Dollar Car Hire and independant insurance

[alisonbestford]

OK then,
I've taken the 'free' car with the Virgin package but arranged insurance through 'insurance4carhire'.
From what I understand Dollar are likely to have a moan and try to get me to take their insurance (which I'm not prepared to do as I know it's not necessary!)
The question is, how do I stand my ground? I'm sure that some of you have dealt with Dollar on this one so, any advice?
I think I have to leave a credit card imprint with them in case I have to make a claim. Does this sound right?
Thanks for your help.
Alison

 

[Hilary]

We've done the same thing using the NatWest insurance but I assume Dollar view any insurance other than their own in the same way.

Have to say we've never had a problem with the insurance but they still usually try to get us to upgrade the vehicle for a 'special' rate

We have always had the insurance documents at the ready to show them, but I can't remember them ever asking to see anything. You will have to pay some airport and state taxes and fees (last time cost us about $110 for full size car for 14 days from Miami airport) and we've had to leave a cc imprint for $1500 (that amount is not taken on your card, just held as a deposit). On returning the car we got a slip showing we owed nothing, and we've never been charged anything.

Look and sound confident that you know what you're doing when you go to collect the car, and just politely refuse anything they offer you that you don't want!

Good luck

 

[James Weir]

Dollar does not accept any other insurances,except their own.If you have
taken out insurances in the UK,and are involved in a accident,Dollar will insist
that you pay for damages when you return the Car.You then have to complete
the necessary forms through your insurers in the UK,who will refund the payments,however bear in mind that you will have to resolve any problems when
you are 4000 miles away. Friends of ours last Year had an accident in Orlando
and it took nearly 3 months to resolve the claim,just over $ 5000 ,had to be paid
when the car was returned,they were sick with worry.

 

[alisonbestford]

I believe that NatWest is the same insurance cover as insurance4carhire and have read about several DIS members using it.
There's a footnote somewhere in the policy stating Dollar's preference for you using their own insurance - who wouldn't push it when it's an extra £300?!
Anyway, got my credit card at the ready and my confident face.
Not sure what our taxes will be as it's for 17days on the next to smallest car in Orlando.
We'll see.
Alison

 

[Hilary]

Dollar does not accept any other insurances,except their own.If you have taken out insurances in the UK,and are involved in a accident,Dollar will insist that you pay for damages when you return the Car.

Unless Dollar have changed their policy since last Easter then I have to disagree - they have certainly accepted our alternative insurance on more than one occasion and as recently as last April, as have Hertz car rental.

They may prefer you to take their insurance, and may insist you pay for any damages (which you would then claim back from your insurer), but that's not quite the same thing as not accepting any other insurance.

I fully accept that any insurance is, unfortunately, only truly tested if you have to make a claim. I'm sorry to hear of your friends' accident and subsequent claim problems but if Dollar "don't accept" any other insurance, how did your friends manage to rent their car from them?

 

[alisonbestford]

Yes Hilary,
The insurance does say that Dollar 'prefers' you to take their own insurance but I've heard of many people who have chosen UK car insurance, left a credit card deposit or had to pay and then claim back if necessary.
Just got to stick to my guns. Can't say I was too successful last time though when they managed to talk me in to upgrading to a MPV ;-) LOL Great fun to drive tho!
Alison

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
I have rented a car from Dollar several times using the Amex insurance. They have never questioned it, possibly because they are familiar with it as it is commonly used by Americans. Unfortunately I ran over a large pothole in the road on our last trip 4 weeks ago damaging both the tyres ( $365 worth of damage ) and was asked for a claim reference after which they replaced the car. I did NOT have to pay the bill myself. When I got home I filled in a claim form and enclosed the bill I had received from Dollar. I will let you know how well I get on with the claim. My biggest concern was that the incident happened on the night we arrived in the USA at about 11:30 pm in Miami and when we rang the Dollar emergency number for help after 20 minutes on hold (at £1 per minute) we were told nobody was available to help and we would have to wait until they turned up.! Had it not been for the help of a local man I'm not sure how long we would have been stranded. Very scary.

