I want to make sure we are completely covered when we rent our car in Scotland in a couple of weeks. One of the websites I looked at (www.1car1.com) states this as far as coverage. "The price includes all charges, insurance, tax, unlimited mileage, 24hr breakdown cover and there no hidden extras. This price also includes a second driver free of charge." Am I good? I'm confused.
Posted by
Lebanon
711 posts
Maybe, maybe not. We rent cars everywhere and it used to be that the in surance called CDW- collision damage waiver- covered everything. However, now they have a big deductible on that and there is a super CDW that really covers everything. Just a way to get more money, I suppose. We usually rent from autoeurope, a consolidator that find s us a good price, but lately we have gotten great deals from Hertz and they have upgraded us to a nicer car. You definitely need to rent from the USA, but when you get there they may hit you up for the super CDW. You probably want the super CDW in Scotland as it is very easy to scrape the hubcaps and they charge way too much for such a little thing. Have fun! We loved Scotland. Drove all over.
Posted by
green valley, az
28 posts
I think you have found one of the biggest "ripoffs" in european travel in SUPER CDW.
After viewing many postings on the subject I decided super cdw was necessary!
I just completed a National Car rental in both Edinburgh and Dublin. I believe National calls it " Master Cover". In Edinburgh you purchase cdw and then you purchase " Master Cover"! The deductible is ZERO. Cost of both exceeds the cost of the car rental!
In the Dublin situation I purchased both. The deductible is like 160 euro. Again very expensive.
Outraggeous rip offs but what can you do! Maybe rent a bike instead.
Posted by
OP
Greenfield, WI, USA
20 posts
Jim,
A question for you if I may, when you rented your car from National, were you quoted the price with the CDW? Or did you have to call to add it? It seems I'm running into quotes where it's not added and it's not an option to add unless I call.
Posted by
green valley, az
28 posts
Brooke, I rented on line with National for my Edinburgh stay. I did not choose CDW because from all the posts here I was going to buy super cdw at the counter in Edinburgh. When I printed my online confirmation at the very bottom it stated that if I did not buy cdw at the beginning I could not buy super cdw at the counter in Edinburgh.
I have special elite status with National so I called them. They changed the reservation to include cdw and super cdw( called master cover).Tires/tyres coverage is extra!!
When I booked at www.nationalcar.com it displayed a menu where you can choose cdw , master cover,tires coverage and etc. The problem with the website is that it did not provide an explanation of the various coverages.
My recommendation is to find the best price online and then call the company for explanation(s)!!!
Like I indicated the "master cover" deductible is different in Dublin and Edinburgh.
Good luck
Posted by
525 posts
I am renting from 1car1 in Reading/Tilehurst. The price was cheaper than Autoeurope and others. They have a 500 CDW but you can pay 40 GBP a week extra to get it down to 200 CDW. They do not have zero deductible as I'm finding that most do not have a zero deductible. I think Autoeruope was going to charge about $100 extra to lower their CDW. I've been talking and emailing Linda at 1car1 and have been very pleased with the communication.
Yes, they do allow for a second driver free of charge. The car is empty so you will need to find a gas station then remember to return the car empty.