So we’re at Geneva airport and I’m in the queue to pick up the hire car and the mrs says; “don’t bother with the extra insurance, we never need it!!”
less than a hour later I kerbed the bloody thing and ripped a hole in the tyre. long wait for recovery truck (no spare!), expensive taxi to destination, pick car up 3 days later from tyre depot kwik fit type place (where car had to be transported to from recovery place).
I know we’re going to get stung, and it’s going to be bloody eyewateringly expensive, but how much? anyone been there?

Why would they charge you if you’ve had it fixed?

I got charged 135 Euro by Europcar for hoovering out the boot.

Hope this helps…

I assume the OP means for the kerbed wheel?

Does not answer the question, but I suggest excess insurance to avoid a repeat. Much cheaper than what is offered by the hire companies.

https://www.direct-carexcess.co.uk/

Why no spare?

I’d be complaining to them about he disruption

@neil – interesting link. I need to check our Amex but “back in the day” excess insurance was included

OP so did you pay for the repair at the time or did you call their recovery service ? €200 assuming the wheel is OK ?

I didn’t pay for the repair at the time, the whole bill was picked up by the company! and it transpires that in France it’s illegal to buy 1 tyre, you have to buy 2!! and yes the wheel had a ding in it so probably get charged for that too 🙁

neiloxford – Member
Does not answer the question, but I suggest excess insurance to avoid a repeat. Much cheaper than what is offered by the hire companies.

https://www.direct-carexcess.co.uk/

I do the same, but use: http://www.insurance4carhire.com/european-car-hire-excess-insurance

I hire quite a few vehicles, so pays for itself very very quickly.

out of interest cb, how did you get charged for hovering a boot out?

the hire car insurance is definitely the way forward (stable door, bolting horse!).

Did you get a chance to look at the bill before the company picked it up? Hard to guess really, as the labour charges might have got a little bump when they realised the set up.

I would be making pointed queries as to the lack of a spare, tho.

the money will be being charged directly to my credit card I suspect so any complaints about a lack of spare will be pretty fruitless I suspect!

There’s no point in complaining about the lack of spare wheel. Lots of cars don’t have them anymore. A can of squirty foam won’t fix a ripped tyre.

I didn’t pay for the repair at the time, the whole bill was picked up by the company!

You’re boned.

How much can you counter-claim for being without a car for three days due to lack of provision for punctures? Did you hire another one?

By the time you’ve pulled over on a motorway the tyre is goosed. I stopped and chatted to a recovery bloke in Hope recently about the 65plate Cayenne on his AA truck. He replied ‘puncture’.

All you 4 wheel car owners, get thee to eBay for a spare! It’s the first thing that I did when I owned a Seat Altea

There’s no point in complaining about the lack of spare wheel. Lots of cars don’t have them anymore. A can of squirty foam won’t fix a ripped tyre.

I was clutching at the most slippery of straws 🙂

No help, but I always take the insurance. and of course you can then announce to the family that we can “drive it like we stole it”. Last year’s rental agency looked worried. This year’s Avis didn’t bat an eyelid.

In fairness, we didn’t, and someone put a scrape into the back wing in a supermarket carpark. I can’t be having with the third party insurance suppliers. I just suck up the “full” rental price, which is really about 85 euros per day.

Tyres will probably be less than the CDW fee, but I’d also complain about the inconvenience.

and it transpires that in France it’s illegal to buy 1 tyre

Only if they are not identical make & model and there is more than 5mm wear difference between the old and the new. Otherwise it’s just a rumour used to fleece tourists.

200 for recovery
200 for tyres
100 misc

Only if they are not identical make & model and there is more than 5mm wear difference between the old and the new

Sorry, we don’t stock that make sir.

All you 4 wheel car owners, get thee to eBay for a spare! It’s the first thing that I did when I owned a Seat Altea

Wheels on my car are different front and rear. There isn’t anywhere to put even one spare wheel (excluding on the passenger seat) 😐

OP ouch ! IME (after a scratch – car keyed) your card is charged at a later date and after that you get a letter explaining the charge

and it transpires that in France it’s illegal to buy 1 tyre, you have to buy 2!

Well if that’s the case, allopneus.com break the law on a regular basis, speaking from personal experience

All you 4 wheel car owners, get thee to eBay for a spare! It’s the first thing that I did when I owned a Seat Altea

and for your trailers.

Was just thinking last night while towing our empty trailer that I need to get a spare or 2 for it. Guess what happened on the way back with a tractor loaded up on the trailer….Fortunately the breakdown collected it and dropped it off home for us.

augustus – scam, they sent a zero invoice then a week later one for damage. I disputed as there was no damage and it then became a valet charge (they sent photos of some sand in the boot – after a ten day rental by the coast!). Now in hands of cc company.