has anyone got much experience at hiring cars abroad i was looking into getting one from Malaga airport but then read reports you get your legs lashed once your there on more insurance.

Ive also been told you can get your own extra insurance independently before you go ?

I've had plenty through work. Used a reputable company like Hertz or Europcar and just turn down the extra insurance. Never had an issue at all.


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Conkering with Mr Stevo. In my experience what look like cheap deals usually seem to have more add-ons, generally by telling you that the excess is massive and then offering you the chance to insure against it. The bigger companies seem to cost what they say they will - they do offer excess insurance but the excess is usually sensible so you can say no without worrying.

If you do want to insure against the excess you can do it cheaper through a company here and it will cover you for a year.

Malaga Cars just outside the airport always been good for us - we are getting a decent motor for £340 inclusive of their extra insurance in September for a month. The deals in the airport are OK, and as Mr T says buying the premium insurance in the UK before you go means you dont have to use the hire companies extra insurance (£50 a year last time we did it), but its still a fucking hassle if you have any issues. Malaga cars cost us 79 Euro for their extra insurance for 4 weeks and it just means its hassle free. Plus Goldcar in the airport make you queue for fucking hours.

The con with hire cars is the fuel, years ago when you picked the car up the tank was full and as long as you returned it full there was no charge. Nowadays in the UK the tank can be at what ever level and you have to return with the same amount of fuel, of course you air on the side of caution and end up topping it up with too much so not to get caught out with a fuel shortage at an exorbitant price. The other thing is the excess which can be £1000, they advertise a cheap rate then put the fear of God into saying what the excess is but if you pay £xx amount that removes the excess, no longer cheap.
Abroad, I wanted to hire a car in Malta, you paid for a full tank of petrol, no rebate on return, you could drive round Malta for a month and not use half a tank. It's similar in Other European counties, see link.
For me arrange it in the UK, no language barrier and if you do have a problem it can be sorted out on return and always take photographs of any minor knocks it may have when you pick it up as you might be find your CC has been hit for them on your return.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holi ... Spain.html

Never had any bother with arguscarhire.com

Sixt are to be avoided in my experience - had a little hire car for 2 days in Holland last month and signed on the dotted line for a ridiculous amount of additional insurance - when you are in a hurry to get on the road who reads the small print?

Also, couldn't refuel as there was no service station on the last 30 km of the motorway back to Schipol!

Sixt are ok as long as you read the print. I know Erich and Regina Sixt quite well, he's a decent bloke for a kraut although his families war record doesn't bear too much investigation. The head office is based in the former SS training camp at Pullach and next door to the BND HQ. (BND = German version of MI5)

Basic rules.

Check the car thoroughly on collection and I do mean thoroughly. Make sure that all damage is marked on the check sheet and take pictures. Never accept the word of the checking guy when he says 'we ignore small scratches like that' MARK IT DOWN! This is especially applicable to non franchised rental branches.

Do not be forced to take a load of additional insurances. Incidentally they are not insurance, they are damage waivers - theres a difference. If you take out none of them you are still insured third party only. They you get into a variety of CDW offerings (Collision damage waivers). It's your choice depending on the risk you want to take but you should be ok with £250 as long as you check it over thoroughly.

Fuel. Do no take the 'buy a full tank up front option' you will lose unless you push it back through the gate! Best option is full to full and again, take a photo of the fuel gauge at both ends of the transaction. If you're on holiday then pick up a container along the way to top it up before you hand it back.

Deposit: If they want more than about £250 give them a wide berth.
Always always use a credit card never a debit card. If you have a dispute you can claim against the credit card company and they'll charge it back to the hire car company. If you can do it, once you've used a credit card with them ring your bank and cancel it. This stops them adding more after you've returned the car.

Read the terms and conditions. Always and don't be rushed. If you skimp on it them don't be surprised if you lose out.

The overwhelming majority of rental companies are straight but there is a sizeable minority of dodgepots out there.

Cheers - going to insist on adequate collision waiver cover upfront before booking with anyone in future.

The Sixt car was at least in good nick and had been cleaned - which is more than can be said for Europcar in Spain. They will change (and usually upgrade) if you complain, but that's another hour wasted...

Dont you have to provide some code from the internet to hire cars now due to the paper part of your license being defunct now?

Sure they said something similar when i was recently on a speed awareness course.

Yes but they won't be interested in it on the continent. The paper counterpart always confuses them as they have never had one.

Have a look at the BVRLA website.

http://www.bvrla.co.uk/advice/consumer-advice


And the European version.
http://www.ecrcs.eu/

And download this:
http://www.ecrcs.eu/media/download.aspx?MediaId=1

Do these insurances cover you for migrants sneaking into the boot of your car ?

Totally agree with MFR, I have used Malagacar.com many times and they are very good on all counts. I always take their extra insurance for total peace of mind and zero excess. Cars are good and their fuel policy is better than most, prepay for half tank and bring back empty from what I remember. They are located just outside the airport, their rep meets you in arrivals and directs you to the minibus pick up, plus they are very handy to find when returning the car, big orange building just off the main roundabout directly outside airport. Some other offsite rental companies are a nightmare to find when bringing the cars back.