What is Car Hire Excess Insurance?
What is excess?
When you take out car insurance, whether on a rental vehicle or your own car, you will be given an excess figure. It is also known as the deductible. If your rental car is damaged or stolen you will have to pay this fee.
What is car hire excess insurance?
Car hire excess insurance isn’t compulsory, but for a small cost it can help holidaymakers and travelers feel further protected when hiring a vehicle abroad. On top of your insurance policy for the car you can also take out the option car hire excess policy. Your excess will then be covered should an accident or theft occur.
Do I need car hire excess insurance?
Let’s say you’re on holiday in Spain and you have hired a rental car. Not used to driving on the right-hand side of the road you clip the curb and ruin an alloy and there is a small dent and area of ruined paintwork.
Let’s say the total repair is £1000. The excess of your insurance is £400, so you pay the £400 and the remaining £600 will be footed by the insurance company. This means you’re £400, potentially more, out of pocket.
With car hire excess insurance you can claim back the excess. This means your Spanish accident would simply cost you the price of your car hire excess insurance policy fee instead of a minimum of £400.
Car hire excess insurance quote
With over 100,000 policyholders in over 175 countries we are best placed to secure car hire excess insurance for you. With our policies you – and any named drivers – will receive comprehensive excess protection when driving a rental car overseas.
When you take out a policy with us the following is insured at a base level:
- The car hire policy excess
- Towing costs
- Administration and handling charges
- Key cover
Our deluxe offering also includes:
- Personal accident
- Personal possessions
- Curtailment of car hire
- Drop off charges
- Lock out
- Misfuelling
- Road rage cover
- Carjacking cover
Policies are available to those aged 21 to 84. With a single trip policy we can cover your rental for up to 180 days, whereas with our annual premium we can cover a maximum of 60 days per hire. See our different policies below:
