Did you realise clutch & engine "misuse" isn't covered with some companies ?

We book with www.doyouspain.com regularly & we are normally given http://www.aurigacrown.com/  (Murcia & sometimes, Alicante).  We hired through doyouspain in November & they put us with Auriga Crown at Alicante there was a note at Auriga's desk saying we weren't covered for the usual..underside, tyres, losing keys, windscreen (normal) but ALSO it said GEARBOX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First time we've seen THAT gem ! 

I've looked on Auriga's website & I saw this..

http://www.aurigacrown.com/condiciones-generales.jsp

The rental price does not include:clutch (due to misuse), lost or broken keys, error of fuel and costs involved, (you can acquire an additional insurance at € 20 per rental contract in order to cover the damages caused to glass, wheels and clutch).

I see Record at Alicante say http://www.recordrentacar.com/car_hire/airport_condiciones.htm

The insurance does not cover the following ( amongst other things we would normally see)

• Damage to the engine due to negligence.
• Misuse of the clutch.

Amazing what we aren't aware of, don't you think ?

As has been said before automatics are expensive & not ready available.

They do tend to have engines that could be misused as, of course, do manuals, Conrad, but maybe that's 

Just wondering, Tinto, how the car hire company could insist it was you & not previous hirer. Guess hire cars are subject to quite a lot of abuse especially if you're just used to an automatic

Anyway I was just bringing it to members attention. Up to each of us to do with info what we want. Sometimes we're not asked if we want to take up the 20€ insurance for the hire period but we'd think twice now if this is what's happening.

There was an insurance policy in the Jet2 flight magazine when we went out in December (I tore the page out but it is at home and I am at the in laws!!). For around £40pa it covers you for everything that you are not covered for by thre hire company, tyres, wheels, windows, etc. If you go over several times a year and take out the hire companys policy, it can add up. Will post the link when I get home.

Mark

Mark, Noreen posted link in Car rental

She uses www.insurance4carhire.com  from £49

Because I was concerned that we wouldn't be covered by  www.insurance4carhire.com for gearbox & engine "abuse" I emailed them & have just received this.

From: Insurance4carhire Date: 28/01/2008 12:10:34 To: *************** Subject: RE: Advice on gearbox cover

Hi All...

Devils Advocate time!...

Any car hire company offering insurance cover for gearbox clutch damage due to misuse is simply putting the frighteners on clients.

Seriously... when did your own car suffer a clutch or gearbox failure due to misuse? A clutch should last at least 80,000 miles.

Car hire companies generally trade in their cars at 12,000 miles or 20,0000 Kms. Most hire cars will reach this figure within 6 months of rental use and the original warranty with the vehicle ensures that they will be sold on before the warranty expires. For a while I worked for Hertz in the UK and cars were replaced between 8000 and 10000 miles.

Speaking  as one who regularly commuted 150 miles a day six days a week for fifteen years, I can truthfully say that in all that time, plus routine domestic and social travel, I got through three cars, with 250,000 miles on the first, 90,000on the second and 145,000 on the third. Thats the equivalent of travelling to the moon and back... I replaced the clutch on the first and last cars (from choice not necessity) at 125,000 miles. Never once did I have to replace a gearbox.

The car hire companies mentioned in this thread have latched on in a big way to the same sales techniques used by the low cost airlines. They will try to screw you into making additional payments for anything they can dream up.

Dont let them frighten you...They would have a hard time proving negligence...Tell'em to stuff it, along with their Underside damage insurance, although If you find that windscreen replacement is rolled into the same additional policy then the choice is yours as to whether you take on the policy.

To the best of my knowledge the Spanish road authorities dont use the loose chippings so beloved of their British cheapskate counterparts, so the chances of losing a windscreen this way are somewhat lower than in the UK. 

Just treat continental sleeping policemen (Paso Elevados) with respect...