YOR Car Hire

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:45 pm

Ah well there you go ...just booked a car with algarvedriver . emailed Steen and true to his word matched the cheapest price i could find anywhere ..in this case economycarhire ..many thanks Michael crane and fair play to you Steen.
p.s Whats a git?

widge · Post by **widge** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:53 pm

Have been watching the exchange of information with interest. Is the conclusion that buying a CDW annual policy is better than a daily rate for regular rental users and that Algarvedriver are good value and will price match if pushed?

Mike,Chislehurst · Post by **Mike,Chislehurst** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:30 pm

I don't think so widge compared with the prices of other companies that offer an all in price and a cheaper rental if you can find it.

Graham · Post by **Graham** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:23 am

There are always anomalies between the pricing structures of different hire car companies. Normally YOR is competitive, but every now and then they are beaten on price and Steen has always matched it with good grace. Also don't forget the 'loyalty rewards' - we always manage to get our February week for free on the back of the bookings we make for ourselves and friends and this is probably worth at least 10% of the overall annual spend.

If you hire for more than a couple of weeks a year then an annual insurance policy makes good financial sense.

Rob Watson · Post by **Rob Watson** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:38 pm

I too have watched this and ealier debates re CDW with interest as it is often a difficult decision to make....get ripped off but feel safe, or don't get ripped off but risk a hefty excess if anything goes wrong.

I was going to by my own separate insurance policy as others have, however, the last few times I've rented I've used SIXT as they offer an 'excess refund product' (according to their published terms and conditions).

Thankfully I've not had cause to use this excess refund product - although that does mean I cannot comment on how well it works - but nevertheless the terms and conditions say that as long as you comply with a few terms, whilst you will still have to pay the excess in the first instance, they will then refund it to you on application.

..and their prices always seem to be very competitive....

Does anyone have any experience of SIXT to the contrary?

Hoser · Post by **Hoser** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:56 pm

Many credit card companies include coverage for CDW - Collision damage waiver. It can range from 30 to 45 days and as many times you need it in the year. I use Visa and have used this feature for car rentals as long as two months. Only thing is I had to break the contract into two parts. Steen is very good in setting this up.

At $6.00 a day on a car rental for this extra coverage, the savings are tremendous. Check what freebies your credit card companies offer you. You may be surprised what you are paying for but not making use of.

widge · Post by **widge** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:13 pm

If Steen knows full well that every customer paying by visa and buying CDW at 6 euros a day is wasting their money and filling his coffers with additional profit then I would be very annoyed.

I hope you have got your facts right because the implications of your posting are potentially damaging to Steen and his customer relations.

Maybe Steen would like to make his position known about CDW and free protection from Visa?

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:01 am

There are hundreds of different credit cards out there and I don't think Steen can be expected to keep track of them all. This is the first I have heard about credit cards covering CDW and I'm going to check all of mine now. If they do, I shall kick myself and not Steen, if they don't, I'll look at getting one that does to use when hiring cars.

Our main card is a Co-op Bank Save the Children thing. The Co-op has the best track record regarding foreign investments and not financing dodgy regimes. Also, a percentage of each transaction we make goes to Save the Children.

Just pulled this off a site.

Most credit cards that say they will cover the rental car, offer only secondary coverage, so they will look to your personal insurance to cover the claim and then reimburse you any out of pocket expenses.
If you’re depending on your credit card for coverage, read your credit card agreement carefully so that you can fully understand the type of coverage they offer.
You at least want answers to the same questions that you would ask your insurance agent if you were planning on using your personal insurance for coverage.
Ask that current written copies of their policies be sent to you, so you can read them yourself.
Make sure you understand their claim procedure. The renter is ultimately responsible for any damage to the vehicle.

Post by **Steen Jakobsen** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 6:54 pm

You can read this on the FAQ on www.algarvedriver.com
http://www.algarvedriver.com/info.shtml

I have a Gold Visa, can I decline CDW insurance?
The advertised rates includes CDW (Insurance with a low excess ie. 400 euro for group B, C & D), if you take the supplementary "SuperCDW" at 6 euro/day you don't pay any excess in case of an accident. Payment with a VISA GOLD card may give the same cover as the Super CDW but please check with your card issuer.

I have 3 regular Visa cards (in different 3 countries with different banks), none of them offer any insurance on any purchase?

Hoser · Post by **Hoser** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:46 am

Thanks Steen for making both of us honest.

Funny how some people (Widge) think someone is making something up without doing any legwork themselves.

Lazerblazer is absolutely correct in stating it is not up to Steen to know what the customer is covered by his credit card. Especially when some customers do not know themselves.

Another saving is that some credit card companies will double the time period of a manufacturer warranty and accidental loss of items purchased with their card.

These extras are common with N. American Banks. I guess there are some perks for living here.

widge · Post by **widge** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:23 am

Hoser I think that you are misrepresenting my view and in doing so being rather mischievous and a little smug.

I did not suggest you were making something up or being dishonest. I did state that i hope you had got your facts right as you implied that people were paying for insurance already provided by Visa and that in your case Algarvedriver modified your rental agreement to account for this.

It would appear from Steen's reply that your card provides benefits that his don't and mine don't. So the "freebies" are possibly a North American customer benefit?