Insurance Options For Car Rental
When renting a car possibly one of the most misunderstood aspects is the insurance. Companies renting cars will always and should offer for you to reduce your liability excess to cover the damage costs should you be involved in a car accident. The terms they will use is Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and they will encourage you strongly to take this option in your best interest.
The car rental company will most likely tell you that it is in your best interests but common sense will tell you that if it is in your best interests how can it also be in their best interest. Most of us have car insurance and complain about the cost, well car hire companies are no different they seek car insurance from insurance companies but the policies are very expensive much more than your family car insurance because the circumstances are very different. Because of this expensive option for car rental companies many of them opt to self insure their vehicles as it is a much more economical way for them to cover any damage to their fleet and the damage cost is offset by the additional fees charged to the client for CDW. The car rental staff will try their very best to get you to take this extra charged as in most cases they receive commissions for the amount of CDW they sell. In Australia the legal precedent is that the liability lies with the owner or a person acting as an agent for the owner and this is unlikely to be the hirer.
The bottom line then is that you must be absolutely sure of what your preference is with regards to CDW before you begin to make your booking. If not you will almost certainly be convinced by professional car rental staff to incur this extra cost. You dilemma is do you drive around as strange town in a foreign car with a high excess or bow to the companies wishes and pay the extra daily cost. If you are a regular renter it will not take long to realise that the extra costs will before to long surpass the potential excess payment.
Clients often have the wrong idea when they believe that their credit card insurance covers them for car hire accident excesses. Not always true, you should check with your car insurance company and read your contract and the small print in many cases if you have been offered an excess reduction by the car hire company the credit card insurance may or may not cover you, or may only cover the difference between the two excesses.
At the time of booking is when you should be considering the CDW options and not at the desk on collection of your vehicle when you will be in a hurry or tied from travelling and easily influenced by the sales staff who will be selling the insurance options as best they can.
If you are involved in a car accident there are several things you should do. First of all make contact with the other driver or drivers no matter who you believe is at fault so that particulars can be exchanged i.e. Full name, Drivers license number and his or her current address. Depending on the severity of the accident and the attitude of the other drivers and the location of the accident you may have to move the vehicles if it is in a busy location but it is always better to leave the cars where they are if possible. You should check with the car hire company the procedure you need to follow after an accident and take note of the person you reported the accident to from the rental car company. Many car hire companies provide accident forms in the glove box but always call to report your accident. The police will want to be informed should the accident be severe and if anyone has been injured.
When a car accident happens it defies explanation but tow trucks arrive instantly from nowhere. All tow truck drivers - operators receive commissions from panel beaters for any work that may be channelled in their direction. The other problem is you will need to confirm with the car rental company their requirements at this point and whether or not they wish the car to be towed and by whom. If the car is towed by the first tow truck at the police’s request the cost of the tow is very high and will eventually have to be borne by someone. Whether or not you advise the police seems to be a matter of the severity of the accident. This is very difficult for a layman to determine as if there is no personal injury then how does one assess the extent of the damage involved.
After the accident you will need to work with the car hire company to sort through all the details. The excess will have to be paid by you even if you believe the accident was not your fault, then once cleared of any blame you can go about recovering your excess amount.
Insurance is always difficult to understand if you are not sure ask questions before you drive away in your rental car. Safe Driving.
Looking to find the best deal on Car Hire #1, then visit www.webbcarr.com to find the best advice on rental cars #2 for you.
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