Rental car insurance in Italy - what to do?

[Blackpuddin]

We're about to take a short break in Sardinia and I'm wondering what to do for the best re car rental insurance. Many reviewers are saying that even though they bought insurance through rentalcars.com/booking.com when making their reservation they still found themselves facing a lot of pressure to buy insurance on arrival, local agents telling them that the booking.com insurance isn't good enough.
I do remember getting very agitated when I was presented with a similar situation when hiring a car in Italy some years ago. I really want to avoid similar stress this time around and would be very grateful for any suggestions as to the best course of action.
Just as a by the way, I notice from these reviews that many Italian car hirers are still trying the old trick of charging for existing/unmentioned damages when you return their cars. Choosing 'big name' hirers doesn't seem to protect you from this kind of nonsense.
All comments welcome, thanks in advance.

[the-norseman]

We had this in Lanzarote, paid for the all singing and dancing insurance, only to be told we either had to pay a 2000 euro deposit or take out their insurance at 49 euros, so I took out theirs at 49 euros and then kicked off with the website after, think it was travel supermarket, anyway the website, if it was travel supermarket, refunded us the intitial insurance.

I also make sure I walk around the car and do a full video on collection and dropping off.

[Whoozit]

Buy an annual excess insurance policy. Mine covers North American and everywhere else, IIRC cost me £50. You still have to pay the local deposit and then pay for any damage, which you then claim back on the insurance.

[Blackpuddin]

the-norseman said:

We had this in Lanzarote, paid for the all singing and dancing insurance, only to be told we either had to pay a 2000 euro deposit or take out their insurance at 49 euros, so I took out theirs at 49 euros and then kicked off with the website after, think it was travel supermarket, anyway the website, if it was travel supermarket, refunded us the initial insurance.

I also make sure I walk around the car and do a full video on collection and dropping off.

Yes, the feeling I get from the reviewers who have been hit with this was that they wouldn't get the booking.com (or whoever) insurance next time.
There also seems to be some potential for chaos with International Driving Permits, some customers arriving in Italy being refused the cars they've booked because they don't have an IDP even though the Gov website says they are not required as long as you've got a modern UK photocard licence. I reckon I'll invest £5.50 in an IDP just to be on the safe side. I'll definitely be taking plenty of pics and videos of whatever car we end up with as it sounds from the reviews that Sardinian hires can be pretty beaten up. Luckily we'll be arriving in daylight.
Shame that this hiring process is apparently still so uncertain.

[JoshSm]

I always used to just use their cover because fk it, think is was always Avis.

Most Italian hire cars were fairly battered anyway but always worth having a full check & photos at both ends of handover.

I think I only ever had an argument about damage once. Most of the time they wouldn't have known what was new or nor given how things started.

[Blackpuddin]

JoshSm said:

I always used to just use their cover because fk it, think is was always Avis.

Most Italian hire cars were fairly battered anyway but always worth having a full check & photos at both ends of handover.

I think I only ever had an argument about damage once. Most of the time they wouldn't have known what was new or nor given how things started.

I remember reading some shocking stories about them charging big money for the (insert item here) that was supposedly in the car when it was supplied to the hirer but on your return wasn't there. Tyre compressors being a popular one. Hard to prove a negative unless you went through the whole car with your cameraphone before driving it off their site.

[Blackpuddin]

Whoozit said:

Buy an annual excess insurance policy. Mine covers North American and everywhere else, IIRC cost me £50. You still have to pay the local deposit and then pay for any damage, which you then claim back on the insurance.

Some of the Sardinian hire companies, including the 'big' ones, have excesses of over £3,000 for theft and for damage!

[fourstardan]

I picked up a rental at cagliari year before last.

Absolute chaos and hard work finding the office with zero signs.

I always go with an excess coverage policy, just enjoy saying no to insurances offered.

[Blackpuddin]

fourstardan said:

I picked up a rental at cagliari year before last.

Absolute chaos and hard work finding the office with zero signs.

I always go with an excess coverage policy, just enjoy saying no to insurances offered.

Stupid question coming up: doesn't an excess coverage policy only cover the excesses? Would it not have to be in addition to a conventional coverage? Sorry for being a bit thick on this.

[Blackpuddin]

fourstardan said:

I picked up a rental at cagliari year before last.

Absolute chaos and hard work finding the office with zero signs.

I always go with an excess coverage policy, just enjoy saying no to insurances offered.

My main worry about not buying insurance at the time of booking would be the risk of being skinned on it by the local operatives on collection, with no alternatives.

[Matt..]

I ve never paid for insurance with rental car companies. I always have annual excess cover I purchase elsewhere. I rent cars abroad on my holidays for 40+ days a year in various places around the world and many times in Italy (but mostly the north). I always rent with big companies unless there’s no other choice (very rare).

[Blackpuddin]

Matt.. said:

I ve never paid for insurance with rental car companies. I always have annual excess cover I purchase elsewhere. I rent cars abroad on my holidays for 40+ days a year in various places around the world and many times in Italy (but mostly the north). I always rent with big companies unless there s no other choice (very rare).

So does your UK car insurance cover you for hire cars abroad? Again apologies for dumbness.

[SoliD]

Whoozit said:

Buy an annual excess insurance policy. Mine covers North American and everywhere else, IIRC cost me £50. You still have to pay the local deposit and then pay for any damage, which you then claim back on the insurance.

