The Accident

I’ve had a pristine driving record (knock on wood), with few exceptions. And last week’s trip to England was one of those exceptions.

Now the damage you see in today’s post is not a result of driving on the left, lest you worry about doing that abroad. Besides, it’s really not a big deal and is much easier than you think. Instead, the accident I was involved in was really a result of my inability to negotiate the very narrow parking garages that are scattered throughout England.

I was driving a Vauxhall Astra down the ramp when I took a narrower turn than I should of. I looked in the side-view mirror and saw that the car was only a paper width’s away from the garage wall. Whether I proceeded forward or backwards, the car was certain to be damaged.

I. Was. Stuck.

So with my car in reverse, I not-so-gently caressed the garage wall with my door. Crunch, Scratch and Sh*t. My car was certifiably banged up.

Buy the Extra Insurance

When I returned the car to the rental company a few days later, I inquired how much I would be charged. They said  since I purchased the Peace of Mind Insurance ($30/day) I could walk away without paying a penny (or pence) more!

Imagine that? Damage like that and I owed nothing.

You never know what could happen when you are overseas. Driving conditions are different, the roads unfamiliar and your knowledge of the law limited. Buy extra insurance.

Furthermore, your home insurance may not cover you, or if it does, it may create endless phone calls and paperwork to get everything sorted out. Trust me, I’m experienced in this. You can also find more tips for renting a car abroad at DowntownTraveler.com.

Do you buy the extra insurance when you rent a car? Share by commenting.

I’ll see you out there…!

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