We are about to book our car rental for a week in May. It's so hard to know what to do! Use CDW included with credit card? Or pay extra for it separately and buy the SuperCDW? (I get the impression that if you want Super, you can't use credit card coverage, is this correct?) DH has rental prices narrowed down to CarHire and 353 Car Rental, both of which includes Super CDW in the price and neither of which I have heard mentioned in reviews. Anyone have experience with either of these? Or other recommendations would be appreciated.
Posted by
76 posts
Can't comment on CarHire or 353 Car Rental, but we ALWAYS go with a company that offers the Super CDW (usually Hertz through AutoEurope). On one of our first trips we scraped a stone wall coming out of the Gap of Dunloe. When we returned the car to the airport, the guy at Hertz said, "Uh no...oh wait, you have the Super CDW, no problem", and that was that. Sure, it costs more, but to be able to just walk away makes it worth it. The other thing is, when you have the Super CDW the rental company only holds the equivalent of the cost of a tank of gas on your credit card (at least that's the case with Hertz). If you're using your credit card's insurance it's much higher (sometimes in the thousands).
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
Nobody here can answer your questions.
You need to contact the credit card company that you might use, and ask them. Most of all, you need to understand what they will cover and what they won't. And you need to get that it writing. (You need to understand that regardless of how you get your insurance).
I'm headed for Ireland this summer, have already rented my car, and I will absolutely use the insurance available via my credit card. But my credit card may not be the same as yours.
Using a credit card for coverage can save you some real money. But using a credit card for coverage without understanding what your coverage is can cost you a lot more. You must make an informed choice. Do your homework now, while you can, rather than just make a guess while you're standing at the rental counter, jetlagged, and feeling the pressure to hurry from a line of people behind you.
Posted by
Land of La
9181 posts
Never heard of either and to be blunt any money you believe you'll be saving on a rental price would be lost if something happened and you don't get the SuperCDW.
Go with a known entity like Hertz.
I have in Eire, N Ireland and England.
Was a true blessing in England when the car I got to drive from Heathrow to the Costwolds was a true lemon. Clutch gave out and I was able to replace it without any charge and Hertz covered the tow.
The truism of better safe than sorry works with car rental anywhere.