Renting a car in France... what insurance and extras do I REALLY need?

I rent with Auto Europe, a US based consolidator and get their zero deductible rate.

Yeah, I could use my CC, but that is going to be a hassle if I get in an accident in a foreign country. They will charge you the full value of the car and you will have to be reimbursed by your CC company.

It’s easy to get dings in your car driving the narrow streets or parking in tight spaces, the rental car company will find them for sure.

Renting with AE, you also have an advocate in your corner if something goes wrong. For example, say you get to the counter and they don’t have your car. Do want to fix the problem or you can have someone else do it for you?

We just rented a car in France in April. We decided we'd rather pay for the insurance through Enterprise car rental, because we figured the red tape and paperwork, time spent on phone/email; and likely up front costs trying to deal with an international situation just sounded like a hassle we didn't want. We just preferred to pay and then if something happened walk away.

Chase SP becoming your primary insurer means that they would be the first insurer to cover damages or losses. You would need to confirm with them...Does this insurance only cover the loss/costs of damage of the rental car. Not sure that it covers damage to another car, or property or injury to another person. That's all information you need to consider and find out.

If anyone else is going to drive, then you need to add the extra driver.

And do make sure you get your International Driver's Permit at AAA in the US before you leave for France. (You don't need to be a member.)
Your car rental agency may or may not ask to see it. Ours did. But law enforcement will definitely ask, should you be pulled over.

I've used Auto Europe in France, Germany, Spain and the UK before, and like their service, as you can choose the agency you want based on prices, and so on.

I disagree that you are always charged the full value of the car. I recently rented a car for about 3 weeks in the UK and used my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card to waive the CDW. I wound up with a dent on the side (and for the record, that is the first time I've ever had a ding on a rental car, so it's really not common) and had to pay a £1000 deposit to the agency when I turned it in (NOT the full value). Of course, I will be reimbursed for that by Chase. It is true I have to wait for reimbursement, but I saved a good deal of money by waiving the CDW. It was worth it for me.

I have been renting cars in Europe for more than 25 years. I always waive CDW and buy zero deductible. Like already mentioned you just walk away. Does it cost more well maybe but I always figure if that extra cost going to upset me, I shouldn't be renting a car. By the way we find Auto Europe one of the best and most often the cheapest.

Here's another way to look at it. Traveling internationally is exhausting, especially the older you get. Make choices that are going to help you relax on your vacation.

Insurance to me is peace of mind so I can have the best travel experience possible.

If you’re satisfied the CC CDW will be sufficient, then you’re all set. It doesn’t matter what others think.

A couple often excluded items from basic coverage are damage to tires and the windshield. Those are frequently separate coverages.

One thing we’ve run into in renting cars is France is that they really perform a detailed inspection of the car at return looking for damage. We used to opt for primary coverage from a CC and decline any enhanced coverage but after a couple of times having to go back to photos or video we captured at pick up to show damage already existed, we started getting the 0 deductible. Funny thing is they never look at the car when we do that. Could be coincidence, but as others have said, peace of mind and less hassle is always nice.

I so appreciate all the good advice offered here!

I called AutoEurope and will book with them, choosing the zero deductible insurance option as was suggested. And as much as I dislike insurance, I agree it is a necessity in this situation.

The advisor told me that an Int'l Drivers License would not be necessary, given I have a US Drivers license (in English) which will be good for at least a year from the rental period. I am glad to learn this because it saves me a trip to AAA!

Thanks again everyone who took the time to provide this information!!! :o}

Isabelk,
The advice not to have an IDP is not good, IMO. In France, without it, if you are stopped you are required to have your drivers license info (not just name and number) in French, or an International Driver Permit. Check about them in the search bar above for discussions on this forum about the IDP. For $20.00 and a photo (at AAA about $8.00), you are in compliance with French law. In the unlikely chance you are stopped for any infraction, you are better off with it. And you need one for each driver.
Please check out the forum discussions re it.
For the record, we have always obtained one, even way back in 1974.

p.s. In spite of what the person on the phone said, the person at the car rental agency where you pick it up may insist on seeing your IDP. There is no guarantee they won't require it on the spot.

An International Drivers License is not the same as an International Drivers Permit. A license allows you to drive and your CDL will allow you to do that. You use it in conjunction with the IDP, which translates your license.

@Isabel, I always decline the auto rental company's collision, because it's just a money maker for them. They always try and scare you with "what if" scenarios, playing on people's fears in order to induce them to buy something they likely won't need. I am actually flying to France tomorrow and that's just what I'm doing. I have travel insurance in addition to the credit card-offered insurance, so there's no need to purchase additional insurance from the rental agency. I second the choice of Auto Europe, they're easy to deal with and it's easy to compare prices among the various European rental agencies. Ours happens to be with Enterprise. Also, don't forget the IDP, for us it was worth the $20. (BTW for our rentals, adding CDW would have cost several $100 more)

Your advisor is not correct. And it's not an International Driver's License you need, it's an International Driver's Permit. And it's for the police official you may encounter in the event something happens. The car rental agency may or may not ask for it. Though they did ask to see it when we rented in April.
It always makes sense to follow the laws of the countries you visit, and remind yourself things are not like they are at home.

