Declining Insurance in Ireland requires substantial Security Deposit
Mar 25, 2013, 3:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 35
Declining Insurance in Ireland requires substantial Security Deposit
I just returned from Ireland and rented a car for one week from Budget. In order to waive the extra insurance costs I was required to pay a 2,000 Euro deposit as well as a 25 Euro fee for the privilege of paying this deposit.
Seems this is "common" and Budget's head office will not help. I'm not thrilled about either charge although I did get the 2,000 Euro damage deposit back. The 25 Euro fee was not refunded...
Call me crazy but it seems a bit of a cash grab (and/or blackmail) to get you to buy their insurance. Like many others I'm covered by both my personal car insurance as well as my credit card.
Just posting this so others can review the rental terms prior to arriving in Ireland (and I guess other places in Europe). I've read that some rental agencies charge even higher fees.
Seems this is "common" and Budget's head office will not help. I'm not thrilled about either charge although I did get the 2,000 Euro damage deposit back. The 25 Euro fee was not refunded...
Call me crazy but it seems a bit of a cash grab (and/or blackmail) to get you to buy their insurance. Like many others I'm covered by both my personal car insurance as well as my credit card.
Just posting this so others can review the rental terms prior to arriving in Ireland (and I guess other places in Europe). I've read that some rental agencies charge even higher fees.
Mar 28, 2013, 10:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
For my credit cards (Amex, World MCs [used to not be], Visa Sig.) issued in the US, Ireland (but not Northern Ireland) is one of a handful of countries that are excluded from rental car coverage.
Apr 6, 2013, 11:25 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 585
Virtually all US credit cards and US driver insurances policies now exclude certain countries. Visa, for example, excludes Ireland, Israel, Jamaica and New Zealand.
Jan 28, 2015, 9:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Chase cards changed this and now have no country exclusions 
I believe this has been in effect since late 2013.
However, I just rented a budget car in Chile and declined insurance (since my cc has it) They took a $3,500 hold on my cc!!!! I couldn't believe it. They said they had to take a hold but my Spanish isn't great. I agreed... but didn't realize the hold would be so absurd. I don't know how they can get away with it.
I believe this has been in effect since late 2013.However, I just rented a budget car in Chile and declined insurance (since my cc has it) They took a $3,500 hold on my cc!!!! I couldn't believe it. They said they had to take a hold but my Spanish isn't great. I agreed... but didn't realize the hold would be so absurd. I don't know how they can get away with it.
Feb 12, 2015, 4:20 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 585
Most Chase cards, as far as I am aware, still do not provide rental car coverage in Ireland.
Feb 12, 2015, 4:21 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 585
Most Chase cards, as far as I am aware, still do not provide rental car coverage in Ireland.
25 euro fee was cheap. Some Irish car rental companies charge 50 euros.
25 euro fee was cheap. Some Irish car rental companies charge 50 euros.
Feb 12, 2015, 6:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
http://www.cardjournalist.com/increa...-card-holders/
https://www.chasebenefits.com/visasigVW1
Your info is outdated, which is good news. Just pick up a Chase card and be protected