Car Hire Excess Insurance FAQs

No, car hire excess cover is optional but recommended if you want the peace of mind of being protected against high excess fees in the case of damage to the car.

Many hire companies may offer policies upon collection of your vehicle but they are unlikley to be as comprehensive as the plans offered by specialists like Direct Car Hire Excess

A standard travel insurance policy will not generally cover you for car hire or car hire excess when abroad. Car hire insurance may be offered as an extra but it’s very rare. Always consult your travel insurance documents so you are not caught out at the last minute.

Your car hire rental company will provide a basic level of car hire insurance but car hire excess insurance almost always has to be purchased additionally.

Purchase your car hire excess insurance today.

Excess can be anywhere from £200 – £2000, and sometimes higher but it very much depends on the car you choose and where you are hiring it from. We have a comprehensive directory for the most popular destinations complete with car hire company contact details. Use this to find the best hire options for you.


If you’re worried about the possible excess costs, protect yourself with car hire excess insurance.

A collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver is an optional damage insurance cover available to you when you hire a car. However, most of these insurances do not cover excess fees that you’ll face if you cause any damage to the rental car.

Direct Car Hire Excess will protect you against hefty excess charges should your rental car get stolen or damaged. Whether you choose single trip or annual cover you’ll be instantly protected. Car Hire Excess Insurance is created with the customer in mind, so whether the trip is for a holiday or for business we have the perfect policy for you, meaning you have one less thing to worry about whilst away.

See our benefits schedule to see what is covered in each package.

To be eligible for hire car excess insurance:

• you must be aged between 21 and 84 only
• you must hold a full and valid, internationally recognised driving license
• you must be eligible to rent and drive the rental vehicle and adhere to the terms of the car rental agreement
• you must be named on the rental agreement
• the policy must cover the entire rental period
• you must purchase cover before your car rental agreement starts
• you must obtain pre-authorisation for excess reimbursements over £5,000

Should you be unsure about anything regarding eligibilty, speak to our dedicated team of experts, we are always on hand to help.

Yes, we provide cover for single and multi-trips thanks to our comprehensice European excess car hire insurance and Worldwide policies

We provide comprehensive cover but there are a few exclusions:

• damage caused by a known third party
• drivers not named on the rental agreement
• damage or theft that occurs outside of your chosen area

To find out more, get in touch, alternatively, look at our plans for an outline of what is covered

You can pay for your insurance by using a debit or credit card. You will not be covered for any claim if you have not paid your premium. You should always pay for your insurance before renting a car abroad. To get an idea of car hire costs, check out our directory for some of the most popular destinations and the hire companies that operate there.

You can only purchase car hire excess insurance before you rent a car abroad. Get a quote today.

With Direct Car Hire Excess we offer three different policy levels; Basic, Standard and Deluxe. The highest coverage is capped at £/€/$50,000. Check out the different levels in our benefit schedule now.

Your policy start and end date will be detailed in your Schedule of Insurance. Annual customers are covered for a 12-month period whereas any other policy duration is chosen by you.

Please visit the Make a Claim page on our website to start a new claim or view the progress of a current claim.

You can cancel your insurance policy within 14 days of receipt of the policy documents. You will receive a full refund once you have let us know via +44(0) 20 8181 3815 or info@directcarhireexcess.com. You must notify us no later than the start date of the cover shown on your insurance documents/certificate.

Your insurance policy will cover the policyholder and any named driver on the same rental agreement and permanently resident at the same address.

The DCHE policy currently doesn’t cover motor homes, trailers, caravans, vans, trucks, non-passenger carrying vehicles, vehicles that carry more than 9 people including the driver, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, off-road vehicles or a recreational vehicle (being any vehicle with temporary or permanent living or accommodation facilities).

Yes, we will email annual customers an invitation link to renew the policy, about 30 days before your policy expiry. This will also include a special renewal discount code, helping you save more money!

Yes, depending on what you need to adjust. You can call us on +44(0) 20 8181 3815 or click the Live Help button on the website.

The DCHE policy currently doesn’t cover motor homes, trailers, caravans, vans, trucks, non-passenger carrying vehicles, vehicles that carry more than 9 people including the driver, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, off-road vehicles or a recreational vehicle (being any vehicle with temporary or permanent living or accommodation facilities).

No, There are no additional fees for amending your policy or cancelling during the cooling-off period.

Yes, unlike many insurance products on the market, you can be assured that damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage is insured on your policy up to your policy limit.

Our European car hire excess cover means all EEA countries, plus the United Kingdom & Switzerland. However, this does not include Iceland.