Discount rates for Insurance Companies renting cars???

[sr20bet]

Hi,

Does anyone know if Enterprise provides a 'volume' discount for Insurance companies providing loaner cars for cars under repair????

My car was hit on the 24th of Dec. It was the friggen holidays. Made a report that evening (wasted 9 hours) I was contacted by the adjuster on the 27th. (After reviewing my phone records...) I called one body shop on the 28th... they were closed early....was contacted on the 2nd of Jan by the body shop and then subsequently brought my car to the shop on the 4th of Jan. After the car was hit, I was not sure how safe the car was to drive and the shop was going too / willing too tow it, but the time that they called to ask if I required a tow did not accommodate my work schedule (I was out by then)...so I took a risk and drove the car slowly to the body shop...and took the taxi home...(dropping the car off on the 4th of Jan.)



The adjuster is saying that I have to pay for a portion of the car rental, as they contacted my on the 27th, but the car was not in the shop till the following week. It's not my fault (and it really isn't anyone elses) that this accident happened during the holidays and that no one was working at the body shop on the 28th of Dec. Dec 29-Jan 1 are all holidays and weekends. The shop contact me on the 2nd of Jan and I tried to have the car on the lot by the 3rd, but was unable to till the 4th (this one day delay was my fault, due to work related matters). I feel that the under the circumstances I may have delayed the delivery of the car by 1, and maybe at most 2 days. I'm not sure what my insurance company has in mind when they say 'they want me to cover part of the rental cost'. I'm willing to hear them out, but they need to understand that I cannot be responsible for any delays due to the holiday schedules of businesses / individuals.

The adjuster called my family on the 10th of Jan to inform them that my car would be ready the next day. I called the body shop on the 11th, with the intent of picking up my car (and returning the rental car) and they said that my car is not ready and that it still needs to be assembled. I left a message with my adjuster, as I'm not sure if I should return the rental over the weekend or keep it till my car is re-assembled (I'm confused over this directive given by my adjuster). I just don't want to get stiffed with some more days of paying for a car I never really wanted.

The worst part is that when I first spoke with the insurance CSR, I informed them that I don't really need a rental and that if I have to pay for it I'm not interested in the rental. They told me to proceed with the rental and then transferred me to Enterprise Car Rental and told me that everything that they mentioned to me would be recorded and that I don't have anything to worry about, b/c they are advising me to get a car rental if I'm not sure if the car is safe to drive.

I'm know I'm venting here, but how does a normal person know if a car is safe to drive? I had a piece of metal sticking out from under my car. Was I supposed to ascertain if this was safe or not safe to drive? The question is a loaded questions, b/c the layman will never know if the car is safe or not safe. The adjuster follows up with another line, indicating that the damage was less than $1000. Was I also supposed to ascertain this??? I don't understand the rationale.

Back to my main point.....sorry for the long post....DO INSURANCE COMPANIES RECEIVE DISCOUNT RATES FOR CAR RENTALS FROM ENTERPRISE? I want to know just incase I get stiffed.

Thank you in advance for all responses.

Happy New Years!

[E####B]

Long story short, YES.

However, their personal use rental costs are inflated through the roof. Depending on where you live, the insurance company, and the type of car you rent will determine the cost. What did you end up renting, at what rate, and through what insurance company?

[SilentBob]

Yes, the insurance company does get cheaper rates. The reason being that as a company they rent dozens, hundreds, and thousands of cars locally and nationally. You can benefit from this if they are paying a portion of the rental though. If the insurance is paying the initial portion of your rental and you keep the car past what they pay you will pay the insurance rate for the reaminder of the rental. If you renting without an insurance claim then yes you will pay more, no you are not being "stiffed",you are just paying the retail rates which depending where you are may or may not be cheaper than the competition. Typically, they are cheaper nationwide but not everywhere.

[sr20bet]

Thanks to all the members who have added to this thread.