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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cancel holiday due to anxiety over driving

112 replies

anxious88 · 02/08/2020 16:35

I’ve done something incredibly stupid and am feeling terrible. I’m fully prepared to be told that I’m a total idiot but please try to be a bit kind.

I’m off on holiday in the UK tomorrow with DH. I collected a rental car earlier today and declined to take out the car hire company’s insurance, because I was planning to buy third party insurance with one of those online companies that are much more affordable. However, what I stupidly didn’t realise is that I had to purchase the insurance before collecting the car, which in hindsight of course makes complete sense.

I’m now feeling incredibly anxious about driving without additional insurance, because if I do have an accident or even just a scrape then I’ll be liable for up to £1,000 per incident in damages. The holiday is a 250 mile round trip and will involve leaving the car parked in a car park for some of the time, as well as a bit of driving while we’re there.

If we were to cancel the trip now, we would have to pay the full rental fee for the cottage we’ve hired as it’s less than 24 hours notice, and would also have to pay a £130 penalty refund fee if we cut the car hire booking short and took the vehicle back now.

I’ve told DH that I want to cancel because I’m too anxious to drive and he’s really upset, as we were really looking forward to getting away after lockdown. However he has said that if I really don’t feel up to driving then I can cancel if I want.

DH doesn’t drive, so there’s no option but for me to do all the driving. Our destination is hard to get to by train and we also have a new baby with all the additional stuff that requires, so a car is just far more convenient.

I know I’ve been a total idiot messing up such a basic detail like insurance and am feeling so nervous and panicky about driving without it. AIBU to take the car back now and cancel the trip, with all the fees that will incur?

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 02/08/2020 16:39

Can you get insurance via the internet now? With a different company? Or even swop the hire car, having arranged the insurance in advance on a different car?

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 02/08/2020 16:40

Seems a shame to lose the holiday over it. Or bite the bullet, and pay the insurance to the car hire firm. That would seem less than losing the holiday?

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 02/08/2020 16:42

Can't you return the hire car today, sort out the insurance (or just use the hire companies insurance) and then hire the car again in the morning?

Original poster
anxious88 · 02/08/2020 16:43

I’d be happy to pay the insurance with the car hire company, but doubt they’d accept that either since the booking has now started Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
anxious88 · 02/08/2020 16:45

Can't you return the hire car today, sort out the insurance (or just use the hire companies insurance) and then hire the car again in the morning?

I think that would still incur the refund fee, because I’d be canceling that particular booking early. I really am such an idiot Sad

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 02/08/2020 16:45

Surely it would be cheaper to just hire another car with insurance and cancel the existing car hire than to not go at all . I agree with you though that I wouldn’t drive a hire car without good insurance .

TruffleShuffles · 02/08/2020 16:46

@anxious88

I’d be happy to pay the insurance with the car hire company, but doubt they’d accept that either since the booking has now started Sad
It’s worth ringing and asking though isn’t it? I’d be surprised if they wouldn’t let you add it on. It seems silly not to try and potentially lose money on cancelling the holiday for no reason.
Ratbagcatbag · 02/08/2020 16:47

Just ring them. Say you'd made an error and would like to get cover with their insurance please and what is the cost? They will sort it out for you I'm sure.

Onekidnoclue · 02/08/2020 16:48

Most major car hire companies will let you do this, they want the money!

Mumdiva99 · 02/08/2020 16:48

Call the car hire company now as many close early. I bet they will still sell you their insurance.

Original poster
anxious88 · 02/08/2020 16:48

I could do that, but surely they will refuse to insure me now as I might have damaged the car since collecting it (I haven’t, but obviously they’re not to know that).

OP posts:
feliciabirthgiver · 02/08/2020 16:48

I'm sure they will happily add the insurance on if you call them first thing tomorrow, don't panic it's going to be fine and you will have a lovely holiday Smile

lancashirelady · 02/08/2020 16:49

Ring round insurance companies to get insurance to start from midnight tonight if you are not going to drive the car again today. No need to cancel your holiday.

SpinningWheelOfFortune · 02/08/2020 16:49

Can't you just go online now and buy an insurance policy?

Etinox · 02/08/2020 16:50
Confused This will take about 2 minutes to sort. here phone them for the reassurance as you sound really stressed. Flowers
VainAbigail · 02/08/2020 16:51

Just ring them and try. That’s all you can do.... try.

Original poster
anxious88 · 02/08/2020 16:52

Can't you just go online now and buy an insurance policy?

No, because I’ve already collected the car Sad

OP posts:
10storeylovesong · 02/08/2020 16:52

I used to work for a car hire firm - many years ago so may have changed!! We would let you drive in and we check the car for damage and if no additional damage then add the insurance.

TruffleShuffles · 02/08/2020 16:53

Is this just about the insurance OP or are you anxious about driving the car anyway? This seems like something that could be rectified quite easily but you seem to have convince yourself it can’t.

Original poster
anxious88 · 02/08/2020 16:54

I think it’s both. I’m nervous because it’s the first time I’ll be driving with my new baby too.

OP posts:
Cheetahfajita · 02/08/2020 16:57

DB works for a car hire place. He said if you take the car along tomorrow so they can check it's ok, they'll add the insurance for you.

No big deal.

WanderingMilly · 02/08/2020 16:59

Go on holiday and enjoy it. Yes, you've messed up but just go carefully....

WhatCFeryIsThis · 02/08/2020 17:01

@anxious88

I could do that, but surely they will refuse to insure me now as I might have damaged the car since collecting it (I haven’t, but obviously they’re not to know that).
With the greatest respect, please don't assume what might happen if you try, and just try first. You'll have a lot more issues cropping up in life, because that's life, and you'll need to be prepared to be proactive. Yes you made a mistake, but don't cancel everything until you've tried fixing it. I hope that you understand what I'm saying and can pick up the courage to try Thanks
LaTomatina · 02/08/2020 17:02

This may not help with your anxiety... But I find hire car companies to be waaay more forgiving than they used to be. A scratch smaller than a letterbox that isn't indented or damage smaller than a 50p is OK with many major companies now!

I never buy the extra insurance, and in 10 years of hiring a car for approximately 3 weeks each year, have never had any issues. And if I ever do have to pay out, I reckon by now it will still be less to pay than having paid for the extra insurance all those other times.

But sorry if that sounds braggy - it's not meant to, just saying, if you're an experienced driver it's not necessarily something to worry about.

MzHz · 02/08/2020 17:06

Honestly don’t worry about it! You’re a careful driver and you ARE insured

If you are worried, call them and get them to sort out the additional insurance

They will have done this before and will do it again

They already have a record of the condition they handed the car over in and that is all that matters

You’ve done zero mileage at this point too.

Come on, you can do this!!!