Rental Car Questions - for driver with foreign license (England)

[dfchelbay]

I also posted this in the UK Board, but was hoping there are some transplants or snowbirds here that may be of assistance too.

My friend, who lives in England, is in Florida right now. We called a month ago to reserve a car to pick up today, for three weeks in Orlando. When we made the reservation, they said the cost would be about $535 USD (for three weeks). Today, when he picked up the car they said he had to pay an additional $1000 for insurance. We specifically asked when making the reservation if there were any other costs for a foreign driver when renting the car and was told as long as their license was in english and had current auto insurance, they would be treated the same as a US driver with no additional charges.

What are your experiences with renting a car in Florida? Do you pay extra for insurance and if so, how much? Who do you rent your cars from...what company? This $1000 is so excessive. My one year auto policy isn't even $1000...for a whole year of coverage! Can anyone recommend where to call and rent a car in Orlando, if your license and insurance is from England. What might he expect to pay (ballpark). The reservation was for $150 a week. Is almost $350 a week extra for insurance the norm?

He is going to return this car ASAP, but he had to have it for today. Thanks

 

[nherbert]

Hi,
We rent from Alamo, we got a brand new Hyundai Elantra for just less than $900 for three weeks. It includes insurance. We are from Australia. We booked through website, no promo code, after saying from Aus it seems to include some code that includes the necessary insurance we need for here.
I am sure there are cheaper cars but that wouldn't include insurance and they arent new or newish. But we aren't paying a $1000 for insurance, more like 200-300.. Note we also have travel insurance as a back up.

 

[seashoreCM]

I am thinking he should not have agreed tp [au to pay the $1000. If the agent refused to give him the car he should have called the headquarters 800 phone number from the phone on the back wall. If still no luck, walk away and walk up to other rental agencies to see who could give him a car for just one day for a reasonable amount.