Insurance On Rental Cars

[Felt 35]

A near relative have decided to start here retirement with a couple of
months living with us in Thailand and have contacted one of the major International
car rental companies and have got a good price for 2months rent of a smaller
car included CDW which following the rental company will reduce the renters responsibility
to a payment of THB 5000, - in case of accident.

Now, we have a car here which she have driven on a few occasions earlier
(holiday) but this time she want to be a bit more independent. We have the so called “first class” insurance
on our car with AIG which cover more or less anything except flooding. But we have never
rented in Thailand and a bit unsure about this CDW, I mean this is a waiver,
how can we know that the main insurance cover most everything, yes the rental
company says “first class insurance” but without seeing the insurance policy
how can we know that for sure? Is it normal practice to ask the rental company
to see the policy before any agreement on rental?

If anyone has some knowledge/experience with rental cars and Insurance
we would be grateful for information.

Thanks

Felt.

[IMHO]

Assume you're not actually talking about a recognised international rental company here where everything is certain to cross the t's and dot the i's...

Normal consumer first class insurance is null and void if the insurer finds out the car has been rented. You have a couple of options - have a Thai friend review the insurance policy to insure it's a policy for rental cars, or have a Thai friend call the insurance company (sticker should be on the windshield), and ask them to check the policy against the license plate number.

That all said, don't be surprised if the rental co. looks at you oddly when you go through this - it's the type of thing a lot of the small operators will just expect to you commit fraud tell a white lie about in the event of an accident.

[TTSIssues]

As you said an international company I assume you mean a Hertz or Avis style business. Their CDW policy means that in the event of an accident you are responsible for the first 5,000 baht of any damage, usually whether you are at fault or not. In the UK this would be known as an "excess". I have hired from Avis regularly when travelling and for an additional fee (approx 200 baht per day for a Jazz up to 450 per day for a fortuner) you can reduce that to 0, so you don't have to pay anything. I have twice hit potholes at night in rented cars causing damage to tyres - one time I had to pay the 5,000 excess , the next time I had taken out the additional cover and didn't pay anything. And being dark an raining both times I has no way of seeing the potholes as they were full of water and looked like puddles before the smart remarks start coming :-)

Hope that helps

[Felt 35]

It is a well known International car rental company aka Hertz,Avis so I assume we then can let down the guard at least until our relative are out on the roads

[IMHO]

It is a well known International car rental company aka Hertz,Avis so I assume we then can let down the guard at least until our relative are out on the roads

No problems with either of these - the coverage offered can be trusted to be as advertised.

[manzan]

Actually, you need to read the fine print carefully, for example Avis Thailand Terms and Conditions say that if you drive faster then 90km/h the Collision insurance is void and you are fully responsible for any damages.

[Barack]

Hertz, Budget, etc. will try to sell you additional collision insurance. If you pay using most credit cards you will be covered for this, but check with your cc company. If you are in fact covered then decline their offer.

[stingray]

Usually the rental car company has to provide a copy of their insurance policy in the glovebox of any rental cars (At least we do so). The insurance policy must have the written code 120 (for comercial use) is there is a code 110 (it means for private use) the insurance is void. Don't rent any cars without legal rental cars insurance. Many private inviduals renting quite new cars cheaply on the sidewalk with their free first class insurance, they get, when they bought the car. This kind of insurance is void if the car is rented. Only CODE 120 is the type aproved rental car insurance

[stevenl]

Actually, you need to read the fine print carefully, for example Avis Thailand Terms and Conditions say that if you drive faster then 90km/h the Collision insurance is void and you are fully responsible for any damages.

You have a copy of that?

[Kwasaki]

It is a well known International car rental company aka Hertz,Avis so I assume we then can let down the guard at least until our relative are out on the roads

If she is a non tourist she will need a Thai license.

[Ace of Pop]

Id like to see a printout of the 90KPH condition. Hertz or Avis. .Ive been uninsured for years if thats a fact.

[Kwasaki]

Id like to see a printout of the 90KPH condition. Hertz or Avis. .Ive been uninsured for years if thats a fact.

That's what small print is for ya know.

[IMHO]

Id like to see a printout of the 90KPH condition. Hertz or Avis. .Ive been uninsured for years if thats a fact.

I haven't rented myself, but have been called in to assist people when they've had incidents in rented cars, and have never been asked or heard of this. Anyways, the speed limit is 120km/hr in several places, so it doesn't make sense.

[Ace of Pop]

So you get shunted up the arse by a Vip Bus on the 120 Max KPH road to Fun City.