Is rental car insurance required in Mexico?
Q: I recently returned from a nine-day trip to Cancun, Mexico. Before arriving, I booked a rental car through Hotwire.com, the acceptance of a medium sized vehicle with Europcar for $ 9.80 per day. With taxes, my rent has come to $ 97.
Before leaving for my trip I found that my credit card company covered all types of car insurance and that no additional insurance must be purchased. When I arrived in Cancun, the Europcar agent pointed out that it was company policy that I take the extra insurance, otherwise he could not rent me the car. He even insisted that it would have been on the Hotwire agreement page.
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Reluctantly, I accepted the insurance. When I got home, I ended up paying $ 268 for the rental car. Hotwire Europcar websites and the omission of mandatory insurance, but neither will compensate me for what I believe was an attempt to overload me for services. What can be done about this? – Gordon Houston, Calgary, Canada
A: Ah, the old Mexican insurance scam! Regular readers of this column already know about this. It goes something like this: You rent a car south of the border, believe the rate you have quoted includes all compulsory charges. But wait. When you look at the car rental counter, an employee tells you that without insurance, you are not going anywhere. So you pay.
Europcar and Hotwire offered an incredibly good price for a rental car in Cancun. Even with the extra insurance, the $ 268 price was not bad. But I agree with you. Hotwire should have refused the compulsory insurance, preferably in the original price, and if not, then at least sometime before you pushed the "buy" button.
Even small print Hotwire seems to be doing an inadequate job of warning customers of the Mexico insurance rules. In fact, the exact opposite suggested: "You will have the option to exit and add additional drivers to your contract at the counter for an additional charge," he says.
This lack of clear disclosure does not benefit Hotwire, or any other intermediary. It only helps the car rental company, which profits from the sale of your insurance. Still, Hotwire also responsible for the failure to quote you a total price, and it should have been more responsive to your complaint.
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If you ever get this problem again, run your complaint by the flagpole, in writing. In the first place via the website's Hotwire (keep a copy of your email for your records) and then escalate to a manager.
For the purpose of additional burdens, copy the insurance commissioner in your state and the nearest U.S. consulate in Mexico. Though neither is likely to help, sends a signal to Hotwire and Europcar, that you are serious about getting this situation resolved. As a last resort, you can dispute credit card charges or sue in small claims court Hotwire.
Fortunately, none of that was needed. I contacted Hotwire on your behalf. A representative called you and agreed to give you credit for the extra money that you are forced to spend on insurance.
© 2011 Christopher Elliott … Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc..
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Submited at Saturday, February 12th, 2011 at 4:00 am on Tips by hilman
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