General car Hire and Insurance Excess

[Roundy]

I find that when renting a car I generally chicken out and increase my insurance to cover the "excess"(i.e the amount I would have to fork out in the event of an accident, before the insurance kicks in). This can be in the region of €7 per day for small cars and I have even paid €14 per day when hiring a minibus. This year I have googled "excess insurance" and find many Irish/UK based insurers who will cover this excess for far less that the friendly hire companies. Thus for 2010 I have 12 months excess insurance and it is costing less that €60 for the whole year.

[fmm]

A lot of car hire companies i.e. economycarrentals.com offer it as part of the deal. However, they STILL try to get you to buy excess insurance when you pick the car up. Make sure you read your paperwork properly.

Prior to this, I used the insurance company recommended by people on here to cover me for insurance excess. A friend who I recommended it to had a broken windscreen and claimed without a problem. Can't remember the name, but it was about 60 euros so probably the same one.

[laserblazer]

We use insurance4carhire.com, never had to claim touch wood.

[Lesley Jean]

We also use insurance4carhire cost a mere £49 a year which is a huge saving on the car hire in Portugal if you feel you need to take out the 'excess' gives you peace of mind.

We also have never had to claim so far, touch wood and cross my fingers for saying that!!, but I do know people who have claimed and have been very happy about the way the claim was handled and the quickness of the payment.

[MaisieK]

We also use Insurance4car hire and have done for many years, it is peace of mind.

Maisie

[fmm]

That's the one we used to use - they were excellent when the claim was made. Highly recommend them.

[robink]

I've also had to claim in the past with insurance4carhire were very quick to settle my claim. Well worth taking out the policy for £49 per year.

[VON VON]

We also took out insurance with insurance4carhire and we are just in the process of claiming for a broken passenger window [216 euros] on a vaultswagen transporter., someone tried to get in the car when we parked it on the front at Praia da Rocha on 27 December, also another car next to us was broken into [portugese couple] we both ended up at the police station making statements and getting police reports. SO beware when parking there as it is quite common. I can happily say that after spending the last 6 years in portugal that this is the first time it has happened and will hopefully be the last. The only good thing is that when we took it back on Monday to Avis they supplied us with a very comfortable Megane 7 seater. in which to pick our friends up in at the airport.