Why Is Car Hire So Expensive For UK Visitors?

[wee-haggis]

I was wondering if someone could explain to me why car rentals from Orlando Airport are so expensive?
I've looked at several threads and realized that if someone pays in the region of 300 and some odd pounds for a week...they are doing well!!
Maybe I'm not fully understanding the insurance costs for UK residents, but in my case coming from Canada I have a 7 person mini van booked with Alamo for 10 days using the QV rate code,for $399.00 Canadian (about 162 pounds).
I don't need any extra insurance because my policy has out of country coverage (as do most Canadians).
Is that where the price differences are...Insurance???
If so ,can you not arrange with your own insurance company to extend your coverage and still be ahead of the game?

 

[neilybealy]

just another case of "rip off britain" and the fact that we britons continue to pay high prices

 

[vernon]

Am I in Groundhog Day? I'm sure we've done this one recently
Insurance is the major reason, our insurance doesn't cover the US and the companies know they can hit us for a pretty large sum. It's why many airlines can put "includes free car hire" combinations with their flights knowing that the insurance costs come out to be more than someone from the US or Canada would pay to rent the car.

As I explained before there are better deals available than the main car hire companies offer direct, where we can get all inclusive ( I recently found an all inclusive deal for an economy car at £130 a week from Ebookers) packages. It is also possible to organise your own insurance, but many of the US companies still try to sell us "extra" cover on top knowing that many of the UK visitors don't know what is legally required, sensible extra cover and what is just a rip off.

It is an area where a little knowledge can save travellers quite a lot of money.

 

[wee-haggis]

Originally posted by vernon
Am I in Groundhog Day? I'm sure we've done this one recently
Insurance is the major reason, our insurance doesn't cover the US and the companies know they can hit us for a pretty large sum. It's why many airlines can put "includes free car hire" combinations with their flights knowing that the insurance costs come out to be more than someone from the US or Canada would pay to rent the car.

As I explained before there are better deals available than the main car hire companies offer direct, where we can get all inclusive ( I recently found an all inclusive deal for an economy car at £130 a week from Ebookers) packages. It is also possible to organise your own insurance, but many of the US companies still try to sell us "extra" cover on top knowing that many of the UK visitors don't know what is legally required, sensible extra cover and what is just a rip off.

It is an area where a little knowledge can save travellers quite a lot of money.

Vernon,
Don't worry...your not in the Twilight Zone I did indeed pose this question before because,quite frankly, it still was'nt explained very clearly.
Yes,I realize that insurance is the main stumbling block but in saying that ,if it is possible to organize your own out of country insurance with your own UK insurance company,would'nt it still work out a damn sight cheaper than using the rip-off US car hire companies?
The bottom line is,nobody has to accept any of the insurance these compnaies offer (we Canadian and US customers get asked the same pressure sales questions as well with regards to extra insurance).
I'd love to hear from someone who has actually used their own insurance company and said to hell with the car company pitch.

 

[wee-haggis]

Vernon,
I know this must seem like I'm repeating myself (and I did look at a previous thread that you replied to ......and I missed it).
You suggested that it was not possible to obtain insurance for "out of country coverage".
I am researching on behalf of a family member who is claiming to me that it is indeed possible to do it from the UK.
So, you see I'm getting conflicting stories.
Sorry,for repeating myself.

 

[mike230652]

wee-haggis

IMHO it may be that you're getting conflicting answers because of the way you're phrasing your question.....this is an observation NOT a criticism, so please don't flame me!!

You ask why car rental with insurance for Brits is so expensive at Orlando. Who says it is ?

1. If you book via a travel agent on a fly-drive then without question you get charged over the odds, it's called profiteering....but you can't blame the travel companies for making easy cash where thay can!

2. I can't imagine too many UK car insurance companies would be interested in going through the hassle of arranging insurance in the US, not least because of the worries of the nonsensical figures for damages claimed in the US courts. In fact would it be any cheaper by the time they are satisfied they comply with US legislation..?? I'm sure the UK car insurance companies have probably researched the market and made their decision..?!

3. The alternative is to arrange your own car hire and insurance . There's a huge choice of companies who will rent cars and full insurance to UK visitors......................I've been getting quotes for a 4-door Intermediate for £330 for TWO weeks, that's with all insurances, taxes etc included...... so £300 plus for one week would seem high. I think Vernon offered very good advice ( I followed it re : car rental ! ) about checking costs out. Can I suggest going to Google and entering " Florida car rental " ...?

