Looking for some advice as I've never rented a car in the US before. Am looking at renting a car for 3 days in sept for a trip to Napa from SFO. Is the added insurance cover option online enough on its own? Do I need additional cover through my travel insurance? As an Aussie license holder are there any pitfalls to watch out for hiring a car in the US? Thanks.
As an American now living in Australia, I always rent from Rentalcars.com when going back to the USA to see family, etc.
Insurance from rental companies is so confusing, and you are NOT 100% covered by credit cards, etc. when renting in the USA. But, with rentalcars.com, all the insurances are included, so I've never had a hard sell at the counter when picking up my car to add this and that. (Except personal injury protection which is covered by travel insurance).
Renting direct from the companies can mean you still have to add insurance, which can add up to 40-80 dollars a day!
We are looking at a car for europe, but I find the one way rental (Rome to Paris) too complex for the rentalcars.com system, so have tasked Amex to find me one.
Just be cautious about which vendor you choose on rentalcars.com. Hertz, Avis, Alamo, and National are usually safe bets (depending on the city). I avoid dollar, budget, enterprise (I know, a lot of people like them, I don't), ACE, and Fox.
I have never been asked to pay an extra deposit (the 20% above the rental) as mentioned in the thread. I usually do the pay all the charges upfront though, as those can be cancelled or changed on the website or on phone. Bookings where you pay a deposit and then the rest 30 days before often have a clause where you lose the deposit if you change or cancel.... Their T's & C's:
Cancellation of Fully Prepaid Bookings
- If you cancel 48 hours or more before your rental is due to start, the money you’ve paid will be refunded.
- If you cancel in the 48 hours period before pick-up, the money you’ve paid will be refunded, minus the cost of a 3 days rental:
- if you had booked the car for less than 3 days, there won’t be any additional charge, but you won’t receive any refund.
- If you fail to turn up at the agreed time and date, and/or to provide all the necessary documentation, and/or to provide a credit card with enough available funds on it, the car hire company may refuse you the car. If that happens:
- if you call us from the counter, the money you’ve paid will be refunded, minus the cost of a 3 days rental
- if you do not call us from the counter, you’ll receive no refund.
Cancellation of Deposit Bookings
- If you cancel 48 hours or more before your rental is due to start, you'll receive a refund of the money you've paid, minus the deposit.
- If you cancel less than 48 hours in advance, but before your rental is due to start, you'll receive a refund of the money you've paid, minus either the deposit or the cost of a 3 days rental, whichever is greater.
- If you had booked the car for less than 3 days, there won't be any additional charge, but you won't receive any refund.
