Why pay extra when rental cars break down abroad?

In the past I rented a television from Radio Rentals/DER. If it went wrong they turned out same day to fix it or replace it. I am amazed that a company would consider renting you a holiday car without some sort of guarantee of reliability and help and support if their car breaks down. It’s just another made up reason for getting more money out of you. Who would risk hiring a car on that basis. I expect there’s another company that will insure you for breakdown and other costs not covered by the car hire company cheaper than them.

Over the last 20 years flying into the UK, Ireland, the US, the Philippines and Belgium where I lived, I have been a regular renter of cars. I must say that, except for a couple of times where some basics (such as Tax) we add-ons to the price quoted, I have a first class experience, even when cars had some external scratches. The only comment I would make is that I have seen many renters not even walking round the car before they drive off – major mistake! Otherwise no complaints whatsoever.

I hired a car in the US a few years ago which did get damaged. Whilst driving on a coastal road I hit some debris that fell from the cliffs and damaged the underside of the car and put slow punctures in two of the tyres. Luckily I managed to get the tyres pumped up shortly after which gave enough time to get into the nearest major town and find a branch of the rental company, which was Enterprise if my memory serves me correctly. They were totally fine with what happened and changed the car over for one of a similar class within about 30 mins and at no extra charge.

I have no idea what i’d have done had the car been broken so much I couldn’t drive the 50 odd miles to the nearest town and the thought of sitting in the pouring rain on a coastal cliff road with rocks falling around you is one i’m glad i didn’t have to experience. I didn’t check the policy for breakdown cover as I assumed it would have been included, although I wouldn’t have been surprised if a charge had been made. It’s certainly something i’d check for next time.

With regards to the cars being faulty when you pick them up, I wonder how many people would have the knowledge to make checks when they pick it up. I only have a limited understanding of cars, despite travelling way over the national average every year, so unless a tyre looks visibly flat, the bodywork is so damaged I think it will impede driving the vehicle or a dial/light shows on the dashboard then I would be none the wiser if there was something fundamentally wrong with the vehicle. I also question whether some people would have the confidence to raise any queries as anything some hire companies can be quite intimidating and often give off the air that they can’t really be bothered with you and just want to get you & the vehicle away as quick as possible.

I just hired a car at Geneva airport for travel to France for 10 days in March 2018 through Auto Europe which took me to the rental company Dollar (part of Hertz). In the weasel words in the contract, it says that roadside assistance is available for 37.80CHF (£30) per rental. If that is not purchased at the desk when collecting the car and breakdown assistance is subsequently required outside Switzerland then a “handling fee” of 540CHF (£415) will be applied. This does nothing to change my ongoing mistrust of the entire car hire industry and the cynical tricks they continually dream up.
Having said that, adding the £30, still makes my particular deal come out cheaper than the next best alternative, so I’ll be paying it. It’s just the way it is done that irks.
I have an annual car hire excess policy which covers “towing” but that’s not going to be of any use to cover what is in effect a penalty charge if the car I’m paying to use breaks down.