Mick.

 

[James Weir]

Just to correct my previous report,if you use your own Insurance,ie not
purchased the car rental insurance,and like our friends you are on your own,
they will insist that you pay the damages,when the rental is terminated,our
friends were sick with worry,as they did not know,untill the car was returned
that dollar was not prepared to make the claim against the policy.If someone
is on a tight budget,it could prove very difficult.

 

[alisonbestford]

Mmmm, so they're about as good as coming out to call outs as some of our UK companies then LOL
Sorry to hear about the scary start to your holiday Mick but, I guess, this wouldn't have been any different an experience if you'd taken the Dollar insurance Good luck with your claim
Anyway, 2 weeks and counting. I've got an empty credit card for Dollar at the ready and will have our friends in Orlando on standby in case we run into trouble I'm desperately trying to convince them that they don't need to escort us from the airport on our arrival right now They're lovely
Alison

 

[Cochise]

Regarding this $1500 imprint i have been told that this is "held" i.e. this ensures that there is at least $1500 available on your card, something to think about if you want to max the card on your hols.

 

[alisonbestford]

I've dug out a credit card with nothing owing on it, and a ridiculous credit limit, that I'm just going to use for the car
Can't wait
Alison

 

[daipp]

I've spoken to Virgin and because we have taken Platinum Insurance, a credit card imprint is NOT taken.

Has anyone else had the same experience?

David

 

[Cherb]

And I'd be interested if the Virgin All Inclusive Insurance still requires a Credit Card imprint?

 

[James Weir]

If you purchase Dollar Platinium Insurance,then no imprint is taken,unless you
purchase an upgrade,with prepaid you get a full tank of gas,and you can return
the car empty,if you are involved in a accident god forbid,then dollar will take
care of all the paperwork,if you have purchased your own car hire insurance,then you are on you own,as they will insist that you pay for the
damage before you leave the US.Americians can transfer their Car Insurances,
to cover car rental.

 

[daipp]

Thank you for that information James.

David

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Not sure if things have changed but I did NOT have to pay for the damage to my vehicle last month I got a bill sent to me in the post and forwarded it to my insurance company. Also there was no mention of any deposit and when I checked my credit card online whilst on holiday the available credit was never reduced by $1500.

Mick

 

[alisonbestford]

Yes, the card imprint is just if you take out your own insurance.
Well, that's what I thought til I read Mick's mail If that's so it just gets better Who did you insure with Mick? Insurance4carhire were recommended to me by a couple of DIS members who'd used them with no problems - apart from the hard sell at the airport
Whatever, we'll see.
Alison

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi Allison,
I use Amex insurance only because I have one of their charge cards and credit cards so I get the insurance at a discounted rate together with travel cover. I can't really say I have ever had a problem at the Dollar desk they just point out that I have declined their insurance and to initial the rental agreement. They spend more time trying to get me to upgrade the vehicle which I never do because experience tells me I may get an upgrade anyway without paying anything, plus you could always upgrade later if not.

Mick.

 

[alisonbestford]

Yes, they got me on the upgrade when we went a couple of years ago
I got talked into a MPV (against my better judgement at the time as I'd only passed my test 6 months previously ) It was great fun to drive but I'm sticking to my guns this year, much to my 6 year old DD's disgust and going with the small (cheaper ) car
Did you have to pay extra for state taxes etc as someone else mentioned earlier?
Alison

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Yes I did have to pay the taxes etc. On our last trip these were $161.50 which was more than usual but we flew into Miami so maybe that was the reason. I chose to return the car full so I didn't pay for any fuel as I find it eaiser to full up on the way back to the airport rather than drive round with a near empty tank.On my rental agreement they listed the fuel cost as $4.99 per gallon so I'm pleased I didn't bother with it.

Mick