Dirt tracks on car insurance

One of the extras they try to force you to take out, when receiving your car is underside damage, along with windows and anything else they dream up, none of which is mentioned when you book, thinking your quote is for the necessary insurance you think you need, some firms make it very difficult (or impossible) if you don't agree to the expensive extras they try to force on you.

The worst firms are the ones at the airport, the ones with the shiny office and staff who are about as unpleasant as doctors receptionists , if you dont cave in straight away and pay ridiculous amounts to get your car.

These firms specialise in finding some reason to keep your large deposit, and any sign of the faintest scratch underneath will send them deliriously happy.... even though the scratch was probably there, but you wouldnt know without looking underneath, but they know, and more importantly they will know you didn't take out the cover for it!

I avoid those dealers like the plague, and use a company situated not far from the airport who don't pull these stunts, and better still is that they are often quite a lot cheaper than the crooks at the airport.

So best you check with your company if they are keen on the "undercover insurance scam"... most, if not all cars, are capable of going along reasonable dirt tracks without getting damaged, so it shouldn't really be a worry.... should it?

Of course the quote

Thanks Patrick.

I've bought an annual excess cover in the UK which insures against the excess charged by the hire companies, as well as the things they don't cover, such as wheels and undercarriage. As you say, should be OK.

The wriggle room they all have, however, is that insurance is invalidated if you are not driving on a maintained public highway, and private campo tracks seem to fall outside this definition.

As my missus says, I'll just have to get on with it and stop worrying! 

Hi

Sorry to tell you but quite a few (if not all) car hire company's in Spain refuse to accept the cover you have purchased, or at least tell you that when you collect your car, it's all part of the pressure for you to buy their insurance.

Best of luck with it all,  just tried to warn you of the tricks they will try to pull.

Hi Patrick

Yes I understand. Should be fun. 

Cheers

Ian 

Quote 'The worst firms are the ones at the airport, the ones with the shiny office and staff who are about as unpleasant as doctors receptionists' !!! 

I think that's very unfair, I have used firms like 'Helle Hollis' for 25 years and never had a problem, they are first class and extremely polite with a first class service, and tip top cars, also used with UK 'excess insurance waver' and never had a problem.   https://www.hellehollis.com/en  (You also say car hire company's in Spain refuse to accept the cover) ??? 

You also say 'These firms specialise in finding some reason to keep your large deposit'  

That's a highly defamatory statement against some highly repeatable honest firms who operate from Malaga Airport.   

Experience, and many other people's experiences say otherwise.... ask around people who have had their trousers down good and proper at the Airport car rentals... simply put, most, if not all, are nothing but crooks!!!! Pleased you are the exception David... you and others that have not been cheated would struggle to fill a telephone box!!

'simply put, most, if not all, are nothing but crooks!!!!'

That's not true and many on this forum will vouch for many of the highly respectable Hire Firms based here at the airport, which include people like Helle Hollis & Malaga Car. Experienced travellers will 'book direct' in advance and also buy 'Car Hire Access Insurance' before they travel.   https://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/car-hire-excess-insurance. It is true to say there are many smaller firms offering cut price deals, can have many hidden extras, (some insist they charge for a full tank of fuel which you have to use all) With firms like Helle Hollis, you fill up when return and money credited back in full. You are picked up outside the airport and returned, 5 minute journey and returned when hire complete. The procedure for Car Hire is similar Worldwide and experienced travellers have annual Excess Insurance. 

I have hired many cars Worldwide over the years and 100's from Malaga Airport, but always booked with a reputable firm in advance, the only problem I ever had, making the mistake of not booking direct. (Via Broker) There has been a shortage of car in recent times and people are advised to book well in front, in particular if you want models like automatic. People not advised to just turn up and book a car 'ad hoc' airport from the miscellaneous hirers. 

David, let inject a bit of honesty in to this, and your obsession with how good Helle Hollis is?

I had a good look at their reviews, it was clear that they are one of the more expensive ones, but let's take a look at one of the reviews which will confirm all I have said... by Fiona someone we all can check ourselves easily if we read the reviews... Review from Fiona Robinson after hiring from Helle Hollis.

Fiona collected the car and photographed the damage before taking it, the car was garaged during her rental period...(heres the important bit) she did NOT take the extra insurance they tried to sell her.

On returning the vehicle,  a guy glanced over it and somehow managed to notice the door lock was not working, even though there was no visible damage to the lock?...the woman had  only used the key fob to unlock the car so was not aware it was not working (how did the guy know?.... never ever seen anyone check for that before?)

They charged her for a new lock out of her deposit.

The lady quite rightly states that..' she suspects they pulled this scam because she not take out their extra insurance, and were getting the commission they missed out on'

Helle replied to her review saying they took her deposit because she chose to have extra excess instead of buying cover from them!

Scam or what?.... and exactly my point in all my comments.

David when anyone enquires about car rental on this site you are the first to reply with you gushing reports about Helle Hollis.

Why don't you ask them to read this review, it's easy to find.... 

I do wonder if you work for them?

"David when anyone enquires about car rental on this site you are the first to reply with you gushing reports about Helle Hollis I do wonder if you work for them?"

I certainly don't work for them, don't need too! Car hire not my business. Web link  https://www.soundrecordingtechnology.co.uk/#about

With regard mentioned scam, would that not a criminal offence?  Do you have full actual facts about this? They are a very successful business with a good reputation, I'm sure if you search will find bad reviews on many other very reputable businesses worldwide. Most of their reviews are positive https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.hellehollis.com.

Both myself and friends have used them frequently over many years, cars always recent models and 'first class'. always found customer service excellent, plus a healthy Home Owners Club 15% discount. Never had a problem with access insurance or extra charges. https://www.hellehollis.com/en

My posts here no commercial bias, just the benefit of experience, having had a home here for 25 years and a visitor far longer, Helle Hollis been here for 40 Years. 

I am sure members of the forum would welcome recommendations and long term experience of other competitive hire companies, it's my personal view, better to suggest reputable alternatives, than throw cold water over a long established reputable businesses, of which there are many here in Malaga and operational at the Airport.

Have a nice day - David. .