Hiring a car in the US - insurance?

Hiring a car in the US - insurance?

Author
Discussion

MitchT

Original Poster:

15,788 posts

208 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
When you hire a car in the US do you have to insure it yourself or is insurance part of the hire package?

We're thinking of flying to Phoenix, staying in Sedona and exploring the area a bit, including a trip out to the Grand Canyon. Ideally the car would be a Corvette.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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3rd party is covered but the CDW is extra. I always book with Amex and they cover the CDW.

Talkwrench

909 posts

232 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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They will always provide all the insurance you need. Just double check the CDW paragraphs.
Also, be wary of hiring what you think may be a Corvette, Mustang etc., if the wording states "Corvette or equivalent". The Yanks idea of an equivalent is not quite ours. I've prebooked a Mustang 3 times now, and every time there has been something different waiting for me. Last time it was a bloody Chrysler Eclipse bag of crap. I kicked up a major fuss and they found a Mustang within 24 hours.
The best cars and the best deals I've ever had have been when I've just turned up at a Budget rent-a-car or somewhere similar and asked what they had that was interesting. Last time I ended up in a Thunderbird convertible which I have to say was brilliant and properly fast. They see Thunderbirds, Mustangs etc as less interesting than Audis and BMW's, so they are often cheaper. Don't just book on line, phone them and state exactly what you want and when. They will generally do their best to sort you out.
Oh, and don't forget your licence. Last time I was in SF, I forgot mine. I ended up sitting my driving test the next morning at 9.30 just so I had a US licence to hire a car! Jet lagged, strange quirky rules and terminology, left hand drive and a surprisingly strict test, particularly on the theory (96% required to pass!). It was a fantastic experience and not at all as easy as you'd think.... but perhaps its not the best way to start a relaxing holiday.
They really did everything they could to accommodate me though. Rushing through an appointment for the theory test and hurrying the paperwork through for the car hire guys. The car hire people even hired me a car for the driving test with just a little persuasion. They actually delivered it to the DMV office. I even got a round of applause from the DMV staff when I came back with no faults! Somehow, I can't see any of that ever happening in the UK, sadly. A plus side is that I now also have a California driving licence smile

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Talkwrench said:
Oh, and don't forget your licence. Last time I was in SF, I forgot mine. I ended up sitting my driving test the next morning at 9.30 just so I had a US licence to hire a car! Jet lagged, strange quirky rules and terminology, left hand drive and a surprisingly strict test, particularly on the theory (96% required to pass!). It was a fantastic experience and not at all as easy as you'd think.... but perhaps its not the best way to start a relaxing holiday.
They really did everything they could to accommodate me though. Rushing through an appointment for the theory test and hurrying the paperwork through for the car hire guys. The car hire people even hired me a car for the driving test with just a little persuasion. They actually delivered it to the DMV office. I even got a round of applause from the DMV staff when I came back with no faults! Somehow, I can't see any of that ever happening in the UK, sadly. A plus side is that I now also have a California driving licence smile
Really? That's extraordinary. In most (all?)states you have to be able to prove residence to be able to get a driving license. What address did they put on the license? It is after all, ID as well as a permit to drive.

MitchT

Original Poster:

15,788 posts

208 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Interesting stuff, thanks.

Fingers crossed we should be okay for getting a Corvette. The OH went to Phoenix on a work trip a few years ago and the car hire place she went to at PHX was practically giving them away - they had a whole car park full of them!

We'll see anyway, the whole trip is just at the 'research' stage at the moment.

Talkwrench

909 posts

232 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
Really? That's extraordinary. In most (all?)states you have to be able to prove residence to be able to get a driving license. What address did they put on the license? It is after all, ID as well as a permit to drive.
Yep. My address is down as 'Hotel Kabuki, San Francisco". DMV just called the hotel and they confirmed that I was staying there.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Talkwrench said:
They will always provide all the insurance you need. Just double check the CDW paragraphs.
Also, be wary of hiring what you think may be a Corvette, Mustang etc., if the wording states "Corvette or equivalent". The Yanks idea of an equivalent is not quite ours. I've prebooked a Mustang 3 times now, and every time there has been something different waiting for me. Last time it was a bloody Chrysler Eclipse bag of crap. I kicked up a major fuss and they found a Mustang within 24 hours.
The best cars and the best deals I've ever had have been when I've just turned up at a Budget rent-a-car or somewhere similar and asked what they had that was interesting. Last time I ended up in a Thunderbird convertible which I have to say was brilliant and properly fast. They see Thunderbirds, Mustangs etc as less interesting than Audis and BMW's, so they are often cheaper. Don't just book on line, phone them and state exactly what you want and when. They will generally do their best to sort you out.
Oh, and don't forget your licence. Last time I was in SF, I forgot mine. I ended up sitting my driving test the next morning at 9.30 just so I had a US licence to hire a car! Jet lagged, strange quirky rules and terminology, left hand drive and a surprisingly strict test, particularly on the theory (96% required to pass!). It was a fantastic experience and not at all as easy as you'd think.... but perhaps its not the best way to start a relaxing holiday.
They really did everything they could to accommodate me though. Rushing through an appointment for the theory test and hurrying the paperwork through for the car hire guys. The car hire people even hired me a car for the driving test with just a little persuasion. They actually delivered it to the DMV office. I even got a round of applause from the DMV staff when I came back with no faults! Somehow, I can't see any of that ever happening in the UK, sadly. A plus side is that I now also have a California driving licence smile
I smell something… Chrysler Eclipse? New one on me. Budget Rent-a-Car Ford T-Bird? New one on me. No proof of residence and allowed to take a US driving test - in a rental car? New one on me. You have a valid CA drivers license (which is ONLY valid as long as the visa holder's I-94 is valid) - what visa did you use to do that, given that you were here on vacation? How long ago was all this then?

