Last spring in the Dordogne region in France, we had a minor accident where a stone wall leaped out into the road and sideswiped our car (or something like that). The rental was paid for with our American Express card.
It was unfortunate, but we called American Express right away, and they said it would be no problem, we were covered, and told us exactly what to do.
We followed their instructions and gave the American Express insurance information to Europcar. We had rented the car through AutoEurope, which acts as a broker, but the actual rental was with Europcar.
Everything seemed to be going fine until recently, when we found out that Europcar had not responded to American Express's requests for the information they say they need to process the claim. American Express has now made their investigation "inactive" and will not do more, or pay the claim, until they get the information they want.
We then received a demand for payment from Europcar because American Express had not paid their charges.
This happened to us once before, with a very small claim, but we were never required to pay. This time it looks like we will be forced to pay the entire amount.
This is the catch. Your credit card insurance only works if the car rental firm cooperates and provides the information required by the credit card company to pay a claim. The car rental companies want that insurance revenue themselves, so don't want to cooperate with your credit card company. Apparently there is no legal requirement for them to cooperate so you are stuck in the middle with the bill.
Has anyone else had a problem with this? We've always counted on American Express insurance and refused the expensive insurance offered by the car rental company, but now we're not so sure that's the wise choice.
Has anyone else had a problem with this? We've always counted on American Express insurance and refused the expensive insurance offered by the car rental company, but now we're not so sure that's the wise choice.
Chris, there was an article just this past weekend in my local paper about this very same issue - the fact that the rental car companies are refusing to provide the credit card companies with the required information to process the claim.
There are all sorts of other barriers. How about business hours of the home insurance company not coresponding so they never can talk to someone in Europe.If they don't speak english another problem. RR
Yikes! I take the cheaper rate when renting cars in Europe (other than in Italy) and assume my AMEX will cover us. I am looking at a 60 day car rental in England and it is half the price if you take it without insurance.
And I always rent in the US without the insurance and assume I am covered by AMEX and my own car insurance.
Luckily nothing has ever happened and we have not tested this - now I am nervous about this!
This is obviously a very personal choice... but we always use our credit card insurance (except in Italy of course).
Over the years we have made a couple of small claims here in Canada, without problem.
We did make a claim re a rental in the UK. As we dropped the car off at the airport they found a scrap UNDER the front bumper (who looks there when you pick up the car?). The credit card company requested a copy of the repair estimates and bill. When I asked the car rental company for this they explained that they hadn't actually made the repair because it was cheaper for me if they amortized the cost over the life of the car (or some such cock and bull story). I was sure that this would cause the credit card company to refuse the claim - but to their credit they paid it without question.
Lesson learned.... ALWAYS check under the bumper, and follow up quickly with the paperwork! I do think there is a tendancy to wear you down with the paperwork.
Sheena
Posts: 2267 | Location: West Vancouver, B.C. Canada | Registered: 28 February 2004
Originally posted by Pauline: Yikes! I take the cheaper rate when renting cars in Europe (other than in Italy) and assume my AMEX will cover us. I am looking at a 60 day car rental in England and it is half the price if you take it without insurance.
And I always rent in the US without the insurance and assume I am covered by AMEX and my own car insurance.
Luckily nothing has ever happened and we have not tested this - now I am nervous about this!
Pauline in the US I do that as well. Have you looked into leasing? RR
We hesitated over this, then went ahead and declined the insurance with Avis in favor of American Express and our own insurance on our recent trip to Hawaii. Fortunately, we had no problems.
I'm not sure what we'll do next time we rent a car in Europe. Next spring we'll be carless in Paris for three weeks, so we won't have to decide until the trip after that. I'm fairly sure we will never rent from Europcar again (with or without their insurance), even though I have always been AutoEurope's biggest fan.
I am looking at a 60 day car rental in England and it is half the price if you take it without insurance.
Pauline, I know that the credit card insurance I use (Amex) limits the number of days one can have a rental, if you want to use their insurance instead of the rental companies. I have called Amex prior to traveling and had them read the relevant information to me and then also send me a copy in writing of the coverage .
Posts: 253 | Location: US | Registered: 14 July 2002
You are right - I forgot that! You are limited to 30 days.
