SmartBusiness
01-19-2008, 04:12 PM
Check out this site:
www.flyertalk.com (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=344152)
This is a forum for professional travelers that always find the best value. This group knows in ins-and-outs of every travel discount. Avis is generally considered the most reliable and most discountable agency out there. There are dozens of discount codes that are pretty much open to the public that offer much better deals than the standard AAA, delta, etc.. discount codes. You just have to be a bit creative. One of the most longstanding and reliable discount codes with Avis is # G417900. Just make your Avis reservation online and enter this in the "AWD" code box. You will get a very competitive rate, unlimited miles, and a $3k maximum insurance cap.
Speaking of insurance..the rental car insurance is not a total ripoff, contrary to popular belief. It's expensive, but sometimes worthwhile. You DO NOT want to put a rental claim on your personal auto policy. Even though you are covered. If your only renting for a day or two, and the insurance from the rental company is only $15-$20 per day, thats not a horrible deal. For $40 bucks you are completely and totally off-the-hook if you smash up their car. Did you know that you are also responsible for the rental company's "loss of use" on the vehicle? That means that for whatever time it takes to get that smashed up vehicle back on the road, you are responsible for the lost rental revenue, in addition to the repair costs. Not if you take the insurance. Rental car insurance is negotiable at the counter. It's a very high profit product and often can be negotiated down to as low as $10 - $12 per day.
Do you have an AMEX card? AMEX has a great rental car insurance program. You need to call them and sign up for it. Every time you rent a vehicle you will be covered completely by Amex for a flat rate of $19.95 per rental. Not per day, that's per rental, up to a maximum of 30 days. Now that's a great value. Smash up a rental car, turn it in, and you don't owe a dime, and your insurance company is never even contacted. The bottom line is...Yes, you are generally covered by your auto insurance for rental cars. But it's a horrible idea to use that coverage for rental vehicles. Your driving a strange car, in a strange area, and the chance of an accident is much higher than at home.
www.flyertalk.com (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=344152)
This is a forum for professional travelers that always find the best value. This group knows in ins-and-outs of every travel discount. Avis is generally considered the most reliable and most discountable agency out there. There are dozens of discount codes that are pretty much open to the public that offer much better deals than the standard AAA, delta, etc.. discount codes. You just have to be a bit creative. One of the most longstanding and reliable discount codes with Avis is # G417900. Just make your Avis reservation online and enter this in the "AWD" code box. You will get a very competitive rate, unlimited miles, and a $3k maximum insurance cap.
Speaking of insurance..the rental car insurance is not a total ripoff, contrary to popular belief. It's expensive, but sometimes worthwhile. You DO NOT want to put a rental claim on your personal auto policy. Even though you are covered. If your only renting for a day or two, and the insurance from the rental company is only $15-$20 per day, thats not a horrible deal. For $40 bucks you are completely and totally off-the-hook if you smash up their car. Did you know that you are also responsible for the rental company's "loss of use" on the vehicle? That means that for whatever time it takes to get that smashed up vehicle back on the road, you are responsible for the lost rental revenue, in addition to the repair costs. Not if you take the insurance. Rental car insurance is negotiable at the counter. It's a very high profit product and often can be negotiated down to as low as $10 - $12 per day.
Do you have an AMEX card? AMEX has a great rental car insurance program. You need to call them and sign up for it. Every time you rent a vehicle you will be covered completely by Amex for a flat rate of $19.95 per rental. Not per day, that's per rental, up to a maximum of 30 days. Now that's a great value. Smash up a rental car, turn it in, and you don't owe a dime, and your insurance company is never even contacted. The bottom line is...Yes, you are generally covered by your auto insurance for rental cars. But it's a horrible idea to use that coverage for rental vehicles. Your driving a strange car, in a strange area, and the chance of an accident is much higher than at home.