Heather
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Posts: 370
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: National City, CA
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Car Rental Insurance
Flying in to Cabo at the end of the month and plan to rent a car. What kind of insurance do I need? Do I have some sort of coverage with my Visa
credit card, if I use that to pay for the rental?
Checking the rental agencies and it appears liablity is mandatory at $11/day, but there is also personal insurance at $17/day...any suggestions?
Thanks. H.
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karenintx
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Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
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Mood: Living The Dream
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Heather,
We live in Cabo and back in 2006 when we were remodeling our condo we would fly into SJD weekly and rented cars.
Yes, you have to purchase Mexican liabilty insurance from the rental agency. If you are brave enough...you can use your visa/master card for the
physical damage coverage. This is something we NEVER did. I can't tell you how many times we witnessed problems when people returned their rental
car and there was a scratch, as little as it may be, and that was not recorded on the inital receipt.
Everyone has to do what they feel is best for them, we just decided if we could not afford the insurance then we did not need to rent the car. We
also have a Mexican friend who's wife is a manager at one of the agency and when we hear some of the horror stories it confirmed our decision.
If you are only going to be in Cabo for a week or so...the physical damage premium is small compaired to the headache you could have if someone hits,
scratches or something else happens to the car while in your possession.
There may not be a rental car sticker on the back of your car however the color of the licese plates...red on the bottom, white in the middle and
yellow on top indicates you are driving a rental car. The police, locals and other idots know that also.
Good Luck with what ever you decide.
[Edited on 6-2-2010 by karenintx]
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bajafreaks
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Posts: 419
Registered: 3-27-2007
Location: Gardnerville, NV./ Los Barriles BCS
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Our last trip to the east cape (last week) we decided no rental car this time and it was wonderful not having to deal with the whole process of
renting a car. I would only rent if you have to, can you get a shuttle into town or taxi ?
It seems like everytime I've rented in the past I always pay more than I planned. Their all rip off's in some way or another.
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irenemm
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Location: vicente guerrero, baja
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Where ever you go in Mexico rental is just not worth it. We were going to rent a car and heard the other guy saying he wanted it to be covered 100%.
The agent told him was not really needed. You are not gonna have an accident anyway. Some of insurance is not a 100% even if you think it is. For a
small car stick shift, it was going to be about a 100. dollars a day rental and insurance. we went for buses and taxi. It was kinda fun. that was in
Guadalajara. Should be cheaper than CSL.
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greta-inbaja
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Posts: 132
Registered: 7-19-2006
Location: Truckee, CA
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If you are going to San Jose, you can try emailing Antonio at Alamo. The address is: amiranda@alamorentacar.com.mx .Tell him you read about him on
tripadvisor and would like an quote w/tax and liabiliy and one with cdw also. Call your credit card company and see if they cover rental cars in mex.
some do some don't. Ours does and we actually had to use it this trip. If it does you can get all the info in VISA's website. His quote beat
everyone elses including the alamo website by a couple hundred usd. Once the insurance issue is cleared up and I expect that to take months I will
post on every forum I go on so people know the results and whether it was a hassle or not. We just filed the claim this week. The issue is that if
damage is done, you have to pay in Mx and get reimbursed by the credit card. Antonio is the manager at alamo. He was nice and easy to deal with. Our
problem was not huge just the usual nonsense that always is a problem there. The damage was real, I am just not convinced it was done by us. Including
the 400 usd we had to pay for damage, it was still cheaper than the reg alamo price . We are bringing our truck down in the fall and it will be great
to be done with this nonsense. Good Luck
[Edited on 6-2-2010 by greta-inbaja]
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BajaHombre
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 8-27-2009
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I rented a car from National a couple of weeks ago. I picked it up at their office at the Hotel Posada Real. Much cheaper than at the airport but
had to pay (in advance and on-line) for a TransCabo shuttle to get to the hotel.
National has a tiny office there. I filled out the paperwork, declined the insurance and had 2 blank Amex receipts to sign: one for the rental and
the other in case of damage. The fellow told me the car would arrive in a couple of minutes.
Went outside and another fellow walks up to finish the transaction; sign another paper and do a walk-around of the car. Started at the rear bumper,
which had many obvious nicks in it. I whipped out my camera to take pictures and the fellow said, "Senor, I have already noted the problems, see?",
and showed me the form which indeed had marks in the right places. We completed the walk-around and I took the pictures anyway, (which probably won't
even be useful should you ever need them, in my opinion, especially if you have to catch a plane). Took the keys and was on my way.
The next day I happened to look at MY copy of the walk-around paper and it turned out to be the second copy! And, guess what, no marks on the second
copy as there were on the original. All the other information made its way there, my name, how much fuel, etc., but not the notations of the
pre-existing nicks in the paint. I sweated over this for the next few days, wondering how and, how badly, I was going to get screwed.
When it came time to return the car, there was a (very attractive) young lady "manning" the office. Sorry.  She took care of my paperwork, looked over the car (there was a lot of dust covering the nicks in the paint). She
was totally professional, very courteous and, I think I paid less for the rental than I anticipated.
I don't know what to think. I truly believe that I was being set up, what with the way the inspection form was filled out at the time I picked up the
car. Except for an occasional overcharge at a gas station, I've never had a problem in Mexico, so I'm not normally expecting to be burned. So, all's
well, that ends well, but I think next time I'll take the full-coverage and sleep better.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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most people that come here "fly-in" and get a rental car
no one yet has said they have had a problem
with the rental agency in loreto
don't think you can come down and
"hitch a ride" or take taxis or buses
you'll be stranded
rent a car
enjoy your freedom and vacation
and
USE that rental car
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Bring your camera
Do a walk around and take photos.....let them see you do it, and verify your paperwork before you leave their lot. Also document the spare tire and
jack!!!!
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RnR
Senior Nomad
Posts: 839
Registered: 5-1-2010
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I have rented cars at Thrifty and Dollar at the Los Cabo airport many times. Usually a small, manual tranmission, model. Twice, the reserved car was
not available and the agency offered a larger car at an increase in price. Both times, after a discussion with the manager, I got the larger car for
the originally quoted small car price.
I have a driver's liscense annual policy and use this in lieu of the rental company's liability insurance. (Also, use it on my own vehicle when we
drive down as it is too old for comprehensive)
I use my credit card for the collision insurance coverage. One time I was hit in a parking lot while at dinner. The damage was fairly minor: broken
light, dented fender, needed paint, etc. I paid for the damage on my return to Thrifty with the credit card and filed a claim with the card company
on return to the US. Recieved full payment from the CC company in about ten days. Thrifty even filled out the necessary forms for the credit card
company.
I hear a lot of horror stories about the car companies but, so far so good.
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Heather
Nomad
Posts: 370
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: National City, CA
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Thanks RnR, that's what I was thinking about the credit card coverage.
Karen and Hombre, I had my niece and little girls with me when we did this last year, and they "helped" the man with the inspection. Let's just say,
every little dent and ding was accounted for before we got in the car!
We plan to spend some time in La Paz and Pescadero, so really do need a car to get around.
We have a place in CSL, colonia 4 de marzo, and trust me, the shuttle will not get us to our house! It would be taking the shuttle to a hotel
downtown, and then getting a taxi over to our place. Think it's actually easier to rent the car...just to get home!
My husband likes to drive down, but he is short on vacation time this year, so don't want to spend 4 days of his 10 days on the road!
Saw some prices on one of the sites here and a couple of the rental places didn't look too bad...until you add in the insurance! Will check out
Alamo. Thanks for all the info! Saludos, H.
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