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chinagringo

May 28, 2010, 4:06 PM

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Rental Car Issues

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Did a search on this topic and the most recent one was from 2007. Given that 3 years have passed, I wondered up anyone had personal experiences more recent.

At this point, we are looking at THRIFTY at GDL. From my research, there seem to be a number of insurance issues - Collision and Liability. In checking with AMERICAN EXPRESS, it appears that in addition to their standard CDW, they offer super collision coverage for a flat $24.95 for any length rental up to 42 days. Thus by my thinking, we could decline the CDW coverage from THRIFTY. According to further research, liability coverage (probably the most important coverage in Mexico) cannot be purchased except from the rental car agency. In the case of THRIFTY, it appears that they charge either $13 or $15 per day depending on vehicle. And then they offer SLE (Supplemental Liability Excess) for another $7 per day and that raises the Liability Limits from $250,000 MXP to $1,000,000MXP. And then they offer PAC (Personal Accident Coverage) for another $4 per day, which provides medical coverage up to $200,000MXP.

So I am getting the impression that they would like to sell you all sorts of coverage to increase their bottom line on a rental. From anyone's personal experience, especially those that might have had an accident, what would be your observations and thoughts on this matter?

I will state that I am an experienced driver in Mexico - so no real surprises in store in that area.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Rolly

May 28, 2010, 4:19 PM

Post #2 of 11 (6288 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Rental Car Issues

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I also have done a bit of research on the subject. You might want to read here.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

DavidHF

May 28, 2010, 4:46 PM

Post #3 of 11 (6267 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Rental Car Issues

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Neil,
In the process of moving here we had to rent a car several times. I used my AMEX card and was enrolled in the Premium Car Rental Insurance option that they offer. IMHO it's a bargain, one charge for the entire rental. I also had a claim for some minor damage ($1500Pesos) that they paid with no hassle in about 3 weeks. I highly recommend the coverage. As an aside, I once totalled a car in Germany and the standard no-charge AMEX car rental paid the full bill.
Saludos,

esperanza

May 29, 2010, 6:10 AM

Post #4 of 11 (6209 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Rental Car Issues

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Hound Dog

May 29, 2010, 7:15 AM

Post #5 of 11 (6193 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Rental Car Issues

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Another 'two thumbs up' for AMEX as your insurance on a rental car. We've used it several times in the States; fortunately, we haven't had occasion to make a claim, but we were glad to have its availability rather than the much more expensive options offered by the rental agencies.

The key phrase there, I believe, is "...in the states...." I don´t think I´d try that in Mexico but if anyone has had experience making a claim in Mexico under an AMEX plan, I´d like to hear about it since rental car insurnace is so outrageously expensive here. Come to think of it I no longer have any credit cards so I guess I solved that problem.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on May 29, 2010, 7:17 AM)

DavidHF

May 29, 2010, 8:29 AM

Post #6 of 11 (6171 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Rental Car Issues

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Read my post again; I had a claim in Mexico and another in Germany. Both paid without hassle.

Hound Dog

May 29, 2010, 8:58 AM

Post #7 of 11 (6153 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Rental Car Issues

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Good to know David but after 44 years, I cancelled my American Express card after an identity theft crisis described elsewhere.

I must say that recently, while our car was in a shop for repairs in Tapachula we had to rent a car (since we had three dogs with us and couldn´t take a bus) to get back to our home in San Cristóbal de Las Casas since the car would not be ready for a couple of weeks and the insurance on the rental car was very expensive. For those of you thinking of these issues, we were able to rent the car at the Hertz rental agency at the Tapachula airport using our debit card and dropped it off at the Tuxtla Gutierrez airport with a substantial drop-off charge calculated by the number of kilometers from the rental point to the drop off point. I think that one day rental cost us around $1,000 Pesos altogether with the drop-off charge but, what the hell, we save so much money by living in Mexico, what´s a thousand pesos occasionally slipping through the fingers.

In our case we are still better off without those damnable credit cards since we have our own car here which, as it happens, was temporarily disabled in Chiapas due to an accident. I do, however, remember a few years ago when we decided to fly from Guadalajara to Cancun and rent a car at Hertz for one month to travel about the Yucatan Peninsula and the insurance was so expensive it cost us more on a daily basis than the base rent. On top of that, the Hertz agency in Cancun tried to double charge us after we paid cash for the rental for a discounted price. They did not prevail but I advise any of you renting around Cancun to never, ever dispose of any document and make clerks at any rental agency sign for cash received. They are not nice people.

