Car Insurance Survey  -   Six questions - Posted 4-12-2013

1.  Name of company
2.  Price per day.  (Total price divided by # of days. EXCLUDING insurance)
3.  Did you buy the rental car insurance?
4.  Was insurance a problem, yes or no
5.  Good experience or bad experience
6.  short comment.
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Two Replied added 4-13-13

A.  On March 31st I just rented a full size car at Payless at the airport. For free they upgraded me to a VW Jetta from a Nissan Versa since my reserved car was not available when I arrived.
For 8 days I paid $152.00, he tried to run my bill up by and extra $20.00 but I showed him my printout from my internet reservation and he backed down.
For $17.95 on my AMEX card I had all insurance comprehensive and medical coverage, etc. I needed except Liability. Each one time $17.95 charge covers me for up to 42 days rental at a time.
For $90.00 for a ONE YEAR multi use policy and multiple rentals I paid through Vagabundos Travel Club, on line. Annual membership with many Baja benefits is $35.00 per year.
www.Vagabundos.com.
I confirmed ahead of time by phone that Payless Los Cabos would accept my Vagabundos Mexican Liability policy that I paid $90.00 for. It was about the same price as I would have paid for 8 days of liability at Payless.
At Payless Los Cabos, he looked it over VERY carefully and accepted the policy for liability insurance without further charges.
I walked away with teh entire 8 day rental form Payless for $152.00.
You have to beat them at their game.
I was pleased.

B.  Last two times I rented from them, Europcar included basic liability of 250,000 pesos in their quoted rates. Additional liability coverage is available.
http://www.europcar.com.mx/en/car-hire-mexico.php

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Replies.............Posted 4-12-13

A. 1. Advantage
     2. 12.22 per day for full size
     3. Liability only, my upgraded American Express package covers the rest (24.95 per entire rental)
     4. No
     5. Normally good but didn’t have my reservation this time, had to show them my yahoo confirmation
     6. Double check the math on conversion, overbilled several times. Ask how much per day insurance is if you only get liability.

B.  I rented a car for 14 days from Payless this year January 13-27.  I used Travelocity. When I booked, they gave me a TOTAL price guarantee of $145. The total bill was actually $520. Big difference.  Payless at the airport told me I had to buy the insurance at $20/day.  I don’t remember what the rest of difference was. I was a little prepared that I would have to buy insurance. I can’t remember if I was told $11 or $14/day. So HUGE difference from the Travelocity price and big diff from what I was told to expect and what it actually was.

C.  1.  Fox
2.  Price per day.  (Total price divided by # of days. EXCLUDING insurance) - $8/day
3.  Did you buy the rental car insurance? - Only liability, which was $15/day 
4.  Was insurance a problem, yes or no - NO
5.  Good experience or bad experience - GOOD
6.  If you'd like make a short comment. - I researched this a lot and knew I would have to pay liability. I thought $23 per day, plus taxes and fees also typical of the US airport rentals was very reasonable. I corresponded with them beforehand and there were no surprises. Total rental for 7 days was $210.
 
D.   Payless
$23/day for an 11 day rental on a Premium car which was upgraded to a van.
Made to buy the PLI insurance at $19/day.
I argued against buying the insurance, but they said it was required by law. I would have walked away but knew that I could not get a van anywhere else for even close to the same total cost.
     If you want to do something very beneficial for everyone, lets sort out the insurance requirement. Each company seems to have their own variation on what is mandatory. Each time I rent at SJD it is different. Sometimes you don't need any insurance, other times you get hosed like I did for $19/day.... very aggravating. 
     Everyone has their own comfort zone on insurance, but it would be nice to know what the actual minimum requirements are. Perhaps we could do a poll to find out which companies did not require you to purchase any insurance.

E.  1.  Fox
      2.  $7.39
      3.  We added on only the personal liability
      4.  They weren't too pushy about trying to upgrade me to Full Coverage, since I had my print-out from American Express on what my card would cover.
      5.  Good experience
      6.  I contacted American Express in advance and they walked me through exactly what I should do re: levels of insurance -- which to waive and which one to purchase.