I am in the preliminary stages of researching a rental car for 1 week in Brittany next summer. I will be picking up/dropping off at the Rennes train station. My question is specific to the insurance, deductible and deposits. It appears from the website that if I book with SIXT and select the theft insurance the deductible is €1500, CDW & super CDW have a reduced deductible to €500. The terms state that your credit card may be charged up to 3 times the rental cost as a deposit. 1- Is the total deductible amount charged to my CC at the time of rental or only if there is an accident of some sort? 2 - Is this in addition to the deposit if charged? My concern is that I only have 1 CC, not a very high limit and I want to be able to have access to "emergency funds" if need be. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
You have the right to be concerned. This sounds like a ripoff to me. What it apparently means is that it will put a hold on your card of three times the rental fee (close to 1000 Euro) as a "security deposit." Then they will put on a hold for ANOTHER 500 Euro to cover your loss potential. They won't wait for an accident to put a hold on the cc. Look elsewhere. carjet.co.uk isn't quoting out to next summer yet, but mid-March from Rennes for a week is a lot less, can be obtained with a CDW with zero liability, and doesn't require a "security deposit."
Posted by
Dallas
1021 posts
I've rented from Sixt several times in France. It is a reputable company. I would address your concerns to the company to get a definitive answer.
Posted by
Richmond, Virginia, USA
345 posts
May I suggest you contact gemut.com and find out what they have? I have rented through them twice and was very satisfied. They are a U.S. company out of Oregon. www.gemut.com
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
We rent from Sixt all the time, usually in Germany but once have in France as well. As a deposit they block between 1.5 and 3 times the rental fee. But one side information if you'd like: In France we prefer renting with Europcar as their stations are usually in much better locations, they've got a much wider choice of cars and if your car breaks down they're much more dense network of stations is of great relief. And yes, although urban France is very modern rural France can be quite... rustique.
Posted by
OP
Hendersonville, TN
98 posts
Thanks everyone. I will just call so I can find out exactly how much I will need available on the CC. Might have to sell a kidney if it is the deductible plus deposit :0
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
Yes, Sixt will put a hold on your card and it will stay there for a long while after your return home. I had to call them to inquire about this and it eventually dropped off.