One other thing. If you go to any rental car web site they will quote you a really cheap daily or monthly rental and not mention the insurance cost. Beware because it looks cheap but after adding on the insurance; it ain´t and you do not want to drive in Mexico without full insurance coverage including the critically important "legal assistance". Make sure you have that "legal assistance" no matter what AMEX offers. Without "legal assistance" which provides you with an attorney in case of an accident, you could go straight to jail whether the accident is your fault or not. Do not kid yourself about insurance in Mexico. This is a serious matter.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on May 29, 2010, 9:08 AM)

chinagringo

May 29, 2010, 2:50 PM

Post #8 of 11 (6103 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Rental Car Issues

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Great comments so far that seem to re-enforce my idea to decline the CDW coverage and rely on the extended benefits coverage offered by AMERICAN EXPRESS.

That being a given - I would still solicit opinions and experiences regarding the Liability coverage options and also the additional medical coverage offered in the add-on Accident Coverage. For the purposes of this discussion, it might be helpful to have the exact wording from THRIFTY:
"

INSURANCE COVERAGES PURCHASED ON THIRD PARTY WEBSITES ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN MEXICO****
Optional Insurance Coverage: Loss Damage Waiver(LDW):This optional coverage is available with a US$1500 or US$2500 deductible ranging from US$14.00 - US$16.00 per day.
Super Damage Waiver (SDW):This coverage is optional; it covers the deductibles of US$1500 or US$2500 including tires, glass, rims, and other incidentals not covered by the LDW. The price for this product ranges from US$1200-US$14.00
per day depending on vehicle category, and can only be purchased together with LDW.
Personal Liability Insurance (PLI):This coverage is optional it covers up to 250,000 pesos in Basic Third Liability Party Protection. The price is US$13.00 or US$15.00 per day depending on vehicle category.
If you wish to rely on your own insurance to cover our vehicle then the renter must provide Written Proof from an insurance company or Credit Card company, specifically stating coverage effective in the country of Mexico, for -
the specific vehicle and for the duration of the term of the rental agreement.
If such proof is not verifiable, or is invalid, then it would be necessary to purchase adequate insurance and/or coverage(s) directly from Thrifty Car Rental, for your protection, in order to rent the vehicle.
Supplemental Liability Excess (SLE): This coverage is optional; it increases Third Party Protection from 250,000 pesos up to 1 million pesos. The price is US$7.00 per day all vehicles.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAC): This coverage is optional; it covers medical costs up to $200,000 pesos. This is available for just US$4.00 per day.
If declining the LDW and PLI then an additional authorization in the amount of US$5000 will be required at the time of rental along with the estimated cost of rental.
If accepting the LDW but declining the SDW then the additional credit card approval of US$1500 or US$2500 will be required in addition to the estimated total for the rental.
If accepting any one of our Protection Packages including LDW-SDW-PLI, then we only require an authorization of US$300.00 in addition to the estimated total."

Again, I appreciate any insights being offered!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Hound Dog

May 29, 2010, 4:38 PM

Post #9 of 11 (6083 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Rental Car Issues

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I tried to read that but cannot handle this. Here is the essential question:

Do these policies specifically and, in Spanish, designate the most important coverage you need in Mexico which is "Legal Assistance" and that is what keeps you out of jail whether the accident is your fault or the fault of the other driver. Do not take what I am saying lightly. This is serious stuff. You will not know you screwed up to save a few dollars until it is too late.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on May 29, 2010, 4:41 PM)

chinagringo

May 29, 2010, 5:19 PM

Post #10 of 11 (6069 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Rental Car Issues

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Dawg:

While I am very aware of which you speak since we always purchase the best available (read highest limits) "Mexico Auto Insurance" for our drives into MX. Due to the issues/events near the border, we are taking a look at the fly/drive rental car as an alternative. I am not attempting to infer that I wish to save money by purchasing the minimal policy but am trying to get a grip on the coverage and the limits. For example, when we purchase Mexico Auto Insurance, we always put a $300K USD limit on the liability, which is the max I have ever found.

I am going to contact THRIFTY directly and demand a definitive definition of the coverage and query them about the all important "Legal Assistance". With a satisfactory response from them - I will look elsewhere as I will not leave us open to future problems!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

chinagringo

Jun 3, 2010, 2:09 PM

Post #11 of 11 (5919 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Rental Car Issues

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After doing a great deal of homework re: insurance issues/questions, I have concluded that THRIFTY and two of the other large American rental car companies have no interest in explaining their offered coverage! I contacted the International Divisions of these three companies and received nothing other than what they offer in their tersely worded statements on their web sites. As an experienced Mexico traveler knows, Legal Assistance is of key importance and there is no mention on their sites of this coverage.

After being totally frustrated by these large companies, I contacted S & S Auto:
http://www.ssauto.com.mx/We had rented short term from them in the past, while they worked on our vehicles. Karen replied promptly to an email inquiry and was very complete in answering my questions to my satisfaction. For this reason, we have decided to rent from them for our two week rental needs.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM