Insurance was really complicated with lots of different tiers. At the basic end you got coverage for painted panels only – no glass, rubber or plastic and not the underbody. Then you could add underbody at the next tier, then you could add glass, plastics rubber etc. Finally, you could add protection from sand and ash.
For an 11 day hire the tier we selected covered us for everything except sand and ash and worked out (from memory) at ~NZ$30/day. That lowered the CDW to about NZ$750. Adding sand and ash was in excess of NZ$2000 (I forget the exact amount) but also reduced the CDW to 0. It took me some time to wade through the various options and exclusions. The whole thing came as a nasty surprise since we had been told insurance was included (technically correct – 3rd party and personal accident were). Here in NZ the car insurance is comprehensive and you can buy out the CDW for a relatively modest sum.
We opted not to buy the sand and ash as we were travelling in a lower risk area at the low risk time of year. Apparently though most years a few cars get pretty much blasted down to bare metal and frosted glass on at least one side.
Moral, if self driving in Iceland sort out car insurance well before you get their and don’t rely on credit card related car insurance either.
I’ve got to say the surly and poor service both picking up and dropping off the rental was the only poor experience in what was otherwise a wonderful time.
There is a website online somewhere that was put up by a couple of people who *walked* across Iceland. It was VERY interesting. Now I must find it again.
That is sooooo cool. I’ve been to Iceland and loved it. You don’t want to know how much sand and ash protection insurance for a rental car costs.
Yes I do! I’m not planning to drive in Iceland at the moment so it won’t hurt.
OK…
Insurance was really complicated with lots of different tiers. At the basic end you got coverage for painted panels only – no glass, rubber or plastic and not the underbody. Then you could add underbody at the next tier, then you could add glass, plastics rubber etc. Finally, you could add protection from sand and ash.
For an 11 day hire the tier we selected covered us for everything except sand and ash and worked out (from memory) at ~NZ$30/day. That lowered the CDW to about NZ$750. Adding sand and ash was in excess of NZ$2000 (I forget the exact amount) but also reduced the CDW to 0. It took me some time to wade through the various options and exclusions. The whole thing came as a nasty surprise since we had been told insurance was included (technically correct – 3rd party and personal accident were). Here in NZ the car insurance is comprehensive and you can buy out the CDW for a relatively modest sum.
We opted not to buy the sand and ash as we were travelling in a lower risk area at the low risk time of year. Apparently though most years a few cars get pretty much blasted down to bare metal and frosted glass on at least one side.
Moral, if self driving in Iceland sort out car insurance well before you get their and don’t rely on credit card related car insurance either.
I’ve got to say the surly and poor service both picking up and dropping off the rental was the only poor experience in what was otherwise a wonderful time.
Golly.
There is a website online somewhere that was put up by a couple of people who *walked* across Iceland. It was VERY interesting. Now I must find it again.
Found it!
http://www.phlumf.com/travels/iceland/index.shtml
Wow, thank you.
http://www.phlumf.com/travels/iceland/photofiles/photofile03.shtml