Talkwrench

909 posts

232 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Matt Harper said:
I smell something… Chrysler Eclipse? New one on me. Budget Rent-a-Car Ford T-Bird? New one on me. No proof of residence and allowed to take a US driving test - in a rental car? New one on me. You have a valid CA drivers license (which is ONLY valid as long as the visa holder's I-94 is valid) - what visa did you use to do that, given that you were here on vacation? How long ago was all this then?
My humble apologies for the name slipup. It was a Chrysler Sebring convertible pile of crap. Another occasion was a Mitsubishi Eclipse (which wasn't quite as bad as it sounded). Budget will hire you everything from a van to a Ferrari, though the Thunderbird was actually from one of the other run of the mill companies at the airport, not Budget. The HiPo Mustang was from Budget in Beverley Hills where, yes, I could have driven off in a Ferrari if I'd wanted. You're in the USA. You must know that, surely? It seems that you've just learn several 'new' things.
Yes, I did sit my test in a rental car (a Toyota of some description). Yes, I did pass and yes, they gave me a valid CA driving licence with which I hired a car. It was actually at the San Mateo office as this is nearest to the airport (where the car hire company was). All this mystical activity happened in April 2008. Oh and yes, I know the licence expired in 2013 but really, that's irrelevant to all of this.
If you smell something, perhaps its your own back side. Not everyone is a liar!

Why would anyone lie about this for goodness sake? I know Mitch, he knows me. He knows I don't lie. So stop making insulting accusations. If you've nothing constructive to post, please just resist the temptation to say anything!


Edited by Talkwrench on Wednesday 20th August 10:30

MitchT

Original Poster:

15,788 posts

208 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Indeed, I know Mr Talkwrench. He's not someone who needs to make up stories to impress people.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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Talkwrench said:
My humble apologies for the name slipup. It was a Chrysler Sebring convertible pile of crap. Another occasion was a Mitsubishi Eclipse (which wasn't quite as bad as it sounded). Budget will hire you everything from a van to a Ferrari, though the Thunderbird was actually from one of the other run of the mill companies at the airport, not Budget. The HiPo Mustang was from Budget in Beverley Hills where, yes, I could have driven off in a Ferrari if I'd wanted. You're in the USA. You must know that, surely? It seems that you've just learn several 'new' things.
Yes, I did sit my test in a rental car (a Toyota of some description). Yes, I did pass and yes, they gave me a valid CA driving licence with which I hired a car. It was actually at the San Mateo office as this is nearest to the airport (where the car hire company was). All this mystical activity happened in April 2008. Oh and yes, I know the licence expired in 2013 but really, that's irrelevant to all of this.
If you smell something, perhaps its your own back side. Not everyone is a liar!

Why would anyone lie about this for goodness sake? I know Mitch, he knows me. He knows I don't lie. So stop making insulting accusations. If you've nothing constructive to post, please just resist the temptation to say anything!


Edited by Talkwrench on Wednesday 20th August 10:30
Here's the thing though - you are posting advice with a fair old chunk of inaccuracy and that is what prompted my response. The crap car you referred to was nonexistent - the Thunderbird from Budget was nonexistent - though you claiming that a modular Ford engined 4000lb ghetto-sled was very fast is what made me think, "Eh?"

Today, you cannot take a US driving test without proof of residency - if you could, every undocumented alien in the US would do just that. Secondly, in most states, including CA, you cannot take a driving test in a rental car. Thirdly, even if you could, the license would only be valid for as as long as your I-94 is valid, so that made me wonder how you'd bucked the system, that's all. Because to have a license valid for 5 years would mean you had a visa/I-94 valid for that time, which would have meant you were living here, rather than holidaying here - make sense? I made no accusation, insulting or otherwise. What I did was merely question some of your claims, half of which are spurious by your own admission.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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That license thing still sounds iffy, even in 2008 we were 7 years post 9/11 and security was much tighter than before. Certainly when I got mine just under 2 years later you very definitely had to provide concrete proof of residence.

Sheepshanks

32,531 posts

118 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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I thought the story was pretty amazing but took it at face value - it's a bit convoluted to have made up.

I do wonder how he overcame the issue of not having a US social security number though.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
I thought the story was pretty amazing but took it at face value - it's a bit convoluted to have made up.

