Confused about extra car insurance they try to sell you at the desk!

[sarahc]

I've heard that when people arrive at the car hire desk, one of the extras they push is some kind of insurance to cover lost keys, punctures etc. We're booked with Alamo through usrentacar and paid for the 'Gold' option.
Has anyone been offered this extra insurance and do I need it?
TIA!

 

[merlin307]

I've heard that when people arrive at the car hire desk, one of the extras they push is some kind of insurance to cover lost keys, punctures etc. We're booked with Alamo through usrentacar and paid for the 'Gold' option.
Has anyone been offered this extra insurance and do I need it?
TIA!

Its not something I have heard of ........if you have booked "gold" inclusive then you shouldnt have to take out any additional insurance but I would check what is covered with Alamo.....I normally go for the inclusive option with Dollar through floridacarhire.com, and I dont have anything to pay upon pick up.........

 

[sarahc]

I think they try to sell you personal accident insurance but isn't this part of your travel insurance anyway?

 

[CHEK]

Like yourselves, we have booked with the same Company, also with Alamo (gold option), have been assured we do not need to purchase anything else when we pick the car up!. This is our 4th trip, but the 1st time we have booked everything independently.

 

[sarahc]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone!

 

[Red-Snapper]

If you havent booked the Gold cover then the bit you DO need is the top up liability cover.

The basic figure usually is nowhere near enough to cover personal injury claims in America and you travel policy will almost certainly NOT cover you for liability arising from use of a motor vehicle (unless you have taken it with the very few people who include motor liabiltiy ie. some Amex packages etc).

 

[Hilary]

We came across a new sales pitch at Alamo last month - Roadside breakdown assistance cover. We were asked if we wanted to take it out for about $25 for the week, I think.

We declined - if we broke down in their rental car, surely the rental company would be responsible for sorting something out, wouldn't they?

 

[wayneg]

Personally would not touch Alamo with a barge pole, a few years ago now when they were off airport but all you could hear in the office was hard sell.
Since this I have always used Airnet or Virgin with platinum cover with Dollar and They have never tried pushing anything.
Link to my problem with Alamo and also one of the links to a Alamo thread, there will be more if you search also.
No car hire company is perfect but I think Alamo has to be the most complained about.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17035983&postcount=10
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1368940

 

[Graeme]

We always get the smallest car available with Alamo and decline all the offered upgrades at the desk. They never have any small cars in so we've always ended up with a free upgrade anyway.

 

[sarahc]

Found this on Alamo's website, this is the extra insurance they're offering:
Roadside Service Plan ($4.99/Day)

* KEY REPLACEMENT Lost keys? No worries, we will send replacement keys or a locksmith.
* GLASS REPLACEMENT If the glass is damaged through no fault of your own, we will replace the glass.
* FLAT TIRE If the vehicle's spare tire is inflated and serviceable, it will be installed to replace a flat tire. If no inflated spare is available, the vehicle will be towed in accordance with the towing provision.
* TIRE REPLACEMENT If the vehicle's tire is damaged, the tire will be repaired or replaced at no additional charge.
* TOWING Towing charges will be covered at no additional cost should the vehicle be inoperable.
* JUMP START A battery boost will be provided in an attempt to start the vehicle.
* LOCKOUT SERVICE If the keys are locked inside the vehicle, service will be sent to gain entrance.
* FUEL DELIVERY* A limited supply of gasoline will be delivered to the vehicle to enable you to reach the nearest open service station.

Do other companies include this in their rental charges without paying extra?

 

[wayneg]

I book mine with Airline Network(Dollar) this is taken from their site, looks included with them but not had time to read all of it. They have never asked me to pay extra for anything with Platinum cover.
Full T&C's here if you want to read http://www.airline-network.co.uk/Carhire/Terms.ashx?depot=MCOT01&provider=DU

Included Within our Rates
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.

Excluded from our Rates
Our rates do not include one way rental fees (see One Way Rentals below), charges for fines, traffic or parking violations, toll roads or charges for additional items (see Additional Items and Charges below).

 

[Hilary]

Personally would not touch Alamo with a barge pole, a few years ago now when they were off airport but all you could hear in the office was hard sell.

We've had some kind of sales pitch every time we get to the rental desk - whichever rental company we've used. Admittedly some of these have been more hard-sell than others, but we've yet to come away without being told we 'need' a better/bigger/faster vehicle or package than we've booked . The sales pitch has only once been vaguely difficult or unpleasant to decline, and that was with Dollar in Miami.

Like Graeme, we now book the smallest car and invariably get at least one category bigger because there are no compacts in stock. We like Alamao because we can select the actual car from those waiting to go.

 

[paulh]

we like alamo as well never had a problem with them.As hillary said book small car (they never have any)so you get free upgrade.There used to be hard sell for upgrades ect and extra insurance.The insurance you have taken out in the uk covers what you nead so dont upgrade or surcome to the hard sell.This is where they make there bounus on selling extras that you dont nead.I just look at them and say no thanks
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

The sales pitch has only once been vaguely difficult or unpleasant to decline, and that was with Dollar in Miami.

Maybe we have just been lucky with Dollar in Orlando, I did not like the attitude of Dollar at Los Angeles last Oct, The agent was all smiles and happy until we refused upgrade to 4x4 (I always book full size), I dont like 4x4's, Convertibles, vans, or anything bigger than Full size so there was nothing he could talk me into even if he offered me cashback. He changed to grunting at us and was unpleasant.
So maybe just been lucky.

 

[Hilary]

He changed to grunting at us and was unpleasant.

Sounds like a few people I know!

 

[wayneg]

Sounds like a few people I know!

Have you been talking to my DS?

 

[daipp]

I've NEVER been asked about upgrades or adding insurance in all the times I've been to the US - I feel left out.

David

 

[mikki.young]

I have used Alamo more than any other hire company out there. The one time I had a problem - and it was my own fault - they replaced the car with no problems at all. Yes they ask about insurance but if you know what you have they are quite happy to accept a no thank you. I much prefer car hire nowdays when it is easy to get an all inclusive deal than the old days when we always had to get top up insurance!

 

[sarahc]

Thanks again for the replies! Think we'll just decline all the extras and hope! I'm just annoyed cos I thought I'd covered all costs. I may get in touch with usrentacar and ask them what's going on: watch this space!

 

[Graeme]

I've NEVER been asked about upgrades or adding insurance in all the times I've been to the US - I feel left out.

Don't! It just means we all look like suckers for sales pitches