Are accident management companies pushing up insurance premiums?

I was interested to read your letter headed ‘Decline and Fall’ in the DT dated Saturday 13 August. I had an almost identical situation arise as MM of Hawick which involved the same insurance company. Last...

Buying a used Ford Galaxy from Addison Lee

I am interested in buying one of the Addison Lee Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCI 6-speed automatics that the cab firm disposes of at 3 years old. However, i am wary of how much mileage these cars have done in such...

Car hire insurance rip-off

My daughter hired a car in Portugal last week. After only a few miles the exhaust dropped off. She called the rental company who came out to get the car ,and charged her €900 for excess before they would...

Is there anything to be careful of when renting a hire vehicle in California?

Having read the letters on car hire in Europe and having been stung good and proper by Hertz at Toulouse airport, we have a son about to go to California on his own where he will be renting a camper van....

Winter driving in Germany

I want to hire a car in German this Christmas. The hire firm is telling me winter tyres are extra. Hasn't the law changed in German making winter tyres compulsory? So if the hire firm gives me a car without...

Do you have any advice for driving and hiring a car in Thailand?

I know from past columns you have written that you often visit Thailand and therefore you are familiar with the driving regulations. I have been on holiday there on a number of occasions but never driven....

Why do hire companies like Helphire push drivers to take expensive hire cars after accidents?

Your letter from ES reminded me of my own experience with Helphire. My car, a C Class Merc, the cooking version, was scraped on the nearside by a bus as it pushed into a slow moving queue when the bus...

Why is my insurance company insisting that I take an expensive hire car after an accident?

My 2009 Yaris was damaged in a doctor’s car park yesterday. The event was witnessed and the elderly disabled driver waited until I came out and gave me his insurance details, however I contacted my insurance...

Should a car hire company return its copy of my driving licence to me after the hire is finished?

I had to hire a car this week. The firm asked to see my licence and the paper part, both of which they photocopied. That’s ok, but am I entitled to ask for this copy to be returned to me when I finish...

Where can I get car insurance for a hire car driven abroad which includes collision damage waiver?

I plan a trip abroad, which would include car hire for a 5-week period. I have heard that it is possible and preferable to purchase an insurance policy to specifically cover collision damage waiver, thus...