Car hire Italy insurance excess question?

[kartman24]

I need to hire a small 4 door car at Pisa airport and am having problems with the insurance excess issue. As I understand it around £1500 will be blocked from a credit card in case of an accident, this will be the first £1500 of any damage sustained. Some companies offer an excess refund scheme where they will refund me once I have paid for the damage. Others SEEM to offer a super cover that `waives the excess` does this mean they won`t require a sum to be blocked from your card, have i understood that correctly? My problem is through personal choice i only have a limit of £500 on my cc, they do not accept it by debit card in Italy.
Can anyone recommend a hire company that offer a cover that waives the excess?
Many thanks.......Martin

[kartman24]

Thanks for the replies, i have looked at the Holiday Autos small print and found this:-

6.1 damage excess waiver products

On all bookings you will be required to leave a deposit to the value of any excess for Collision Damage Waiver, which you may be required to pay if the rental vehicle is damaged during the period of hire. If this excess does not apply, you will be advised of this when making your booking.

If your rental vehicle is damaged, the deposit will be retained and treated as payment of the excess.

we offer two levels of Damage Excess Waiver product, which offer reimbursement for any excess paid as a result of accidental damages whilst renting your car:
1. Standard Damage Excess Waiver or
2. Total Damage Excess Waiver

If you purchase either of our Damage Excess Waiver products, you will be charged the excess but can reclaim it (subject to the terms and conditions outlined below), by filling in an accident report form (supplied by the rental company) and sending a copy to us within 28 days of returning your rental vehicle.


This seems to be saying you still have to pay an excess fee on booking/at the airport, if you need to claim they will refund the amount charged for the damage?
........Martin

[kartman24]

Ok, just phoned Holiday Autos helpline and your credit card is blocked for the excess sum at the pick up point and any damage paid for is refunded within 7-10 days. So i will have a look at the suggested Hertz small print........Martin

[kartman24]

Thanks for the advice Motorrad, who did you use.........Martin