With car rental these days one of the hardy aspects to grasp is the accident - insurance options. One of the problems that you will be tempted by the car rental companies staff to take the collision damage waiver (CDW) cost and at the time believing that it is in your own best interests. They will call it a variety of names but at the end of the day it all amounts to the same and as they receive a commission on all CDW taken rest assured they will do anything to convince you that it is a good option.
Of course it is hard to comprehend that it is good for you how can it possibly be good for them. The basic problem is that at approximately a thousand dollars per annum per vehicle to insure comprehensively a rental car it is in no way viable to take up this option. Instead it is a cheaper and a more profitable option to create a high excess which encourages every rental car customer to take up the collision damage option if sufficient people do so then it become a major profit factor for the car rental company. As a matter of interest in Australia today the legal precedents for liability in a car accident lies with the owner of the car unless the driver is acting as an agent for the car rental company and this is highly unlikely.
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.
One of the major misconceptions with car hire excesses today is that a number of people believe that their credit card insurance will cover them in the event of an accident. Many credit card companies will NOT cover the excess if their client has been offered excess reduction by the credit card company. You must be absolutely positive that you have it in writing from your credit card company that you would be covered in the unfortunately event of an accident.
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.
Should the unfortunate happen and you are involved in the vehicle accident make sure you know what is required of you by the car rental agent. At the scene of the accident approach the driver or drivers of the other vehicle or vehicles involved and have a note pad and pen at hand you will need to take down their details. Exchange full names and drivers’ license numbers and addresses be sure that you have the current addresses of all drivers involved. People often don’t update their license addresses. If the accident occurs in a place where you can leave it on the road then do so but if it is in a busy location you may be required to move the vehicles from the road. Depending on the severity of the accident you may need to call the police and in this case you must follow their instruction. You should also call the car hire company and inform them that you have been in an accident and ask for instructions be sure to write down the car hire representatives name that you report to.
The accident isn’t the only thing you will have to contend with, the tow truck drivers are very competitive and sometimes extremely pushy. Try not to be taken for a ride, under no circumstances allow them to tow the rental car unless you are given the OK by the car hire company or told to do so by the police. Tow truck drivers or companies are paid a higher rate for what is call a police tow. Someone will have to pay for this tow and that could be you. Tow truck drivers also receive commissions from panel repairs if he delivers the damaged vehicles to thier facility. That is why they are so anxious to get your vehicle off the road it isn’t because they want to look after you it’s because they wish to look after themselves. If he gets your rental car attached to his truck it is almost impossible to get him to release the vehicle.
Your next problem to deal with will be paying the excess to the car rental company and then attempting to recover it in the event that you were not at fault. This process may take a very long time and to some extent depend on the honesty and integrity of everyone involved.
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.