Thanks Rai, I might give them a try on the weekends and put those unlimited kms to use. Beautiful country here.
On 1 January 2012 17:21, Rai <dekraz...@gmail.com> wrote: > Nice tips Ben! Will be handy in the future. > > In case you're interested, I remembered that I asked for some tips for > driving routes > http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-driving-routes-in-and-around-the-Bay-Area > > Stay safe! > Rai > > > On Mon, Jan 2, 2012 at 7:10 AM, Ben Sand <b...@bensand.com> wrote: > >> Thanks for the replies, especially Rai who led me to a $500 saving on >> insurance. >> >> Here's what I ended up doing and some further savings. >> >> Car: >> Booked an iCar (Corolla/Focus/etc) with Alamo via Kayak.com >> Pickup in San Francisco downtown >> $21/day for the car >> >> Insurance: >> $15/day for the LDW (loss damage waiver) = first party property, fire and >> theft >> this comes straight from Alamo. >> $454/6months of Non owner's insurance from Farmers insurance >> http://www.farmers.com/. Just use google maps to find a local agent, I >> used Nancy Hu in Downtown SF, let me know if you want her details. >> You can get a pro rata refund when you cancel it, less the $15.90 policy >> and government fee. You can select options to cover third party property >> for 500k/1m, third party personal for 500k/1m and people inside the car for >> 10k/25k medical expenses and choose the level of the deductible (what we >> call "excess"). >> >> Further savings: >> * If you're willing to get a car one size smaller, then the car is >> $1/day cheaper and the LDW is $6/day cheaper. I prefer the iCar size or >> larger for safety. >> * You can still save $6/day on LDW insurance if you use one of the >> booking websites to provide insurance instead of the rental company. I >> would advise against this, as they will only pay up once you've already >> paid the rental company, so you need a spare up to $20k if the car gets >> totalled. >> * If you use a-acar.com rentals then you'll save ~$250/month on car >> hire and insurance, but you'll have an older car and won't get unlimited >> kms included or a state wide support network of replacement cars should >> something go wrong. He can only offer you a collision damage waiver though >> (at $9/day), so there's no way to get fire or theft coverage for his cars. >> Steve is a really nice guy though, but just didn't have options I was >> comfortable with. >> >> Happy new year and safe driving to all, >> >> Ben >> >> >> On 14 December 2011 14:19, Rai <dekraz...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hey Ben, >>> >>> I used http://www.a-acar.com when Enterprise raised their insurance >>> rates. The guy runs it out of a trailer next to a mechanic garage, but >>> don't let that turn you off. His cars are ok - I go an early 2000s Camry >>> which ran fine. The airconditioning wouldn't cool, but overall no >>> complaints. (Although I went with him cos I wanted the Impreza, but they >>> were all out :() >>> He organised insurance for me through State Farm and it was a year ago >>> now, but if I recall correctly, it cost me something between US$200-300 for >>> 6 months. And they refunded the remaining months' fee when I was done with >>> the rental 3/1/2 months in. >>> Worked out well enough for me. >>> >>> You might be able to do the same with State Farm even if renting from >>> another company. >>> >>> If you do go to him (I forget his name now) - he's an F1 fan and warms >>> up when you chat about it. He doesn't get enough of that conversation in >>> his part of the world :) >>> >>> Hope that helps, >>> Rai >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 2:46 AM, gap <obscure...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> 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.orgfor 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 >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> 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 >>> >> >> -- >> 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 >> > > -- > 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 > -- 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
