Hire car in Sardinia stuff - can someone offer advice please

[bearman68]

Hi all.
Just about to hire the Fiat Panda for the 2 weeks in the sun in Sardinia. (Someone on here suggested the island, and it looks great).
The hire company website is 'suggesting' insurance at some 20% of the value of the hire.(Just under £500 quid for the car, and nearly £100 for damage). Is this a normal and recommended thing. I've never normally accepted insurance, and it's always been OK, but what's the general view, especially from people with more experience than me?
Any recommendations for Sardinian car hire companies? All the big ones are in place, but I'm actually happier with a 10 year old car, and half the price, as long as I can get it from the airport.

(A fiat Panda 1.2 with A/C is going to be fine BTW, as I'm I'm rubbish at driving on the wrong side of the road, with the gear stick in the wrong place)

Cheers all.

[Pericoloso]

Pay for the insurance.

You'll regret it later if you don't.

[DamnKraut]

Second that. Might well be that they are very Italian about it, i.e. never mind some additional scratches and dents when returning the car. If they are not and go all GreenMotion car rental at you, then you’re screwed, especially if you don’t speak the language. Therefore better get the insurance.

[frisbee]

Whatever you do, don't pay for their insurance.

Get it from a 3rd party and it'll cost a significant amount less.

Make sure the company you are hiring from isn't excluded, if they are think twice about hiring from them..

[Salamura]

It usually works out cheaper if you get 3rd party insurance.
Or, if you're feeling confident, go without. But in any case, don't buy their insurance, it's a rip off.

[bearman68]

Advice taken - thanks.

LOL, that must be a first for PH - someone asks for advice - all advice is consistent - OP takes advice.

Thanks anyway

[The Moose]

bearman68 said:

Advice taken - thanks.

LOL, that must be a first for PH - someone asks for advice - all advice is consistent - OP takes advice.

Thanks anyway

Normally in this instance, the OP would then go against the advice. Don’t tell me you’re going to actually take the advice?!

[vikingaero]

Let's hope there isn't a Green Motion Sardinia for the OP to use.

[Sensibleboy]

We went to Baja Sardinia last summer. I hope you have sat nav or Google maps on your phone. All those twists and turns mean it's easy to lose your bearings.
If you are on that north coast don't forget to see where they filmed The Spy Who Loved Me Lotus car chases.

[Pericoloso]

Sensibleboy said:

If you are on that north coast don't forget to see where they filmed The Spy Who Loved Me Lotus car chases.

I drove the tunnels and road by lake Garda from the opening of Quantum of Solace in

May.

There's loads of identical tunnels,no idea which was the right one......

[Voldemort]

I was looking at an extra 300 euros for 10 days hire on a car I'm hiring from Pisa airport (Sixt) next week. So bought cover from coverforyou.com for £30. Could have got an annual policy for an extra £10 but have no plans for needing a hire car again this year.

The only thing to be aware of is that if you do get stung for an excess charge you have to pay it yourself and then claim from the policy when you get back.

[bearman68]

The Moose said:

Normally in this instance, the OP would then go against the advice. Don’t tell me you’re going to actually take the advice?!

No No, PH knows best. Car hire bought, insurance bought, everything is rosy/ I can't think of anything controversial here. The only small thing that irks me, is having hire a Panda because it's small with 4 doors, the small print says I might get something else. Grrrr.
I don't usually use a smart phone - except for holidays, so google maps loaded, data cleared,and everything is good to go. I have to work on my sock line now to look like a welsh bloke abroad. and of course learn the language before August,and we'll be all good to go. I mean, how hard can it be?

[The Leaper]

I agree that car hire local full insurance is a rip off in Italy, based on my experience last year. The one thing purchasing local insurance does mean is that there are no issues when you take the car back because they know it is fully insured. There were many other people at the return area who were having real trouble with the car return where the rental company was claiming further damage to the car and so were exercising their pre-authorisation on the hirer's credit card, which is a very high amount, I gather.

I am hiring a car in Italy again later this year at a different airport than last year. Do I learn the lesson of last year that the local insurance is a rip off, or do I just take it for peace of mind when I return the car whether or not any damage has been caused to it? I'll have to decide soon.

The one thing I will say is never hire a car in Italy without full insurance!

R.

[The Leaper]

I agree that car hire local full insurance is a rip off in Italy, based on my experience last year. The one thing purchasing local insurance does mean is that there are no issues when you take the car back because they know it is fully insured. There were many other people at the return area who were having real trouble with the car return where the rental company was claiming further damage to the car and so were exercising their pre-authorisation on the hirer's credit card, which is a very high amount, I gather.

I am hiring a car in Italy again later this year at a different airport than last year. Do I learn the lesson of last year that the local insurance is a rip off, or do I just take it for peace of mind when I return the car whether or not any damage has been caused to it? I'll have to decide soon.

The one thing I will say is never hire a car in Italy without full insurance!

R.

[s55shh]

Never had a problem in Sardinia with hire cars (even one that got keyed) but only been to Olbia and Alghero (North). Always relied on my insurance4carhire.com policy back home. Only time I got ripped off was Naples.