, they had a locksmith out to us in around 45 minutes, so we were only an hour late for when check in started, but in plenty of time for our flight. Had we not taken this option, I do not know what we would have done, so I would recommend it to everyone.

 

[Hilary]

Like bob-UK, we had assumed roadside recovery would be included in car rental agreements. We had never been asked about this 'upgrade' before our trip in March this year (Alamo) and we declined it, thinking it was another sales pitch.

However, hearing of experiences like kevg1889's, I'd be interested to know just how necessary this is - and what would happen if you needed roadside assistance and hadn't taken out the extra option.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've never heard of this either..
perhaps one of the moderators knows about it?

 

[Hilary]

Just been checking prices,etc for our November trip and found this in the FAQs on www.usrentacar.co.uk

Roadside assistance is provided by each of the suppliers and is provided in both the fully inclusive and the Gold rates. When you collect your vehicle all details of road side assitance will be supplied on your rental agreement including contact information for this service.

As we will probably rent through them, I think I'll email a direct enquiry to them about this in case anything has changed since their FAQs were posted. I'll keep this thread informed of any replies

 

[bobo_UK]

Found this in the T&C's on the Airline network site.

We choose only to promote Fully Inclusive rates in the USA and these include, Unlimited Mileage, Loss Damage Waiver (LDW explained below), Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI explained below), Under or Uninsured Motorist Protection (UMP explained below), Airport Tax, Road Tax, State Taxes, all Customer Facility Charges (CFC's) and Homeland Security Fees (HSF's), and 24 Hour breakdown assistance.

So I guess ill just print a copy of this and take it ith me

BOB

 

[wayneg]

Found this in the T&C's on the Airline network site.


So I guess ill just print a copy of this and take it ith me

BOB

Airnet/Dollar have never tried selling me breakdown cover and I have rented about 12 times with them. I read the T&C's like you and thought nothing else of it. Never had a reason to call breakdown thankfully to test their service. This car we have now with them has the most mileage on the clock from all the rentals with Dollar, it has 7,400 on the clock. Always get almost new cars or brand new sometimes.

 

[disneyholic family]

Airnet/Dollar have never tried selling me breakdown cover and I have rented about 12 times with them. I read the T&C's like you and thought nothing else of it. Never had a reason to call breakdown thankfully to test their service. This car we have now with them has the most mileage on the clock from all the rentals with Dollar, it has 7,400 on the clock. Always get almost new cars or brand new sometimes.

we usually rent from alamo, where you can pick the car..
that's one of the things we do...
when we find the minivan with all the features we want, we then turn it on to see how many miles it has before we choose it...

 

[ThingOneThingTwo]

I've just emailed Dollar and Alamo in the UK to clarify this, I'll report back when I get a reply.

 

[willibobs]

I came back after two weeks in florida. Had car hire with Dollar (flew TCD) and even though I had platinum insurance cover the 24 breakdown was extra!

 

[ThingOneThingTwo]

I've had responses back from Dollar.co.uk and Alamo.co.uk. I specifically asked about rentals in Orlando (in case it was different in Europe for example).

Alamo said this:

"Please be assured that 24 hour breakdown cover is automatically included with all our packages at no extra cost."

Dollar said this:

"Currently all of our reservations due include Roadside Assistance as long as you book your rental on dollar.co.uk."


Interesting - Hillary's experience suggest Alamo may be double-selling.

Willibobs - did you recently book through dollar.co.uk? If so I smell a rat!

If it's true agents from either dollar and alamo are knowingly charging for something already included then that's err, fraudulent to some degree isn't it?!

EDIT:

Just seen this FAQ on uscarhire.co.uk


"Is free 24 hour roadside assistance included?

Free 24 hour roadside assistance is included with all car types. There are some exceptions to the cover where you may be expected to pay a call-out fee as follows:
o Running out of fuel
o Locking yourself out of the car
o Windscreen replacement
o Tyre Replacement
o Key Replacement
o Flat Battery

More often than not the rental company will not charge you for call-outs for some of the above, although Alamo and Dollar offer (a non-compulsory) 'Roadside Service Plan' payable on collection of your car at approx $6 per day. Note, you are not required to accept this service if offered, and you can not claim back the fee charged if during your rental you do not use the Service Plan."


So, it seems, you are more than likely not going to get charged (at the companys discretion) and it's included.

However, if the agent says 'you aren't covered at all unless you take this package' that's clearly a lie!

 

[mouseuk1]

hello there as i work for alamo in the uk let me try to shed some light on this.

24 hour breakdown is included within your cost of rental.

the branch will charge for things that are classed as your fault which include

lost keys

keys locked in the car

flat battery

punctures that are your fault like hit kerb or traffic island

running out of petrol





all the above will be charged for the breakdown company will take your credit card details from you before there will attend.

 

[ThingOneThingTwo]

Hi Lee, thanks for clarifying the issue at Alamo, looks like it boils down to 'if it's your fault then you may get charged, if it's not your fault then you're covered'.

Don't suppose you can get a good deal on Alamo car hire could you? ;-)

Best I've seen so far is the brits guide discount which is:

* Unlimited Mileage
* Collision Damage Waiver
* Extended Protection (EP) ($1 million liability coverage)
* State/local taxes
* State/local surcharges
* Airport fees
* 10% Discount
* Free additional Drivers

 

[mouseuk1]

sorry bu i can not get any discounts for car rental in the us only in the uk then i can get you a good deal sorry

i did get a good deal for myself staff perk you see hired a Cadillac Escalade
for £200 for 2 weeks looking forward to driving this

lee