Million Mile Secrets reader Prem emails:
I recently reserved a minivan for our upcoming Florida vacation with Sixt through Sam’s Club Travel. When I received my confirmation email, it stated the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI), and other fees were included.When I called them, they did not have more information on this, like the limits and exclusions.
They were even not able to confirm whether this is through Sixt or Sam’s Club Travel.
Do you have any information on these valuable goodies by Sam’s Club Travel?
I did some digging and can confirm that Sixt rentals made through Sam’s Club DO include these extras! Read on to find out more.
What’s the Deal?
Link: Sam’s Club Travel
I’ve written about getting the best prices for rental cars when you book through wholesale clubs like Costco. But Sam’s Club members can also get cheap rental car deals, through Sam’s Club Travel.
Through Sam’s Club Travel, you can rent from most major car rental companies, like Budget, Hertz, and Thrifty.
But only Sixt rentals have extra insurance and fees included in the price!
For example, I searched for 3-day rental in Orlando using Sam’s Club Travel. Sixt’s rates were competitive with the cheapest option (~$95 for 3 days).
Note: I also compared rental prices to Hotwire for the same dates, and Sam’s Club rates were similar.
When I clicked through to the booking screen, the following items were included in the rental price:
- Energy Surcharge
- Business Tax
- Airport Transport Fee
- Rental Surcharge
- U-Drive-It Tax
- Vehicle Fee
- Vehicle License Fee
- Concession Recovery Fee
- Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) Including Theft Protection With Minimum Excess
- Loss Damage Waiver
- Supplemental Liability Insurance
- Unlimited Mileage
Sixt requires you to pay ahead of time, but you won’t have any unpleasant surprises when you pick up the car! And the fine print says there is no penalty for canceling.
To compare, the cheapest rate for the same date was through Alamo. But the price does NOT include taxes, fees, surcharges, or extra insurance.
In this case, you’ll pay the full price at the Alamo counter. But with the fees and surcharges it’s actually ~$20 more than Sixt (and you’d still have to pay extra for insurance!).
I checked Sam’s Club rentals with other companies and none included insurance in the price. A few, like Budget, do include SOME taxes and fees in their rates. But none include supplemental insurance!
This is a very good deal for folks who would otherwise pay extra for insurance through the car rental company!
What Kinds of Insurance Coverage Are Included?
The Sixt rentals I checked through Sam’s Club included:
- Loss Damage Waiver ($300 deductible – covers full value of the car)
- Supplemental Liability Insurance (up to $1,000,000 coverage against claims made by a 3rd party for bodily injury and / or property damage while operating the rental car)
This is especially valuable for folks who don’t have their own personal automobile insurance policy.
That’s because even if they pay for their rental with a card that offers primary rental insurance, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase United MileagePlus® Explorer Card, they’re still responsible for injuries and damages to others unless they purchase additional liability insurance.
By booking a Sixt rental through Sam’s Club Travel, you could save over ~$20 per day (depending on location and rental type) in additional insurance!
Note: Check the fine print before you book. The additional insurance was included on every Sixt booking I checked, but I can NOT guarantee it’s the same on every vehicle reservation.And I’d confirm what’s covered with Sixt at the rental counter (and get the terms and limitations in writing!).
As always, shop around to be sure you’re getting the best price. Folks who have their own liability insurance (check your policy to see what’s covered!) and who pay with a card that provides primary coverage could do better renting from other companies.
Bottom Line
Sam’s Club members can rent cars from Sixt through Sam’s Club Travel, and have extra insurance, fees, and surcharges included in the price of the rental.This includes loss damage waiver and supplemental liability insurance. But check the fine print on your reservation before you book to confirm what’s covered.
Their rates seem competitive! I don’t have personal experience renting from Sixt through Sam’s Club, but it looks like a very good deal.
Have you rented a car through Sam’s Club Travel and Sixt? Please share your experiences!
Thanks for the question, Prem!