There's nothing inherently wrong with Sixt France. The one thing to be aware of with them, is that when you book directly with them, some of their base rates do not include any insurance besides third-party liability, making you liable for the entire value of the car. And in such a case, credit card coverage does not work either as it is typically "secondary" insurance meant to cover whatever the rental car co.'s policy does not cover. So, you need to book at least the basic protection package!

...choosing the zero deductible insurance option as was suggested...agree it is a necessity...

Wise choice, in my opinion. Insurance is a funny thing. It's one of the few things we buy but hope we never have to use. But if we do.........

In a sense, the IDP is insurance. You might not need it, but if you do.........

And the cost of the IDP compared to the cost of the trip is miniscule.

Just offering some food for thought about the IDP.

Hello Isabel,

Your Chase Sapphire Preferred card (I’m assuming you’re talking about the bling-y black one) absolutely covers you as long as you use it to rent the car, so you should decline the fees with confidence. There are reasons why the annual fees are so high, and this is one of them.

Cheers,
Don

What I've learned:

• an International Driver's Permit IS needed! (a international drivers license is not necessary as long as I have my current California Dr License with a year left on it before expiration) Thanks for the correction!

• Chase Sapphire Preferred card: says if you use this card, I may waive the rental car companies' CDW howEVER, this is all they cover. They recommended I take all the other insurance, namely, the liability (unless I have some other insurance policy which covers this) because Chase Sapphire Preferred card insures only for collision, damage, theft, nothing else.

So, I'll use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card and make sure I'm covered for liability and any other insurances I deem appropriate OR if the CDW is "included" in the rental companies package I'll likely use my card and not waive it, hoping for less hassle should I need it to kick in.

OH, and Don: fyi: mine is not a bling-y black card so yes, I do need to buy additional coverage.

YAY. Case settled. Thanks to all :o}

How far out do I need to book a car for the first week of September? Is it foolish to wait last minute?

(I didn't know this when I posted this question, that my French friends have a spare car which might be available to loan so I hesitate to rent in advance then pay cancellation fee ($45) to cancel.

Is it Auto Europe that is charging the cancellation fee? Do you require an automatic transmission?

I booked with Europe Car using Expedia. No cancellation fee.

And for all those who still try to find reasons to wriggle out of getting an IDP, seeing it as some kind of an imposition to their rights, a foreign driver coming to the United States (like me from the UK) has to (or is supposed to, judging by the tenure of these threads) have an IDP to drive in the USA.

And for my paper UK licence even the IDP is not sufficient in the USA- it is only valid when supported by a passport. So if I drive in the USA I have to have my passport on me at all times as well. Apart from Norway I don't think that restriction applies anywhere in Europe.

In parts of Western Europe a 3 year IDP (a 1968 Vienna Convention one) is accepted. The US lags behind that and only accepts a 1 year IDP (a 1949 Geneva Convention one).

But you need to be careful as even in some Western European countries only a 1949 IDP is accepted (eg- the Republic of Ireland). So when going to the AAA you need to specify what countries you will be driving in. Because if you get a 1968 one from the AAA it isn't valid in Ireland, Malta or Cyprus (to name but 3).

There is also such a thing as a 1926 Paris Convention IDP. That is only required in Somalia. France will accept 1926, 1949 and 1968 IDP's. Norway (another current IDP thread) only accepts 1949 and 1968.

According to the UK government it is every state in the Union which requires one. For a Brit the IDP only costs £5.50 (about $7) and is easy to obtain- from what we call Pay Point Stores (corner stores). I checked, I live in a remote location but there is an issuing store 8.58 miles away from me.
For £5.50 I would trust the UK government, not some random blog article. Likewise for that amount of money I am not going to cross check the law of every state, to try to find an exemption. The utility is in not debating the issue roadside with a state trooper or some local small town Police Chief. It is small town police PD's that worry me- not the troopers.

In reality I would only nominally be driving in WA, Northern Oregon and Idaho . I would have no need at all to do so in Minnesota or NY state- the other states on my itinerary.
And in reality in WA I can get to everywhere I want to/need to get to by public transit, except one place. (and there are some quite unusual out of the way places on that itinerary for a UK tourist). I think I know how we would solve the one exception.

Although it is a matter of very hot debate I do not believe I need to drive in WA, so the debate is academic.

And I know how to solve Idaho!!

Thanks everyone. I think this thread has also run its course. I'm locking it.