I did look into leasing and the cost was a lot more than renting from AutoEurope without the insurance - but I see now that we can't do that. I will have to look at some other options.
Chris, did you call AutoEurope about this? Maybe they can step in. I can email our contact there if you want me to.
This is really interesting....I rent cars in Canada fairly often (I live in central Canada, the rest of my family is in rural Alberta, far from any airports) and for years I relied on my Amex for rental car insurance but was never completely comfortable with that.
So a few years ago, I added rental car coverage to my own car insurance. It's cheap, maybe $50 a year, and great for my piece of mind. I've assumed this would also cover a rental a car outside North America (although I haven't yet tested this)I think I'll give my agent a quick call to find out! One should never,ever make assumptions when insurance is involved.
I didn't contact AutoEurope, Pauline, because I always assumed once you're handed off to the rental company, their part was over. If you would email your contact just to see, I'd be very greatful!
Sandra, you might also want to ask what happens if the rental company won't cooperate with information. I'm afraid you could have the same problem we have if the the insurance company is unable to get the claim information.
When you rent through AutoEurope you can specify that you don't want Europcar. We have done that because we have often not liked their attitude or service. Sometimes it will cost more to go with AVIS or one of their other contractors but if they are more honorable and cooperative, it is worth it.
The # of days that you can be covered by your credit card differs between home and abroad. Right now I forget the difference. I believe that it is shorter at home.
I agree that AutoEurope should be apprised of your experience as it is serious for you and others.
Pauline, if you are going to in England 60 days can't you do a short term lease through Renault or Peugout (sic)? In France the rate covers all insurance - not sure if you can get it in the UK.
So a few years ago, I added rental car coverage to my own car insurance. It's cheap, maybe $50 a year, and great for my piece of mind. I've assumed this would also cover a rental a car outside North America (although I haven't yet tested this)I think I'll give my agent a quick call to find out! One should never,ever make assumptions when insurance is involved.
This is so true. There is a North American Insurance sold on insurance sites, but this doesn't cover other countries. Moreover, you have to be really careful as both the private insurance and CC insurance has non written rules: and these are excluding some of the countries completely from the coverage. When I asked about Italy I was told by CC that yes they do cover, but then they explicitely say they won't cover if you won't decline CDW/Theft. In a number of countries this is impossible to completely decline because it is the law to have some CDW/Theft protection.
Moreover most if not all companies and CCs are not covering if any other problem with a car like in our case (the car just broke). The super insurance from car rental doesn't cover it neither. I am wondering if anyone tried to use the insurance sold also by Nova car hire? Does it really work? This is a European company. If yes it would be the way to go, as they seem to cover anything bad with the car when reading the contract at least.
You are right - I forgot that! You are limited to 30 days.
I did look into leasing and the cost was a lot more than renting from AutoEurope without the insurance - but I see now that we can't do that. I will have to look at some other options.
Pauline, have you considered having two separate rentals, maybe with a carless day between the two?
Pauline, have you considered having two separate rentals, maybe with a carless day between the two?
I've done this before in the US - with two different rental companies and two different credit cards even. I was later informed by one of the credit card companies that it's not kosher - that if there is another rental on a consecutive day, that counts as longer than the limit. I don't know if they often do any background research to find that info out, but it's a consideration. My soloution: rent for 30 days, take a day or two off, and then begin another rental with another company and another card.
This is an extreme option but in 1957 my parents did it! They bought a C2 and sold it for almost the same amount(they were only in europe for 6 weeks). Apparently French folks have a tendency to not like brand new cars.RR
The problem with doing the buy-back with a new car is that you have to get it at the airport and I want to pickup our car in Bath. I guess we could do a regular rental for a week, then drive out to the airport to get a leased car.
We rented a car in England in 1988 for 6 months - dealing with a local agency that was very inexpensive. I am going to look into doing that.
If we decide to stay for a year, we will either buy a car or do a long term lease.
Okay, I'm still confused. I understand that AutoEurope is a broker, and that the actual rental agency may vary, but when you rent thru AutoEurope, don't you still have the zero deductible regardless of the agency you end up with???
Slow Travel Talk 
