Shall we shock the dollar guy .......

[slackers]

.. by agreeing to take their insurance??
We've booked a flydrive but didn't take insurance at the time, can't change the booking now as Virgin will add on the increases that have taken place since we booked!
Does anyone have any idea how much the insurance would cost to take at the desk? Have priced the same vehicle through USrentacar and comes out at £315 inc insurance. If Dollars own insurance costs more for 21 days we'll pass on their car! Couldn't find any indication of prices on their website

 

[wayneg]

Might be worth emailing Dollar and asking estimated costs. Nearest example I can give is my Brother didn't prebook last year in Vegas, turned up at the desk and rented, cost him approx double there rather than prebooking in UK.
If you haven't paid Virgin anything then I would guess the cheapest option is USrentacar.co.uk but I would also get a quote from Virgin to add it to the booking, adding insurance might attract an ammendment fee but depends who you talk to.

 

[Halo]

Your basic car rental will already include insurance - what it will not include is excess insurance, so you would be liable for say the first $5,000. So....what you need is excess insurance. Try www.carhire-excess-insurance.com this should cost you £57.50 for an annual multi-trip policy.

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

We usually go for this insurance policy

http://www.insurance4carhire.com/index.asp?curID=1&langID=1&sessionID=445637127&refID=886&pID=50

Just spoke to them as noticed that it now says Not suitable for flyderives, grumpy woman on end of phone said that "car companies lose money on flydrives therefore you can meet resistance when not taking out their insurance, so phone virgin/dollar and check they wll accept policy" Now I am confused.

 

[slackers]

thanks for reviving this post!! Since posting originally I have mailed Dollar in UK & US and have had no response I am still unsure about what to do, will probably take the USRentacar option & leave the Dollar car
Maybe someone travelling between now & Dec will be in a similar situation & post on their return?? Would love to know how much Dollar charge at airport

 

[mickg7dyd]

Your basic car rental will already include insurance - what it will not include is excess insurance, so you would be liable for say the first $5,000. So....what you need is excess insurance. Try www.carhire-excess-insurance.com this should cost you £57.50 for an annual multi-trip policy.

Hi,
In my experience this is NOT the case. In the USA most (if not all) car hire companies only offer basic third party cover. You can buy an annual policy that provides the right level of cover but as mentioned earlier you may encounter the "hard sell" from the car hire agent to buy theirs. I enquired about the cost of cover at the counter with Dollar and this is the reply I got:

Loss Damage Waiver will be an additional $21.99 per day extra. In the U.S., if you purchase the optional LDW Plan, we will waive your responsibility for loss or damage to the vehicle in full or in part (depending on the LDW plan you accept). LDW is not insurance. LDW does not apply if: (1) you use the vehicle in violation of the rental agreement; (2) you fail to remove the keys, or close and lock all windows, doors and trunk, and the vehicle is stolen or vandalized; (3) you fail to notify us and the police immediately after the loss; and (4) you fail to pay the charges under the rental agreement; or (5) as allowed by state law. Before deciding whether to purchase LDW, you may wish to determine whether your own automobile insurance or credit card agreement provides you coverage for rental vehicle damage or loss and determine the amount of the deductible under your own insurance coverage. The purchase of LDW is not mandatory. LDW is not insurance.
Supplemental Liability Insurance will be an additional $11.95 per day extra. ("SLI"): Where available, and for an additional daily charge, a renter may purchase SLI at the time of rental. If accepted, SLI provides the renter or any additional authorized driver as listed in the Rental Agreement (excluding the renter’s and any additional authorized driver’s family members related by blood, marriage or adoption and any other person residing with the renter or additional driver), with automobile liability coverage against third party claims for bodily injury, including death, and property damage resulting from an automobile accident in the DOLLAR vehicle, during the rental period, in excess of the coverage provided under the Rental Agreement up to a maximum protection of $1,000,000 combined single limit (CSL) per occurrence. The availability, cost and coverage can vary from location to location depending on the program details. Check with the rental location for details of their program. SLI does not provide coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorist protection except in New York . SLI does not apply in Mexico .

Hope this helps.

Mick