I do wonder how he overcame the issue of not having a US social security number though.
You don't neccessarily need a SS number to get a driving license. You do need residency qualifications though.

Sheepshanks

32,531 posts

118 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
You don't neccessarily need a SS number to get a driving license. You do need residency qualifications though.


Fair enough - I guess the I94 qualification as legal presence wouldn't work these days as it's been replaced by ESTA.

Talkwrench

909 posts

232 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Bizarre how you all assume I'd make it up. Why would I? It was actually meant as a compliment to the helpful nature of the DMV getting a visitor out of a hole. They accepted my British Passport as all the evidence they needed to issue a licence.
Language and cultural differences, I guess.
Over here, if someone says 'I smell something', it either means they smell something or they think someone is lying. Likewise, 'new one on me' implies that I think you're talking bull.
Culturally, we generally apologise if we accuse someone of lying and find that they're not.
Likewise, we find it very impolite to refer to someone in the 3rd party (that's like "he") when they're actually part of the discussion. But hey, vive la difference as they say.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
unrepentant said:
You don't neccessarily need a SS number to get a driving license. You do need residency qualifications though.


Fair enough - I guess the I94 qualification as legal presence wouldn't work these days as it's been replaced by ESTA.
I sell new Range Rovers to Chinese students, they often do not have SS No's.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Talkwrench said:
Bizarre how you all assume I'd make it up. Why would I? It was actually meant as a compliment to the helpful nature of the DMV getting a visitor out of a hole. They accepted my British Passport as all the evidence they needed to issue a licence.
Language and cultural differences, I guess.
Over here, if someone says 'I smell something', it either means they smell something or they think someone is lying. Likewise, 'new one on me' implies that I think you're talking bull.
Culturally, we generally apologise if we accuse someone of lying and find that they're not.
Likewise, we find it very impolite to refer to someone in the 3rd party (that's like "he") when they're actually part of the discussion. But hey, vive la difference as they say.
The reality is I'm English, though I have lived in the USA and been through the wringer of US red-tape and bureaucracy for the last 14 years and that includes constant interaction with DMV for all of the years that I lived here by way of a non-immigrant (employment-based) visa. I totally understand that rules and regs vary state by state - but I do try my best to check before I dish out advice.
When I said, "I smell something", I meant, "That doesn't sound right" - not, "This guy is a liar"
When I said, "New one on me", I meant, "That's a new on on me", not "I think you're talking bull".
I don't really feel I need to apologize because some of the things you said don't sound right and are new to me.
Just because I do want anyone who has an interest in this thread not to be misinformed, here's what I believe to be fact:
There is no such car as a Chrysler Eclipse
Budget Rent-a-Car have not and do not rent 11th Gen Ford Thunderbird
11th gen Ford Thunderbird is not 'proper fast' by any stretch of the imagination
You cannot take a CA driving test without proof of residence. Proof of residence extends beyond a street address. Proof of residence requires documentation that you have legal status to reside in the US. The Visa Waiver Program ESTA and previous I-94 is not proof of residence. This has been the situation since November 2001
You cannot take a driving test in a rental car in all but 4 US states - that includes California.

My understanding surrounding the OP's initial inquiry is that you will automatically receive minimums in terms of cover to be legal and that would be the US equivalent of 3rd party only coverage. Beyond that, the choice is yours - but it costs. What you probably don't need if you have holiday insurance (you'd be insane to come here without it) is PIP (personal injury protection), uninsured driver protection and supplemental damage cover. Personally, I wouldn't bother with deductible protection, Towing and Labor, Comprehensive, other than collision and Extended Travel Expense coverage.
CDW/LDW is optional, but without it, you could be on the hook for some pretty outrageous charges if you got into a fender-bender.

Edited by Matt Harper on Friday 22 August 02:38

Talkwrench

909 posts

232 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
That license thing still sounds iffy, etc. etc.
Did you think the USA DMV were iffy then? My apologies. I thought you meant me.
All I can say with certainty is that there's no way on gods earth that you'd ever get a licence in less that a month at the very least, over here! There was no hesitance from anyone at DMV and I mainly ended up dealing directly with the supervisors. They even said that if the DVLA in the UK would fax a copy of my licence to them, they'd issue me with a licence without me sitting a test. Of course, the DVLA didn't want to know......

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Talkwrench said:
unrepentant said:
That license thing still sounds iffy, etc. etc.
Did you think the USA DMV were iffy then? My apologies. I thought you meant me.
All I can say with certainty is that there's no way on gods earth that you'd ever get a licence in less that a month at the very least, over here! There was no hesitance from anyone at DMV and I mainly ended up dealing directly with the supervisors. They even said that if the DVLA in the UK would fax a copy of my licence to them, they'd issue me with a licence without me sitting a test. Of course, the DVLA didn't want to know......
Just post up a pic of the license with your name blanked out.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Talkwrench said:
They even said that if the DVLA in the UK would fax a copy of my licence to them, they'd issue me with a licence without me sitting a test.
OK - this is getting silly now.