We are renting a car in Bath through National. Our Visa card will cover the CWD but National doesn't provide any liability insurance (in case we cause the accident). How do you get liability insurance?
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
864 posts
You can generally get the liabilty insurance at the check out counter when you pick up your car. If National says you can't try Hertz or Avis. Be advised it almost doubles the price of your car rental (as I recall) but really, you're driving on the other side of the road here and personally, I'd never take the financial risk. It costs so much because the bulk of non-U.K. drivers are ah, shall we say somewhat ill at ease driving on the other side of the road. Try Traveler's Advantage but make sure that any coverage you get is up front coverage (you don't want to have to pay for a rental car the whole time it's being repaired and out of their fleet) even if you do eventually get reimbursed. Any corrections on the above from the board would be much appriciated.
Posted by
Stockton, CA
152 posts
I rented from 1Car1 (no outlet in Bath)in England last October. Their web site and a NY based customer service rep assured me that liability is included in the price, which was very low. I was very nervous about this and confirmed twice.
Did you talk with customer service about this, or just use their web site. I am under the impression that liability coverage is standard in the UK. But maybe not...
Posted by
Everett, WA, USA
25 posts
It has been a few years but I always rented from a local aka UK company and all the insurance was included. I asked what would I owe if I totaled the car and I was told just the 50 pound deductialbe. My sister experianced the same thing. But when I asked at the big US and international companies, they always charged extra.
Posted by
Stockton, CA
152 posts
One subject that is seldom discussed is personal injuries. Here in the US, damage to the cars could be in the thousands. If you hurt, or kill someone, it could be in the millions. To me, that is much more of an issue than property damage.
I have always been told by car rental agencies in the UK that personal injury coverage is included. My insurer in the US, State Farm, does not cover any aspect of car rental in the UK, though I hear that AAA does. Of course, you never really know what you have covered until the situation arises.