"Equivalent" hire car

[matchmaker]

I had a slight bump which has resulted in my car needing bodywork repairs. My insurance, with Privilege, is Comprehensive Plus, which amongst other extras has "Guaranteed Hire Car Plus", which offers "We’ll aim to give you a hire car of a similar size to yours, if your car is damaged in an incident, written off or stolen."

My car was collected for repair this morning and the hire car delivered at lunchtime.

My car: Skoda Superb 2 litre petrol
Hire car: Seat Ibiza 1 litre petrol

I suppose I'm lucky I didn't get a Mii...

[Riley Blue]

I imagine at this time of the year, with the weather we've just had, there's been quite a demand. You should have had your 'slight bump' sooner.

[Joe5y]

I have a Maserati GranTurismo that needed a windscreen replaced which I did through insurance.

It went in for its replacement, the glass was taken out, and when putting the new glass in the installer noticed an 'imperfection' so couldn't fit the new windscreen. Note the old one had been removed, and chucked in a skip, and the replacement to the replacement was on an 8-week lead time. I had a new, 12 miles on the ODO, BMW M5 delivered until my car was sorted.

Edited by Joe5y on Monday 13th January 15:45

Edited by Joe5y on Monday 13th January 15:46

[matchmaker]

Riley Blue said:

I imagine at this time of the year, with the weather we've just had, there's been quite a demand. You should have had your 'slight bump' sooner.

A month ago!

[Sigmamark7]

When someone damaged my GT3, I had to put up with an Aston Martin Vantage for 4 months. Much as I liked the noise it made, I was delighted to get the GT3 back.
On that basis, look how excited you’ll be to get your own car back.

[GasEngineer]

That's disappointing.

Have you challenged them about it? It may be that the insurer specfied a higher group car but the car hire firm hoped to fob you off with a basic level car.

[KungFuPanda]

“We’ll aim…” is far from a promise of being able to provide an equivalent vehicle.

[GreatGranny]

Does it really matter?

It's a car which gets you from A to B, much like your Octavia only smaller.

[matchmaker]

GreatGranny said:

Does it really matter?

It's a car which gets you from A to B, much like your Octavia only smaller.

My car is a Superb. The Ibiza is *much* smaller, especially in the back. We are planning a long trip (300+ miles) at the weekend and I have to try and fit both my 6' sons in the back!

[Ham_and_Jam]

GreatGranny said:

Does it really matter?

Sometimes it does.

I have guaranteed hire car added on my policy, as I would need a large replacement car similar to my A6.

The whole point of paying extra is to get the benefit.

[22]

Mrs 22 has a teeny tiny Jeep Avenger and was given a giant Volvo SUV 'equivalent'. I imagine they consider it an upgrade, but she made me go and swap it back for something smaller (Nissan Qashqai).

[mac96]

Ham_and_Jam said:

GreatGranny said:

Does it really matter?

Sometimes it does.

I have guaranteed hire car added on my policy, as I would need a large replacement car similar to my A6.

The whole point of paying extra is to get the benefit.

Indeed it is. We recently had a Mini Cooper S while our X3 was being repaired As it happens, that was big enough for our needs during that period, but it would hardly have been a surprise had we been doing something for which we needed adult sized back seats or room for luggage. Or just needed something more comfortable!
I hope they would have found something bigger had we kicked up a fuss!

[ScoobyChris]

matchmaker said:

I had a slight bump which has resulted in my car needing bodywork repairs. My insurance, with Privilege, is Comprehensive Plus, which amongst other extras has "Guaranteed Hire Car Plus", which offers "We’ll aim to give you a hire car of a similar size to yours, if your car is damaged in an incident, written off or stolen."

We had experience with an Accident Management Company who offered like-for-like hire cars and tried to put us in a 3l petrol A6 as my 1-series also has a 3-litre engine. Negotiated it down to a 2l Mercedes C-class but would have been happy with a Focus or even a Fiesta to get about in if they'd had one available. No wonder claims cost so much!

Chris

[Antony Moxey]

matchmaker said:

GreatGranny said:

Does it really matter?

It's a car which gets you from A to B, much like your Octavia only smaller.

My car is a Superb. The Ibiza is *much* smaller, especially in the back. We are planning a long trip (300+ miles) at the weekend and I have to try and fit both my 6' sons in the back!

Which you’ll be able to. An Ibiza is smaller as you say, but it’s not tiny. Also, it’s not the insurance company’s problem what you have planned - if all they had was. Mii then that’s what you’d have been given, they don’t care that you’ve got a 300 mile trip with a couple of six footers that weekend.

[BertBert]

matchmaker said:

I had a slight bump which has resulted in my car needing bodywork repairs. My insurance, with Privilege, is Comprehensive Plus, which amongst other extras has "Guaranteed Hire Car Plus", which offers "We’ll aim to give you a hire car of a similar size to yours, if your car is damaged in an incident, written off or stolen."

My car was collected for repair this morning and the hire car delivered at lunchtime.

My car: Skoda Superb 2 litre petrol
Hire car: Seat Ibiza 1 litre petrol

I suppose I'm lucky I didn't get a Mii...

It's certainly tough here in the first world.

[matchmaker]

Ham_and_Jam said:

GreatGranny said:

Does it really matter?

Sometimes it does.

I have guaranteed hire car added on my policy, as I would need a large replacement car similar to my A6.

The whole point of paying extra is to get the benefit.

Some fail to see exactly that point...

[TheDrownedApe]

Missus boinked the 330d touring a few years back and it needed work. It was around the time when a number of posters were posting about insurers reclaiming costs for exuberant hire car costs.

She got an i10 as it was all she needed at the time : laugh:

However OP if you needed it then that sucks and you should complain

[skyebear]

I was paying my insurer for a similar car when my BMW 520d Touring was rear-ended. I was offered a Mercedes S-Class, but as nice as it would have been I explained that with having a baby, pram and big dog that an estate was preferable. They got me a brand new Volvo XC90 instead.

If you need a bigger car then tell them and I'm sure they'll be able to sort something.

[essayer]

The T&Cs do have get outs if they can’t supply a similar BUT given they advertise it like this



I think you’d have a good case for a complaint - “I will be out of pocket because I have to fund a larger car for my long road trip with four adults and suitcases” - you might be able to get some cash toward a larger hire car

Edited by essayer on Monday 13th January 20:57

[Dingu]

essayer said:

The T&Cs do have get outs if they can’t supply a similar BUT given they advertise it like this



I think you’d have a good case for a complaint - “I will be out of pocket because I have to fund a larger car for my long road trip with four adults and suitcases” - you might be able to get some cash toward a larger hire car

Edited by essayer on Monday 13th January 20:57

The caveat is in large red text. It can’t be much more obvious so I’m not convinced there is a good case.

I do see your disappointment though OP.