I have booked the car into a local Skoda Dealer to get a warranty issue looked at.

I asked for a courtesy car & they are going to charge me £15 to put me on their insurance.

I didn't buy the car from them, however, as its warranty work (my rear wiper blade works intermittently) they will get paid anyway by Skoda.

I have never been asked to pay for insurance before on a courtesy car. What about anyone else?

That doesn't sound right.

From a business point of view anyway, considering the wave of excellent customer service Skoda dealers have in the press, I just don't get them wanting

to charge a fee for insurance. The very fact that you're dissapointed in this sums it up. It's not as if it's costing them the earth :wonder:

That doesn't sound right.

From a business point of view anyway, considering the wave of excellent customer service Skoda dealers have in the press, I just don't get them wanting

to charge a fee for insurance. :wonder:

That's my take on it exactly. I will be looking for a dealer to do the first service later this year & even though this is the closest one, it does leave a bit of a bad taste.

I have worked in many places that charge a token amount for a loan car, it's understandable given the massive amount we have to pay for insurance, taxing the cars, running them etc. also add to the fact most come back in an abused and shocking state having been used to tip runs etc.

Check your own insurance, it may cover you on the loan car anyhow.

I would only have the courtesy car for a few hours. My own insurance company Admiral wanted £20 to put the car on for one day

£15 don't sound to bad then if they want to charge you £20.

Regardless if you only need it for a few hours they still have a car tied up. Most dealerships offer a collect and deliver service and will take you somewhere and pick you up if that would be better.

£15 don't sound to bad then if they want to charge you £20.

Regardless if you only need it for a few hours they still have a car tied up. Most dealerships offer a collect and deliver service and will take you somewhere and pick you up if that would be better.

Yeah might ask if that's an option

Cheers

Some insurance companies do have a clause in the policy which covers you for use of a replacement vehicle when yours is in for service or maintenance. I have beend asked for insurance payments before but luckily had this clause in my policy.

What do they do if you want to test drive a car? Bet they don't ask for a contibution then!

Some insurance companies do have a clause in the policy which covers you for use of a replacement vehicle when yours is in for service or maintenance. I have beend asked for insurance payments before but luckily had this clause in my policy.

What do they do if you want to test drive a car? Bet they don't ask for a contibution then!

Agreed, I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue then

I feel quite pleased I got a courtesy car for free with my 20K service. :S Was only 20 miles use but hey.

I feel quite pleased I got a courtesy car for free with my 20K service. :S Was only 20 miles use but hey.

Did you use yours for a tip run ?

It's common practice now, my Skoda dealer charges £10 / day.

However they also offer a drop off and collect service which is free.

Never had to pay for a Skoda courtesy car. Did for a Landrover. So I looked after the Skoda...

Both the ford dealer and the two skoda dealerships that I have dealt with over the last few years have charged for courtesy car insurance. It seems to be becoming common practice. All did offer lifts and collection and delivery for free though.

Becomming common as margins are squeezed and dealears look to cut cost and increase income.

Ive been getting this since 1997, from Fiat and Skoda. Toyota never charge me for a loaner when I get my wifes Pug 107 serviced.

I would ask if it covers a collision waiver as this may be what you are paying for. Bare in mind, if you have an accident or someone vandalises it in your care, you may have a huge excess to pay but if you are paying a waiver, you will most likely pay nothing.

Many loaners, even test drives, will charge a lump if you damage the vehicle so pre-paying a score is a reasonable risk eliminator!

That said, many customers pay and never need it, so insurance companies are pleased to offer it!

If there is no choice, and its NOT a waiver, (Still might have to pay for damage), Get the repair done, then complain in writing to Skoda UK, stating that you needed to be mobile, so HAD to pay, despite your vehicle being repaired under warranty, depriving you of the use of your car. They may deside to offer a refund. Worth a try, if all else fails. OR, sit in the office, waiting for the repair, and drink their coffee machine dry!

Yep it is quite a common practice now with many dealers to charge a small fee for the reasons Tech1e mentions. We used to get cars come back in a terrible state, scratched, dented, filthy etc etc. Costs dealers a fortune to provide this convenience to customers. Having said that, I've never been asked to pay a fee by Skoda Underwood's Garage of Colchester. They are a top bunch.

If your not 21 yet then yes. I found that out the hard way! Otherwise, no, I wouldn't have thought they should be charging you!

If the car is not classed as OF THE ROAD then Skoda don't have to pay for a courtesy car it is then left to your own dealership personally to decide whether or not to charge you for it in most cases most dealers will supply this free of charge but you may find if your under 25 there will be a small token taken for the additional cost they inure for a young driver

Hope this helps

Edited 16 January, 201214 yr by Kie

Thanks for the comments but I'm 44 in April so don't think the young driver bit applies anymore :(

IIRC when I used to go to a dealer in South Wales I think they either didn't charge for the courtesy car but you had a £1,000 excess, or you could pay a small amount (£10ish) and the excess was removed.

IIRC when I used to go to a dealer in South Wales I think they either didn't charge for the courtesy car but you had a £1,000 excess, or you could pay a small amount (£10ish) and the excess was removed.

This has always been the case with my local dealer. Although the dealer before this one did try charging me quite a bit for a pretty bog standard courtesy car. I told them where to go

If the car is not classed as OF THE ROAD then Skoda don't have to pay for a courtesy car it is then left to your own dealership personally to decide whether or not to charge you for it in most cases most dealers will supply this free of charge but you may find if your under 25 there will be a small token taken for the additional cost they inure for a young driver

Hope this helps

If it is classed as off the road it then cost you £500 as a deposit on the hire car, i've had to do this enough times.

Different garages have different policies as they are all franchises and can charge for what they like. Westover in Corfe Mullen for example, do not charge for a courtesy car for warranty work but do if your car is booked in with them for a service.