If, as you say. one of your family members claims it IS possible to obtain out of country insurance why not ask him/her to get the facts and post the info on the boards, that would be a great help to many members here?........and save you getting conflicting answers?


mike230652

 

[wee-haggis]

IMHO it may be that you're getting conflicting answers because of the way you're phrasing your question.....this is an observation NOT a criticism, so please don't flame me!!

Perhaps I am not phrasing the question correctly...if so I apologize and have slapped myself in the hand with a ruler!

1. If you book via a travel agent on a fly-drive then without question you get charged over the odds, it's called profiteering....but you can't blame the travel companies for making easy cash where thay can!

Yes,this unfortunately seems to be the most common method although I wonder if most folk are aware of the choices they have (ieIY rather than package).
BTW...I do blame the travel companies for profiteering and I think blacklisting them on these boards would be called for.

2. I can't imagine too many UK car insurance companies would be interested in going through the hassle of arranging insurance in the US, not least because of the worries of the nonsensical figures for damages claimed in the US courts. In fact would it be any cheaper by the time they are satisfied they comply with US legislation..?? I'm sure the UK car insurance companies have probably researched the market and made their decision..?!

I'm guessing that you are probably correct on this one and I am still waiting for my relative to reply to this very question.

3. The alternative is to arrange your own car hire and insurance . There's a huge choice of companies who will rent cars and full insurance to UK visitors......................I've been getting quotes for a 4-door Intermediate for £330 for TWO weeks, that's with all insurances, taxes etc included...... so £300 plus for one week would seem high. I think Vernon offered very good advice ( I followed it re : car rental ! ) about checking costs out. Can I suggest going to Google and entering " Florida car rental " ...?

I think you did OK with your quoted car hire rate.
Unfortunately I don't think most of your fellow citizens are researching to the extent that you obviously did (at least not as far as the message threads I've read on these boards is concerned).
The Google search will provide many choices but I think some folk tend to jump as the first "pretty" website they come across rather than taking the time to delve into it further.

If, as you say. one of your family members claims it IS possible to obtain out of country insurance why not ask him/her to get the facts and post the info on the boards, that would be a great help to many members here?........and save you getting conflicting answers?

As I mentioned earlier,I am still waiting to hear from him and I will post any positive responses.
As for me getting "conflicting answers"...
Thats what these boards are for,getting answers to questions whether they be conflicting or not!

I'll finish my marathon message by enclosing an email message I got from a company called http://www.travelguard.com/.

Anyone in the world can purchase our insurance. Our collision damage wavers will be one set price either $7 a day for $25,000 of coverage or $9 a day for $35,000 of coverage. Thank you for your inquiry if you should need any other assistance the # to reach us at is 1-800-826-1300. Thank you, have a great day. Amber

 

[amf]

We are going (totally DIY) to Orlando at the end of next month and have hired a 7 seater mini van for 21 days, with all insurances and taxes, extra drivers and free tank of fuel - cost £572 when we booked (now £560) from Airline Network

We have gone fly drive to Orlando 9 times before and on the first couple of occasions took out the rip off CDW etc. attached to the "free" (that's a laugh) car. Then we discovered that you can buy your CDW, PAI etc at a fraction of the cost. In our case we bought this from Options Insurance at one third of the local cost.

I have also heard of an offer from Nat West on one of their CCs, I think. I believe that if you pay for your car hire with that CC you can, for £75, buy an annual policy from them to include overseas CDW, PAI etc. No doubt someone can add more meat to the bones I have provided.

For the reasons already given the UK car insurance companies will not provide this cover in the circumstances we are discussing.

 

[BevS97]

I haven't seen many posts of people paying £300+ per week, we normally pay in the region of £300 for 2 weeks, I think £310 rings a bell for last time, that was for the hire and all inclusive insurance and taxes.

natwest do have a policy for £75, but then you still have to pay for the hire (unless you get the 'free' car), and I believe there are airport taxes, extra drivers etc to add on.

Bev

 

[wee-haggis]

Originally posted by amf
We are going (totally DIY) to Orlando at the end of next month and have hired a 7 seater mini van for 21 days, with all insurances and taxes, extra drivers and free tank of fuel - cost £572 when we booked (now £560) from Airline Network

We have gone fly drive to Orlando 9 times before and on the first couple of occasions took out the rip off CDW etc. attached to the "free" (that's a laugh) car. Then we discovered that you can buy your CDW, PAI etc at a fraction of the cost. In our case we bought this from Options Insurance at one third of the local cost.

I have also heard of an offer from Nat West on one of their CCs, I think. I believe that if you pay for your car hire with that CC you can, for £75, buy an annual policy from them to include overseas CDW, PAI etc. No doubt someone can add more meat to the bones I have provided.

