** Vehicle Hire queries **

elperello

kenkin wrote: »

Thanks for the reply elperello.
Will I need fully comp insurance?

The hire company has insurance to cover both the car and and third party liability.
That comes included in the quoted price but there is an excess which means that you are liable for that amount if any accident or damage occurs.
The amount of the excess varies from company to company and will be larger for more expensive cars. Usually varies from €500 to €2500.

The car hire companies will sell you an extra policy at a daily rate to cover the excess but they charge a lot (varies company to company).

You can avoid this by taking out car hire excess insurance. All the big companies and some specialists sell this online.

In the event of a claim you pay the car hire company and then get reimbursed.
Bear in mind that you need to be able to carry the amount charged until you get reimbursed.

Of course you should also have travel insurance.

Jaguar240

Anybody watch BBC Holiday prog last night. Goldcar didn't fare very well

munchkin_utd

Jaguar240 wrote: »

Anybody watch BBC Holiday prog last night. Goldcar didn't fare very well

from review sites you'll see many negative reviews about them being chronically understaffed and having strange fuel costs and whatnot, and this from reviewers who are not one review wonders or from pure idiots but people who are widely travelled .

heres a link to that bbc programme on Goldcar which does mention that some of the main and costly compulsory terms and conditions are hidden in the small print.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/W9jQZ5RqB38SL8Wf3GBYh7/hiring-a-car-with-goldcar

Scottie99

I'm hiring from a Glasgow a Airport later in the year for 13 days. Has anyone used Green Motion? The reviews look poor...
Other suggestions?

Quazzie

Scottie99 wrote: »

I'm hiring from a Glasgow a Airport later in the year for 13 days. Has anyone used Green Motion? The reviews look poor...
Other suggestions?

Used Green Motion (in Liverpool) and I found them to be excellent which came as a nice surprise at the time

Scottie99

Quazzie wrote: »

Used Green Motion (in Liverpool) and I found them to be excellent which came as a nice surprise at the time

did you take out full insurance (excess ) with them?

itac

Quazzie wrote: »

Used Green Motion (in Liverpool) and I found them to be excellent which came as a nice surprise at the time

Just a quick note-Used them at Gatwick or Heathrow, very easy to deal with in person there, however, they do put a hold on your excess/deposit for up to 30days (and it's much closer to the full 30days rather than release it a day or two later!)

It is buried in their small print, but I'd always rented with Hertz before and had never had that happen, so was a little weirded out when I came home and had no money back for the best part of 3 weeks-emailed toward end of first week and was told UP TO 30days...it reappeared around the 3 week mark.

Not a slight on them, it is there in their T & C's, just if you're short on money, as I was at the time, it could make a difference to you!

Quazzie

Scottie99 wrote: »

did you take out full insurance (excess ) with them?

Nope. Just the basic and the rest was direct with AXA

Scottie99

Booked through Priceline and Avis - just couldn’t be bothered with hassle/risk with Green Motion..

giftgrub

First family trip planned for the US later this year, we're flying to San Francisco and then travelling to relatives in the north of the state. I'm looking at a one or two day car hire (dropping off at a different location) to get us there and just want to know people's thoughts on booking a car through something like expedia versus directly with the rental company?

Expedia seem to have lower prices than someone like Hertz or Avis but its been so long since I had to rent a car abroad I'm a bit confused about what to do. Any help would be appreciated

redmgar

Hi, has anyone any experience of car rental and driving in France?
If so did it take much getting used to driving on the opposite side of the road?
Also any tips on car rental over there?

finbarrk

I have done it 4 or 5 times. I still don't like it. I'll avoid it if I can. But it can be done alright, but I find it a bit stressful.

redmgar

cheers, what do you find the biggest challenge?

ambro25

If you're an experienced driver, there's no real difference, provided that you maintain (extra?) concentration at junctions, particularly when turning from a road onto another: remember to turn onto the right lane, not the left one which is the oncoming traffic over there. You'd be surprised how many RHD drivers, used to turn onto the left lane at home, 'fall' for that one time and time again.

Differences in driving styles and habits in and around Paris, relative to driving in Ireland, are too numerous to mention tbh, but you won't go far wrong if you just 'do what others are doing'. But one Irish habit I used to see very frequently in and around Dublin, was drivers far too unaware of their surroundings, driving in their bubble with eyes fixed front: you can't afford to drive in and around Paris, if that's you. You really need eyes all-around.

The one cardinal rule in and around Paris, is "do NOT dawdle", because that is when you'd end up in a fender bender. Local drivers drive more aggressively than passive-aggressively, and by anticipation: they drive based on what they expect you to do in the next second or half, not based on what you have done or are doing.

