Collision Damage Waiver

linda1407

Guest
Hi, we are hiring a motorhome in a few weeks to go to the Isle of Mull, I either have to pay for their insurance damage waiver which is costly or pay a huge deposit and then take out my own collision damage waiver, has anyone on here done this before please and if so what company have you used to take your insurance out with.

Would appreciate your advice please?

Thanks

Linda
 
There was a bit on Watchdog either early this year or late last year about one company rising hirers off for so called damage they denied, I think they had paid the big deposit and then couldn't get some or all of it back.

I cant help with your questions but have a google on watchdog and see if you can find it, ifs it is the same company it may be worth checking some others out

Edit: Sorry it wasn't Watchdog it was Rip Off Britain, this should be the link to the episode: BBC One - Rip Off Britain, Holidays: Series 6, Episode 7
 
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Car hire insurance

I've used this company Car Hire Excess Insurance | Annual & Daily Policies | I4CH a few times when hiring cars in Germany. The policy was about £40 and lasts all year. Dunno how good it was, as I didn't have to make a claim. The German car hire companies just accepted the certificate without question.
I suppose you'd need to find out if this was acceptable for a motorhome and in Scotland!
 
Know it's expensive but for piece of mind........

We use the hire company's damage waiver for piece of mind. All it takes is someone less careful than yourselves to bump into you or even slip off the narrow verges on Mull to spoil your holiday. The hire company also usually covers the windscreen and tyres.
We have once been struck on motorway with a chunk of truck tyre which blew out in front of us, 340 GBP for a headlamp cluster and paintwork. Once for an incredibly stupid pheasant which also smashed the headlight on a hire car. 270GBP for that one, which thankfully was covered by hire company cover.
I do grudge these not so hidden extra costs but feel better for having them.
Enjoy Mull, it is outstanding venue.
Our favourite island.
Slainte, Growlie69
 
IJenk52 said:
I've used this company Car Hire Excess Insurance | Annual & Daily Policies | I4CH a few times when hiring cars in Germany. The policy was about £40 and lasts all year. Dunno how good it was, as I didn't have to make a claim. The German car hire companies just accepted the certificate without question.
I suppose you'd need to find out if this was acceptable for a motorhome and in Scotland!
Click to expand...


I have used them a few years ago. good value but something inback in mind tells me the cover is not for UK hires? dunno, but worth checking.
 
Growlie69 said:
We use the hire company's damage waiver for piece of mind. All it takes is someone less careful than yourselves to bump into you or even slip off the narrow verges on Mull to spoil your holiday. The hire company also usually covers the windscreen and tyres.
We have once been struck on motorway with a chunk of truck tyre which blew out in front of us, 340 GBP for a headlamp cluster and paintwork. Once for an incredibly stupid pheasant which also smashed the headlight on a hire car. 270GBP for that one, which thankfully was covered by hire company cover.
I do grudge these not so hidden extra costs but feel better for having them.
Enjoy Mull, it is outstanding venue.
Our favourite island.
Slainte, Growlie69
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Thank you, sadly the companies insurance doesn't cover an awful lot, there is an extra list of things that aren't covered ie windscreen, wing mirror, wheels, tyres the list is endless. I am beginning to wish we hadn't hired a van now as we will be whittling about damaging it, the other insurance covers those parts but there is an excess.
 
linda1407 said:
Thank you, sadly the companies insurance doesn't cover an awful lot, there is an extra list of things that aren't covered ie windscreen, wing mirror, wheels, tyres the list is endless. I am beginning to wish we hadn't hired a van now as we will be whittling about damaging it, the other insurance covers those parts but there is an excess.
Click to expand...

I may be talking rubbish but is it worth looking if you can take out a policy to cover the excesses? Seem to recall its something that can be done but it may only be for big money contracts rather than personal hire insurance.

I know you can only insure a vehicle itself once so may be worth asking whoever you use to insure house/car etc if they can advise, or maybe check if there is an insurance advisory service in existence?

Just did a quick Google and looking at the top four results, two were for Citizens Advice and the other two were Money Advice Service so give them a go, both free to use.

What you need to know about insurance - Citizens Advice

Insurance - Money Advice Service

Dont let it spoil your holiday
 
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The other thing to consider is excesses normally have terms and conditions and exclusions.....one important one is covering yourself for any potential loss of revenue

Eg an insurance covers damage to the vehicle so that is covered but the hire company cant rent whilst it is being repaired so give you the bill

Speak to a good broker and ask about short term indemnity insurance it might be cheaper ...You have an insurable interest

Channa
 
You can definitely take out a separate insurance to cover lots of extras, including the CDW. Just Google car hire excess insurance and you'll get lots of offerings. I hired a car in Australia when I went to visit my daughter and we did a road trip... literally saved hundreds by not going with the hire company's CDW and excess policy. I did the same for a week in the Canaries and it only cost a few pounds to remove all worries. Money Saving Expert is always a great source of information about every aspect of travel/insurance/money. I'm guessing motorhome cover will be more expensive than for a car but it's well worth investigating the options rather than take what's offered. Good luck and enjoy your trip :)


Edit to say... this is an interesting read and mentions a specialist car hire excess insurance company. It looks as though motorhomes are excluded from the main offerings but they have a link to a sister site that covers all types of vans, including campers.
Holiday car hire: 10 ways to avoid being ripped off | Money | The Guardian
 
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OP should perhaps have a chat with Wildcampings partner AIB they may be able to help or point in the right direction

Channa
 
Nabsim said:
Would they need to be a full member Andrew?
Click to expand...

Only full members get a discount ( worth joining for that) but a referral from wc cant do us any harm and as a broker should be able to assist my logic

Channa
 
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