For the reasons already given the UK car insurance companies will not provide this cover in the circumstances we are discussing.

Sounds like a pretty good deal amf.
I did forget to mention that I also have back up coverage from simply using my American Express Card to pay for the car hire (I'm not sure if its only certain versions of the card or all of them).
Assuming that you used a Nat West (or Amex) to purchase your van online through Alamo (for example).
The total price (for 3 weeks at the end of September)would be :
$797.26 (or about 494 pounds) .
If you add the $75 insurance to that it would be very close to the amount mention previously by amf.
If you were to need a vehicle for just 1 week the rate would be $293 (or 181 pounds) using the QV code (without the code the price would be 304 pounds!...quite a dif).
Codes are a must for everyone to use.
Here a couple of links for those who don't know about them.
http://www.mousesavers.com/groundtrans.html#rental
http://www.rentalcodes.com/

 

[Mickey_UK]

I give my vote to the airline network as well.
we have booked a 7 seat minivan 14days all inclusive with extra drivers and a tank of fuel(return car empty) for just £355 from the 5th Oct

 

[Highland Lass]

Thanks AMF........

My family are all going to WDW in December and the ""free"" car we were getting from Virgin was going to cost approx $700 for 2 weeks insurances.

I took your advice and checked out Airline Network.

I have now booked a 7 seater people carrier all inc for £369 for 2 weeks.

Its so much cheaper and not only that. We collect the car on day 2 of our holiday from the Holiday Inn on Intrnational Drive.....just a short walk from our hotel. So we will get taken by Virgin bus to and from the airport and will collect the car locally. FAB

 

[amf]

Cheers HL.....I really like to see people managing to escape the "free car" rip off

Have a great time

Alex

 

[floridalol]

Highland Lass - Presuming that a 7-seater was your allocated car for the number in your party - a 14 day car hire charge with Virgin would cost £336 (Virgin All Inclusive Package), which is £36 cheaper than the price you are paying. It would of course cost a bit more if you were upgrading to a 7-seater from your allocated vehicle - how many in your party - adults and children? I can then work it out for you.

You may have been fed some duff information.

Best wishes

FloridaLol

 

[Highland Lass]

Hi Floridalol

I wondered after reading your post whether we have been misinformed re Virgin car insurances so I phoned Virgin.

The All inclusive platinum Package for a 7 seater car would be £32 per day which would be £448 for 2 weeks.

Its still more expensive.

The beauty of collecting our car in I-Drive is the clincher.

There are 6 of us travelling and with all our luggage and Golf clubs Virgin said there wouldn't be enough room for us all in the allocated car. So the original plan was for the men to take some luggage to collect the car at the airport and then find the Hotel. The ladies were going to get a taxi to the hotel with the remaining bags.

So now thats all sorted. We all get a transfer from the airport to the Hotel when we arrive and then collect the car next day when we are refreshed.

I am happy with that.

Thanks for your help

 

[floridalol]

Hi Highland Lass

I thought it was worth checking anyway! I use Airline Network for all my business travel, I find them to be an excellent company, so if you have not used them before have no worries they won't let you down.

For holidays to USA I always book direct with Virgin and get another 10% off for being a Frequent Virgin Club Member (this includes all park tickets and insurances so is worth bearing in mind once you go on your third Virgin holiday).

Happy holidays

FloridaLol

 

[debbyLL]

damn, we just paid balance on fly drive with virgin and now i have just checked out airline network and we really would like a seven seater for four of usand the quote is 355 is there any way we can do something all help appreciated

 

[Highland Lass]

Hi Debby

I sent an e-mail to Virgin to change from carhire to transfers and it was no problem. I had to pay an "Admin fee " ----rip-off fee-----but it was easy to do.

Why don't you try it. Just say "due to unforeseen circumstances you no longer need a car, only flights" and see what they say.

Good luck

 

[mike230652]

Has anyone used the services of Airline Network for car hire ??

Must admit they have very good prices....£317 for 2 weeks for a 4-door Intermediate looks like excellent value.

I'd be keen to book so long as I can get info from someone who'e used them.

TIA

mike230652

 

[bluebell]

TO MIKE 230652 hi we rented a car with airline network for 17 days for 374 pounds, it was a Dollar car,I was expecting a compact 4 door, I never checked my paperwork at the desk, but when i got to the pick up spot i found i had been given a Chrysler voyager i believe its called,I thought it was a brilliant deal. I booked it online,had to pay with a cc and print my own ticket but had no problems at the desk. hope this helps.blubell