Hesitating in that context = increased likelihood of their misreading your intentions = bang.

So if you aren't sure where to go, or miss an exit, or similar: keep going, even if you have to double-back on yourself at the next roundabout or exit.

Remember also the priorité à droite, second biggest cause of accidents with foreign drivers I'm sure: unless they have a stop or give way sign on their road at a junction, cars coming from your right at a junction have the right of way - and would just drive straight on without even pausing. Even if 'their' road looks smaller/less significant etc. than the one you're on. Likewise if you have the right of way in such a context (beware the car behind you, expecting you to carry on at speed, when you might just brake through hesitation - especially if you brake late/hard: refer my comment above about not dawdling ). So pay attention to signals at junctions.

Other than that, no difference. But perhaps ask for an automatic, so you won't have to get used to shift gears with your other hand.

[I'm French, with an FR driving license since 1990, and have been driving LHD in FR -and elsewhere- and RHD in the UK and Ireland, since around 1993 to date, driving in France in a RHD every year since].

redmgar

cheers for the replies, never thought about the gearstick on opposite side. as an aside any suggestions for sat-nav apps for the region?

ambro25

redmgar wrote: »

cheers for the replies, never thought about the gearstick on opposite side. as an aside any suggestions for sat-nav apps for the region?

The gear stick is still in the middle, it's you who is on t'other side

Apps-wise, I've found maps.me to be alright last year (road trip from northern UK all the way down to Provence, 800 miles). Whichever you choose, make sure you don't get one which indicates speed traps. It's a loud fine if you get caught with it, in France.

Generally (still), a rule of thumb around Paris is: drive over there as if you were followed by a driver who's not really looking where they're going: keep up with the traffic, but anticipate (-more than usual) and signal intentions a long time in advance (break sooner and less hard, indicate for a long(er) time). And you should be OK

redcup342

giftgrub wrote: »

First family trip planned for the US later this year, we're flying to San Francisco and then travelling to relatives in the north of the state. I'm looking at a one or two day car hire (dropping off at a different location) to get us there and just want to know people's thoughts on booking a car through something like expedia versus directly with the rental company?

Expedia seem to have lower prices than someone like Hertz or Avis but its been so long since I had to rent a car abroad I'm a bit confused about what to do. Any help would be appreciated

Use booking.com if its cheaper, but make sure you book via the Irish website, if you book via the US one you'll get jacked on insurance when you go to pickup the car.

fdevine

First time driving in continental Europe can be a bit daunting but once you settle into it you'll be fine. Try to relax and think ahead but concentrate. I still find lane position tricky at times. When we drive abroad the radio generally stays off.

For navigation we used to use a TomTom sat nav but have been using Google Maps on a phone for a number of years now and it's never let me down.

Skyfloater

Used Expedia in Malaga six years ago. Went to the desk to pick up our car only to be told, "We are in dispute with Expedia at the moment, and are not accepting their bookings. Next customer, please" Ever since, I've always booked direct.

CiboC

Use the Argus web site, get a car hire excess policy from carhireexcess.ie and laugh in the reps face when they try and double your rental price at the desk by selling you the extra insurance.

emeldc

BOOK DIRECT. I used a broker once, paid for the service only to be charged again 3 months after I came home by the rental company. They claimed they weren't paid by the broker. It took me a further 9 months to get it back from the credit card company. The amount involved was only about €250 so nobody really gave a fcuk. But I was like a dog with a bone

redmgar

And the language barrier is no problem in regards to filling up with petrol ect?

ambro25

fdevine wrote: »

First time driving in continental Europe can be a bit daunting but once you settle into it you'll be fine. Try to relax and think ahead but concentrate. I still find lane position tricky at times. When we drive abroad the radio generally stays off.

For navigation we used to use a TomTom sat nav but have been using Google Maps on a phone for a number of years now and it's never let me down.

Another nugget, contrasting Irish (and British) habits that I've witnessed (and still do daily, on the M1/A1), with French habits: over there, most people merge back into the 'slow' lane after completing an overtake, rather than sit for miles on end in the 'fast' lane.

Expect to get severely headlight-flashed and hooted if you don't.

It's also a good idea to keep your indicator on for the entire duration of your overtake (everywhere: motorways and roads). It's actually a legal requirement over there. Very infrequently enforced, but then French police these days is a long (much more rules 'are rules' procedural) way than what it used to be back in the 90s.

fdevine

redmgar wrote: »

And the language barrier is no problem in regards to filling up with petrol ect?