This, have used Questor for 5 or 6 years now and never had a problem when I had to claim in Chile, and a simple no thanks at the counter. Never had an issue or a pushy sale, although have seen them before and it's the people who um and argh who are easy targets.

But do remember you'd need to pay the excess first before claiming back! What credit cards are made for! £40-50 for a year vs £100+ for some of the insurance these companies offer.

[Matt..]

Blackpuddin said:

So does your UK car insurance cover you for hire cars abroad? Again apologies for dumbness.

The excess insurance covers me for the excess the rental car company will charge. I still need to pay deposits for cars and I would need to pay and reclaim excess fees if they happen.

I’m yet to make a claim though. I’ve definitely caused minor damage to a few rental cars over the years but have never been charged. It’ll happen one day I’m sure.

Edited by Matt.. on Thursday 26th February 19:47

[Gnevans]

Blackpuddin said:

We're about to take a short break in Sardinia and I'm wondering what to do for the best re car rental insurance. Many reviewers are saying that even though they bought insurance through rentalcars.com/booking.com when making their reservation they still found themselves facing a lot of pressure to buy insurance on arrival, local agents telling them that the booking.com insurance isn't good enough.
I do remember getting very agitated when I was presented with a similar situation when hiring a car in Italy some years ago. I really want to avoid similar stress this time around and would be very grateful for any suggestions as to the best course of action.
Just as a by the way, I notice from these reviews that many Italian car hirers are still trying the old trick of charging for existing/unmentioned damages when you return their cars. Choosing 'big name' hirers doesn't seem to protect you from this kind of nonsense.
All comments welcome, thanks in advance.

We rented through zest car rental and they provide the insurance excess

[Griffith4ever]

Blackpuddin said:

We're about to take a short break in Sardinia and I'm wondering what to do for the best re car rental insurance. Many reviewers are saying that even though they bought insurance through rentalcars.com/booking.com when making their reservation they still found themselves facing a lot of pressure to buy insurance on arrival, local agents telling them that the booking.com insurance isn't good enough.
I do remember getting very agitated when I was presented with a similar situation when hiring a car in Italy some years ago. I really want to avoid similar stress this time around and would be very grateful for any suggestions as to the best course of action.
Just as a by the way, I notice from these reviews that many Italian car hirers are still trying the old trick of charging for existing/unmentioned damages when you return their cars. Choosing 'big name' hirers doesn't seem to protect you from this kind of nonsense.
All comments welcome, thanks in advance.

You either stand your ground, don't let it stress you, and "win", or, you give up and pay more. Its your call tbf.

I just smile and say, no thanks, I have my own insurance, and then I get all the "we'll need a big 800 euro deposit etc", and I smile and say, "brilliant, here is my card - take the deposit", THEN, I get all the "your insurance isn't valid", and I smile and say, "it is", and FINALLY, I get the, "but it won't cover tyres or undercar or glass" (which is a 100% lie) and I say, "no problem, just take my deposit".

The whole "it's not valid thing" is a major act of deception - when you push, what you find is they are actually saying it IS valid, but doesn't cover "extras" like breakdown recovery, tyres, glass etc - which it most certainly DOES cover.

They make good money on the extras and hence they push. Pisa was the worst ever place I rented a car from and the only one that tried on a charge for fuel top up, until , with photos,I proved they were lying.

Take is as a challenge to be calm, and stand your ground. It does not bother me in the slightest any more.

[Griffith4ever]

Blackpuddin said:

Matt.. said:

I ve never paid for insurance with rental car companies. I always have annual excess cover I purchase elsewhere. I rent cars abroad on my holidays for 40+ days a year in various places around the world and many times in Italy (but mostly the north). I always rent with big companies unless there s no other choice (very rare).

So does your UK car insurance cover you for hire cars abroad? Again apologies for dumbness.

No the car hire company insures the car for you - what we are talking about here is the Excess - you need to take out car hire excess insurance OR accept the car hire co.s expensive offering (or refuse it all and take the risk!). The chap above is referring to a policy he buys, an annual one. They are around £50 a year for the EU. Mine is included free with my banking perks.

If you hire a car for more than about 10 days in total over a year its usually cheaper to buy an annual excess policy.

One of several: https://www.carhireexcess.co.uk/

Edited by Griffith4ever on Friday 27th February 00:47

[Blackpuddin]

Thanks Griffith, your two posts are really helpful, I'll try to find out if I have excess insurance and go from there.

[languagetimothy]

a few years ago I was hiring a car often in the EU and had an annual independent policy for insurance. on one occasion in the same country the guy pressed me to take insurance because I hired from them a few times but didn't use it. as a matter of interest I asked him how much it would be. EUR 350 for the month... I laughed and went on my way.

Another scam to be aware of (at least this happened in Malta some years ago ) upon returning the car "you have a speeding ticket"... really... show me, "I cant we dont have it here, its at the police station".... oh ok... well you have my details you can email it to me "no no, you must pay now"... ffffff offf then I go outside and report the credit card I used to book the car as lost to my bank. they cancel it.

[Blackpuddin]

This industry seems to attract chancers, what a pity, if someone launched a credible alternative with a clear promise never to upsell or grift I’d go with them every time.