Autoeurope vs. Direct car rental Dublin
Jun 1st, 2024, 10:08 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Autoeurope vs. Direct car rental Dublin
Hello fellow Fodorites!
We will be visiting Ireland 7/18-8/3 and will need a car (I know I'm late renting it but my mother passed away in the middle of my trip planning and have been dealing with that) so have been looking through car rental threads. What I'd like to confirm is if we rent through AutoEurope and have and accident/issue that we will need to first pay the rental company and then make a claim with AutoEurope? Or does AutoEurope take care of everything for us? If you have to pay the rental company first and then make a claim, what is the benefit of going through AutoEurope vs. renting direct through the rental company? I'm looking at renting through Hertz or Sixt.
The supercoverage add on I'm seeing with rental companies seems to make it a $0 deductible? Is that correct? Looks like though still might not cover tires or windows and that will be extra most places?
Finally, we are staying a few days at the start of the trip in Dublin to rest up and to visit with our daughter who will be there for the summer. I was thinking of getting the rental car after that somewhere in Dublin vs. at the airport when we first arrive, but, after further planning our trip, we know we will want to get an early start the day we leave for our tour of Ireland so are now thinking we'll just rent the car at the airport so we don't have to start the day doing that. Additionally, thinking it will be easier to drop it at the airport on the way home. I know we'll be paying for a few days we won't use it as much but it might be nice to have it in town to help our daughter with things she might need as she won't have a car. Am I wrong in my thinking? I read a thread where someone wanted to rent in in the city vs. the airport and there weren't any cars available when they went to pick it up. Seems like the airport has more vehicles available?
We travel often so I'm not sure why I'm finding this rental car issue in Ireland so stressful but it is! Thanks for any tips/advice!
We will be visiting Ireland 7/18-8/3 and will need a car (I know I'm late renting it but my mother passed away in the middle of my trip planning and have been dealing with that) so have been looking through car rental threads. What I'd like to confirm is if we rent through AutoEurope and have and accident/issue that we will need to first pay the rental company and then make a claim with AutoEurope? Or does AutoEurope take care of everything for us? If you have to pay the rental company first and then make a claim, what is the benefit of going through AutoEurope vs. renting direct through the rental company? I'm looking at renting through Hertz or Sixt.
The supercoverage add on I'm seeing with rental companies seems to make it a $0 deductible? Is that correct? Looks like though still might not cover tires or windows and that will be extra most places?
Finally, we are staying a few days at the start of the trip in Dublin to rest up and to visit with our daughter who will be there for the summer. I was thinking of getting the rental car after that somewhere in Dublin vs. at the airport when we first arrive, but, after further planning our trip, we know we will want to get an early start the day we leave for our tour of Ireland so are now thinking we'll just rent the car at the airport so we don't have to start the day doing that. Additionally, thinking it will be easier to drop it at the airport on the way home. I know we'll be paying for a few days we won't use it as much but it might be nice to have it in town to help our daughter with things she might need as she won't have a car. Am I wrong in my thinking? I read a thread where someone wanted to rent in in the city vs. the airport and there weren't any cars available when they went to pick it up. Seems like the airport has more vehicles available?
We travel often so I'm not sure why I'm finding this rental car issue in Ireland so stressful but it is! Thanks for any tips/advice!
Jun 1st, 2024, 04:25 PM
#2
Welcome to Fodors. Caveat -- I often rent through AutoEurope but I generally don't take the supercoverage/top cover and the example I'm going to cite was in the UK, not Ireland so there may be be some slight differences.
The one and only time I did take the full CDW I did have damage -- there was no claim involved. I had full coverage so I just drove up with the car to return it and that was that. The extra insurance was actually through the rental agency -- AE was just the broker.
I'd just give AE a call to clarify if you have any questions -- but IME full coverage is just that.
The one and only time I did take the full CDW I did have damage -- there was no claim involved. I had full coverage so I just drove up with the car to return it and that was that. The extra insurance was actually through the rental agency -- AE was just the broker.
I'd just give AE a call to clarify if you have any questions -- but IME full coverage is just that.
Jun 1st, 2024, 04:28 PM
#3
Oh -- re the rest of your question -- having a car for a few days un used in Dublin could put a real crimp in your options. Will your accommodations have parking? Driving IN Dublin can be a real PITA. Collecting the car at DUB is the easiest but probably not on your arrival day.
Jun 1st, 2024, 04:59 PM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,515
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome to Fodors. Caveat -- I often rent through AutoEurope but I generally don't take the supercoverage/top cover and the example I'm going to cite was in the UK, not Ireland so there may be be some slight differences.
The one and only time I did take the full CDW I did have damage -- there was no claim involved. I had full coverage so I just drove up with the car to return it and that was that. The extra insurance was actually through the rental agency -- AE was just the broker.
I'd just give AE a call to clarify if you have any questions -- but IME full coverage is just that.
The one and only time I did take the full CDW I did have damage -- there was no claim involved. I had full coverage so I just drove up with the car to return it and that was that. The extra insurance was actually through the rental agency -- AE was just the broker.
I'd just give AE a call to clarify if you have any questions -- but IME full coverage is just that.
I did the exact same thing in Scotland in 2022. We've rented around 50 cars in the past 30 years. We've rented from AutoEurope when they were in Camden, ME. Never took out any insurance. Except in Scotland. Purchased the Hertz (or whatever) insurance with a special option to get free towing. Sure enough, we hit a "something" on the side of the road & wiped out a tire. In the middle of nowhere. Had to be towed to the tire repair place. Ate up an entire day. Nobody ever asked for $$$ or anything when we got the tire repaired & when we eventually turned in the car with bumper & side damage.
Stu Dudley
Jun 1st, 2024, 10:52 PM
#6
I am a regular and highly satisfied AutoEurope customer, infact we also rented at Dublin Airport in September 2023 via AE (supplier was Sixt). I usually opt for the super cover (sometimes referred to as Refundable Excess or Full Protection) with AutoEurope for peace of mind. In the event of a claim, you would pay the supplier/agency e.g. Sixt, and thereafter claim reimbursement from AutoEurope. Thankfully, I have never had occasion to claim but I understand this process is painless and expeditious- AutoEurope's customer service standards are very high. More information on this here : https://www.autoeurope.com/travel-bl...e-excess-work/. If you bought full protection from the supplier directly and there was an incident, you walk away without paying anything - the supplier deals with it directly.
The reason people use AE is (1) very competitive pricing, sometimes cheaper than going direct to the supplier due to their sheer scale of business and negotiated bulk rates (2) cheaper insurance coverage than the providers' coverage - albeit with an additional step as previously explained. (3) having a trusted, highly responsive intermediary to resolve any potential problems faced locally.
The reason people use AE is (1) very competitive pricing, sometimes cheaper than going direct to the supplier due to their sheer scale of business and negotiated bulk rates (2) cheaper insurance coverage than the providers' coverage - albeit with an additional step as previously explained. (3) having a trusted, highly responsive intermediary to resolve any potential problems faced locally.
