BajaNomad

Car Rental CSL

skim - 7-16-2011 at 01:36 PM

Well thanks to many on this board, we've planned a nice trip to the East Cape in late Sept. Destination: Buena Vista (spa).

My question: we're taking my parents and our two children, so six in total. I checked the rates with National Rent a Car. To rent a minivan is $110 per day! Their economy cars are $19 a day. I realized larger cars will cost more, but I was shocked at the difference. We need a six passenger car; does anyone have any good advice for me? Thank you.

Bob and Susan - 7-16-2011 at 02:49 PM

go to that site that lets you bid...

i forget the name
expedia
or
something

one guy told me his car in loreto was $12usa a day

remember credit card covers some of the insurance
check before you leave

Terry28 - 7-16-2011 at 03:13 PM

Easy...rent two economy cars....and if you have american express that card covers the insurance...

Bajahowodd - 7-16-2011 at 03:33 PM

It wasn't all that long ago when rental rates in CSL were dirt cheap. But, as the place grew and became more like "home", timid travelers stopped using cabs and decided to drive around and explore. Higher demand equals higher rates.

Assuming that the you really want to travel as a group, two cars is not the answer.

Check out the various rental companies listed on this page, and good luck.
http://www.loscabosguide.com/services/carrents.htm

UnoMas - 7-16-2011 at 04:04 PM

You will still have to pay some where between $5.00 - $10.00 a day for liability insurance above the rental quote and is non negotiable, They will also try to hook you for collision coverage but as stated here if you use a major credit card it will cover that for you. Visa covers up to $50,000 in auto ins., check with your credit card co. to get the details, stick to your guns and decline all adds and they will finally give up. My visa card issuer told me that if they insist that you take out the collision coverage, get it in writing on their letter head and they will refund that cost to you but it has never gone that far.
Good Luck and have a great trip. :bounce:

Heather - 7-16-2011 at 04:11 PM

We were there a couple of weeks ago and rental with liability for the week was about $160 US. Pretty good deal, I thought. Some places were cheaper, too, but we went with Thrifty! There were 5 of us and shuttles to and from airport would have been about $100, so much better to rent.

Cost was $7.00/day, liability was $12.

I agree with the rent 2 cars idea!

Heather

Howard - 7-16-2011 at 04:44 PM

Was the $12 a day for insurance the "just walk away" insurance or did it have deductibles? If so, what were the deductibles?
Thanks

Bajahowodd - 7-16-2011 at 05:08 PM

Whoa! It has always been my understanding that similar to rentals in the US, liability on the vehicle was included in the price. The big deal has always been the collision/ comprehensive. Although it has been posted here a number of thimes, certain credit card companies do provide coverage for the Coll/ Comp, but it's though contracted vendors and only reimbursible. So, if you don't have Coll/ Comp, and amage the vehicle, they will chrage you upon return.

Again, the liability thing should be included in the daily rental charge. If they are asking you to pay more, it's only for higher limits of coverage. Same as in the US. Minimum liabilty rates. You won't get arrested if you are in an accident. Makes little sense to me to buy more insurance than you need. At least as far as liability is concerned.

skim - 7-16-2011 at 06:05 PM

Thanks for all your helpful replies. I don't think I'd mind so much paying the smaller car rates, I was just shocked that a regular minivan was $110 per day.

UnoMas - 7-17-2011 at 07:24 AM

Howodd,
It is my understanding if you damage the car they will charge the credit card, they take a blank signed slip at time of rental and return it upon return as long as there is no damage.

I agree that the the ins. should be in the rental price but they have never budged on the extra charge. This has been brought up several times here, it would be nice if Jeff or another Mexico ins. agent could chime in and give us the reason for the charge.

karenintx - 7-17-2011 at 07:58 AM

Yes, as a consumer I agree that insurance charges should be shown when considering a rental...even the US websites do not included the cost of insurance in their prices. It is always in the fine print just before you hit the comfirm button..."would you like to add"! At least in the US your personal auto liability will cover you in a rental car, an like others here have mentioned you can use your c/c for the physical damage. As far as I know Diner's Club is the only primary coverage on p/d the rest (c/c) are secondary only after your personal auto insurance pays.

Also in the US if you have a claim on the p/d, the rental car company has the right to charge your c/c until they know for sure your auto insurance is current and/or will pay the claim. Be there done that when our car was stolen at a Miami Hotel which was valet parked!

Good Luck with what ever you do.

RnR - 7-17-2011 at 08:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Whoa! It has always been my understanding that similar to rentals in the US, liability on the vehicle was included in the price. The big deal has always been the collision/ comprehensive. Although it has been posted here a number of thimes, certain credit card companies do provide coverage for the Coll/ Comp, but it's though contracted vendors and only reimbursible. So, if you don't have Coll/ Comp, and amage the vehicle, they will chrage you upon return.

Again, the liability thing should be included in the daily rental charge. If they are asking you to pay more, it's only for higher limits of coverage. Same as in the US. Minimum liabilty rates. You won't get arrested if you are in an accident. Makes little sense to me to buy more insurance than you need. At least as far as liability is concerned.


Bajahowodd is exactly right!

Basic liability is INCLUDED in the rental rate. The stuff that the rental car companies push so strongly is SUPPLEMENTAL liability with higher limits.

Here's the liability rental terms copied directly from Thrifty's mexican webpage:

------------------------------
LIABILTY INSURANCE

PROPERTY DAMAGE/PUBLIC LIABILITY IS INCLUDED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH INSURANCE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO
AND COVERS UP TO MXN 50,000 IN BASIC THIRD PARTY
LIABILITY PROTECTION. COVERAGE DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE
AT THE RENTAL COUNTER. THEFT OF, OR DAMAGE TO PARTS
AND ACCESSORIES ARE NOT COVERED.
.
SLE *SUPPLEMENTAL LIABILITY EXCESS* IS OPTIONAL AND
INCREASES THIRD PARTY PROTECTION FROM MXN 50,000 UP TO
MXN 1,000,000. COST IS USD 12.00 OR USD 17.00 PER DAY
FOR ALL VEHICLES, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION. COVERAGE
RESTRICTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE RENTAL COUNTER.
.
IF DECLINING ANY OF THE PROTECTION PACKAGES, AN
ADDITIONAL CREDIT CARD APPROVAL OF UP TO USD 5000.00
WILL BE REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO THE ESTIMATED TOTAL FOR
THE RENTAL.
.
IF ACCEPTING ALL OF THE PROTECTION PACKAGES INCLUDING
SLE, LDW, AND SDW, AN AUTHORIZATION OF USD 300.00 IN
ADDITION TO THE ESTIMATED TOTAL OF THE RENTAL WILL BE
REQUIRED.
.
**SOME LOCATIONS IN MEXICO DO NOT OFFER SDW (SUPER
DAMAGE WAIVER)***
.
SEE PAI AND CDW FOR OTHER COVERAGE INFORMATION.
------------------------------


If you are comfortable with the basic liability coverage, then decline the supplemental. If you choose to buy higher limits, that is YOUR choice.

Your US credit cards WILL cover collision/comprehensive damages. You pay for damages with the card at the rental company at the time of return. Your credit card company then reimburses you for the charges. Been there, done that, no problems, credit to the charge card in about a week. So, again, it is YOUR choice to buy the rental companies collision/comp coverage.

Have used both Thrifty and Avis at CSL airport numerous times. No problems and dirt cheap rentals for manual transmission cars. Current rates today are $12.95 USD/day.

That's it, $13 USD per day!!! (without OPTIONAL add-ons)

Good Luck!