Insurance isn't a bigger deal for rentals in the US because apparently majority of Americans have insurance coverage by way of their personal car insurance and many US issued credit cards provide some insurance, hence if you're from Australia you need the full load of insurance. Ignore the people that tell you that stuff is included with your credit card, etc.
The other thing to be careful of are the payout limits - different states have different rules, but you want to calculate for you causing the write-off of some person's sports cars or huge medical bills for some family, etc. i.e. Don't skimp. Whether you buy coverage for the lose of your personal belongings from the car is something you could weigh up as optional. Do your research from the car rental websites regarding what the three letter insurance codes mean. I find they have limited info at the rental counters, or it's on something you can't sit down and read. If you prebook from Australia, they will try to upsell on stuff when you go to pick up. The refuelling tip is a good one. You can either return full, pre-buy an option where they refill (which costs more than yourself), but if you do neither they will charge you some outrageous amount. The usual point of doing business over there applies (which really hits for hotels) is that prices are ex-tax and charges, so be ready for trickle of extra charges. Greg On Dec 14, 3:17 am, Patrick Collins <pcolli...@gmail.com> wrote: > For a one month booking you have a lot of bargaining power. I booked a car > for a month and got the costs cut in half by being in their face and haggling. > > Insurance is typically covered under standard work errors & omissions > insurance coverage and so they actually expect to you to not buy insurance. > > Be sure to fill up the car before you return it or then you will feel the > true sting of rental costs. > > Patrick. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Dec 13, 2011, at 3:03 AM, Ben Sand <b...@bensand.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > I'm planning a one month car hire in January. Any tips on how to cut the > > insurance cost? > > > Plenty of cars for $20/day but they all seem to come with zero insurance. > > > All the companies are quoting rates like this: > > First party property: $15/day > > 3rd party personal + property: $13/day > > First party and passengers personal: $6/day > > total: $33/day > > > Most have a $1million max payment as well, so here's hoping I don't hit a > > Veyron. > > > I've been told using a Visa or Mastercard will take care of 3rd party > > personal and property, but I've spoken to Bendigo Bank, NAB and HSBC and > > they all seemed to think that wasn't the case. > > > I've heard if you have car insurance in the states it will cover you while > > you're using a rental - any chance I could sign some up while I'm over > > there before I drive the car out of the rental lot? > > > Thanks, > > > Ben > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach > > Australia mailing list. Visthttp://siliconbeachaustralia.orgfor more > > > Forum rules > > 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. > > 2) No jobs postings. You can usehttp://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs > > > To post to this group, send email to > > silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more Forum rules 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en