Generally no different to here. Pull in, fill up, pay. It's very unlikely that you'll be asked anything. If you are, and you don't understand, just say so.

Some stations have card payment at the pump so you don't even need to deal with anyone.

Be aware that some petrol stations will be closed on Sundays. On our most recent trip we tried three places and none were open. Third place did accept cards at the pump though.

coylemj

I found that merging lanes on motorways were much shorter in France than here so when you are merging, you need to get up to motorway speed before you can see the motorway traffic because by the time you can see them, the merging lane will be running out fast.

Another effect is noticeable when you are on the motorway and someone is merging into your lane. Because of the shorter merging lane, you won't see him as early as you would here and he will appear on your right apparently out of nowhere so be ready for them when you see the merging sign or (if the traffic is light), maybe move into the middle lane when merging is about to happen.

naughtysmurf

I hire automatics on the continent, just makes things easier, don't mind paying a bit more for it

CelticRambler

ambro25 wrote: »

It's also a good idea to keep your indicator on for the entire duration of your overtake (everywhere: motorways and roads). It's actually a legal requirement over there. Very infrequently enforced ...

Infrequently enforced because it's not a legal requirment. The rules for indicating on French motorways are the same as in Ireland/UK - indicate left before you pull left to overtake. Cancel indicator. Indicate right before you pull right in front of the vehicle(s) you've passed.

When driving a larger vehicle, or one with restricted visibility (which won't be your case) it is customary to indicate right before you've finished overtaking a lorry so that they can tell you when it's safe for you to pull in.

In other respects, the advice given above is accurate: if a French driver indicates left, it means he has decided that he has enough space/time and is going to pull out. Do not try to cut him off! Similarly, lane-hogging is very much frowned upon, so you will get flashed if the driver behind thinks you should be in the right-hand lane. And for the same reason, if you've just been overtaken, that car is very likely to cut in ahead of you much sooner than you'd be used to when driving Irish roads.

Pick a bad time of day, however, and no-one will be overtaking anyone! You don't say what exactly you mean by "the outskirts" of Paris, but on either the Périphérique or the outer (motorway) ringroad, it can take hours to get partway round the city. My record was last year - about 5km in 2.5hours between 6 and 8.30pm (no accidents - just traffic).

ambro25

The Code de la Route might have had an update then.

Because my Mum certainly got done -with points- for exactly that 'offence', 20-odd years ago. Motorway location (A31), CRS on motorbike (...and month end :pac: )

That's why I usually mention it in such threads.

EDIT - see Art 414-4 excerpted in the 05/11/17 14:31 post in this thread. The rule suggests (the portion highlighted in yellow is the driving instructor's interpretation) to keep the indicator on, when you're overtaking several vehicles

CelticRambler

ambro25 wrote: »

The Code de la Route might have had an update then.

Because my Mum certainly got done -with points- for exactly that 'offence', 20-odd years ago. Motorway location (A31), CRS on motorbike (...and month end :pac: )

That's why I usually mention it in such threads.

EDIT - see Art 414-4 excerpted in the 05/11/17 14:31 post in this thread. The rule suggests (the portion highlighted in yellow is the driving instructor's interpretation) to keep the indicator on, when you're overtaking several vehicles

Yeah - a lesson in "beware what you read on the internet". The person posting on that thread has added their own text to the Code de la route!

Better go directly to the Code itself on legifrance.gouv.fr which doesn't mention indicators at all (version en vigeur is that of 2003) :cool:

... and well off topic now, but CRS on a motorbike? :eek:

ambro25

CelticRambler wrote: »

... and well off topic now, but CRS on a motorbike? :eek:

Indeed (see bottom middle), indeed (see halfway down page)

They've always been very ubiquitous on the A31, between Luxembourg and Nancy (I'm talking decades). Then you have the Gendarmes (less frequent, they seem more concerned with the nearby bit of Strasbourg-Paris A4) and of course the 'flying' customs (Douane Volante, although these guys are mostly active between Luxembourg and Metz, and mostly concerned with artics and minibuses).

Probably the most patrolled bit of French motorway after the Périph', due to traffic density and 'international' make-up (the entirety of Benelux and northern Germany -with the odd Scandinavians thrown in- seems to transit on it, when they drive to and from Southern Europe...to say nothing of road freight).

Brexit oblige, I'm actually looking forward to reacquaint myself with that area, the CdlR and 'smurfs hiding in bushes' (moving to Luxbg next month). We'll be keeping and local-reg'ing two of our RHD cars (1 for occasional summer use), so I'm sure they'll be flagging us down for a chit-chat often enough :pac:

/off-t