Using foreign website to get cheaper rate (as US resident) allowed?
Feb 13, 2019, 8:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
Using foreign website to get cheaper rate (as US resident) allowed?
I'm a US citizen with a US driver license.
I noticed that if I book a car on enterprise.co.uk (their international site), for a US car rental (in say, Boston), the price is quoted in british pounds etc, and it automatically includes all insurance/liability coverage for the same price in equivalent US dollars had I booked the same on their US .com website.
If I book this, will there be any issues in either honoring the reservation or honoring the coverage if there's an accident (since I'm basically going on their foreign facing website to get the deal). I read all the terms etc and haven't specifically found anything excluding US residents from using a UK website, but I want to be sure.
This question is specifically for Enterprise, but I believe its the same for any other US car rental company also - their foreign websites typically do include insurance in the standard rates.
I noticed that if I book a car on enterprise.co.uk (their international site), for a US car rental (in say, Boston), the price is quoted in british pounds etc, and it automatically includes all insurance/liability coverage for the same price in equivalent US dollars had I booked the same on their US .com website.
If I book this, will there be any issues in either honoring the reservation or honoring the coverage if there's an accident (since I'm basically going on their foreign facing website to get the deal). I read all the terms etc and haven't specifically found anything excluding US residents from using a UK website, but I want to be sure.
This question is specifically for Enterprise, but I believe its the same for any other US car rental company also - their foreign websites typically do include insurance in the standard rates.
Feb 13, 2019, 8:35 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
I've booked US rentals (as a US resident) on rental companies' foreign sites on a number of occasions without any issues, but I've never tried to use the insurance benefits.
Feb 13, 2019, 10:32 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 610
These threads come up fairly often, and there's never been a definite answer. People have made it work, but no one has reported having to use insurance benefits, so the answer is that anything can happen. Too much of a risk for my taste.
Feb 13, 2019, 4:06 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
If you have an accident and need to make an insurance claim (particularly if significant damage to a vehicle and worse, a person) you will find yourself in a very challenging situation. Expect that the insurance coverage will be invalid and you will be personally responsible.
Feb 13, 2019, 4:21 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
+1 - This is the key.
1. You won't know until you need the insurance. At that point it is too late.
2. Nobody looks carefully at this at the time of the rental because they look very, very carefully if the policy is invoked, e.g. there is an accident.
This is simply a more significantly problematic issue than people who book under discounts to which they are not entitled and ignore the contract provision voiding all coverage if the rental is fraudulent.
1. You won't know until you need the insurance. At that point it is too late.
2. Nobody looks carefully at this at the time of the rental because they look very, very carefully if the policy is invoked, e.g. there is an accident.
This is simply a more significantly problematic issue than people who book under discounts to which they are not entitled and ignore the contract provision voiding all coverage if the rental is fraudulent.