Choose a Rental
There are many car rental companies online, most of which are chain companies, like Sixt and Hertz. There's also apps that can compare best prices and car models with a click, like Kayak, Priceline, Turo. Or book through your credit card company, AmEx, for example.
It's a fairly simple task. You look for a car that's within your budget, fits the number of people in your party, Automatic or Manual transmission, petrol or diesel, size of the trunk (in case you have a lot of luggage), pick up/drop off location, and if an IDP (International Driving Permit) is required.
Please be aware, most cars in Europe have manual transmission. If, like me, you need a car with automatic transmission, you need to double check the car you are booking is that. Besides that, send the rental car company an email to double check they do have automatic transmission cars for you on the day of your arrival.
Always double, triple check pick up and drop off locations. It's always best to pick up at the airport if that's how I arrive at the destination country. Unless I take a train that directly takes me to the city or I only need a car a couple days after I arrived, then I choose a pick up location that is in the city. The same goes with dropping off the rental car. There was this once, I had to return a rental at a different city after office hour, I had to call a taxi to get me back to the city where the hotel was. It was a hassle. Never again.
Rental Insurance
When you book a rental, there is always this question that comes next:
Should I buy insurance through rental car company? Or Insurance through my credit card company?
I have purchased insurance through both before and the experiences were different. However, the accidents took place in 2 completely different regions so I am not saying this is what it's like every time an accident happens. But, here's the story:
Insurance Through Rental Company
I was in a very minor accident at an outdoor parking lot in Dubai, UAE. A taxi driver hit the rear end of my rental as I was backing off the car. I asked him to call the cops because I did not speak Arabic. He did. A police car came shortly and a police officer got out of the car started speaking in Arabic very fast and furiously to the taxi driver. The policeman turned to look at me and guided me to a shaded area, asked me to wait for him. He came back later and told me the rental company would take car of it. I asked if I needed anything from him or him from me. He took my statement and let me go. On the day I returned the car, the rental company confirmed the accident with me and insurance coverage from my package. I never heard from him again.
American Express Card Member Rental Insurance
Another incident happened outside of London, UK. It was a bit more serious. Well, it was also my first time driving on the other side of the road so it took a little getting used to.. But, before I got used to it, the accident happened. I was at a turn but got too close to a pole and the left rear view mirror got busted. To my defense, it was a narrow country road, dark, and we were very tired and hungry from getting lost for over an hour. It was scary to get in trouble in a different country. Luckily, before the trip, I had already signed up for Car Rental Damage Insurance with American Express Gold Card. We did a quick research on AmEx site for what to do next.
There are 2 plans, $19.95 USD and $24.95 USD. California and Florida residents have different rates. I signed up for the $19.95 package. The charge is per renal period, not per day. The plan starts as soon as you get the rental car. So, I signed up on my AmEx member page before leaving for London, but did not get a rental 3 days after I arrived. The coverage did not start on the day I signed up, but on the day I picked up the car with my AmEx card.
Now, in order for the plan to kick in, you need to use your AmEx card to pay for the rental and to refuse Rental company's Full Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or any similar coverage at pick up. The plan covers damages to and theft of rental car up to $100,000. It also has secondary medical coverage and death coverage for driver and passenger. It's easy to enroll, just log on to your AmEx member page, click on Benefits tab on top, it takes you to the Benefits page with all the benefits list out, look for Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance, click on learn more to enroll from there. That's it. If you have more than 1 AmEx card, make sure you log in to the account with the card you are using for rental.
The accident happened late at night so we went back the next morning to take photos of the road, the sign/pole, damage of the rental/condition of the car, as many photos as we possibly could to document the accident. If you have a collision with another driver, you will need photos of their vehicle and insurance information. Also, try to remember (or take photos) of the location, like street name(s).
Another thing that is important is police report according to insurance site. We found the police station in town, a red brick house next to a foot massage shop and a toy store. The front door was locked with a sign saying to ring the bell. I rang the bell, a guy came out from a side door asking if we needed anything. I explained what happened and he told us to wait and went back inside. A while later, he led us through the side door inside. We sat down in a small (interrogation) room, a friendly looking policeman came and asked if anyone was hurt. I said no. He said there was nothing he could do for us. So, apparently, according to him, if no one was injured, the UK police would not file a report. He kept saying "this kind of things happen a lot. Nothing to worry about." He meant cars hitting a road sign, or more specifically, tourists hitting a road sign. But he saw our faces confused and scared, he gave us his information in case the insurance company or rental company needed anything from him. He kept saying, "Everything is okay. Don't worry." So, we left, continued our trip north to another town.
File a Claim
Came the day to return the rental, I mentioned the accident to a staff at the drop off office. He, like the police officer, kept assuring me that everything was okay and their insurance company would notify me the charges via email in a few weeks. (It's either British men are really really nice or they are just used to this kind of issue.) After we got back to the States, we got a bill via email with a $770 USD charge. I notified AmEx, completed information on the New Claim page with photos, street name, police officer name/number, date/time, rental company information, attached damage charge pdf, and sent. There was a few emails back and forth a couple times with AmEx regarding a few details but nothing more than that. About a month later, AmEx paid the rental company in full and that was that.
Chase also offer its version of Car Rental Insurance with Sapphire Cards. Check out your member page for more information.
Driving Outside of the US
Before I arrive, I always try to learn road signs in the country I am going to. Just to get familiar with the basics. You can always Google traffic signs in UK or Dubai or Korea to get a list of traffic signs in that country. It's always good to know ahead of time to prevent any accident from happening.
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