If you regularly hire a car then it might be worth considering an annual excess insurance policy. This will cover you for an unlimited amount of hire agreements up to 31 days in length each time. As you are covered for 31 days per rental – it can also work out cheaper to buy an annual policy if you’re planning on hiring a car for more than 14 days.
Full Answer
What insurance do you need to hire a car?
When you hire a car, it usually comes with basic insurance included in the price so that you won’t have to pay the full cost of replacing a stolen or damaged vehicle.
Does travel insurance cover car hire excess?
Travel insurance can cover you for car hire excess and can be found with most comprehensive travel insurance policies. With this, you can get cover you for: Travel insurance car rental excess. Car rental excess is the amount you are charged by a rental company if your rental car is damaged, stolen or involved in a collision.
Is car hire excess insurance worthwhile?
Is Car Hire Excess Insurance Worthwhile? If you don’t want to spend up to €1,000 of your holiday budget on car hire excess fees, then yes, car hire excess insurance is worthwhile. Excess insurance is relatively cheap and could save you from a big pay out.
What does excess mean for car insurance?
“Excess” in relation to car insurance generally refers to a situation where there are two insurance policies that cover the same incident. The first policy to pay is called “primary” while the second policy to pay is called “excess.” Primary coverage must be exhausted before excess coverage has an obligation to pay.
Should you take out extra insurance when renting a car?
No, you do not need insurance to rent a car because rental companies have their own insurance. Rental car companies usually provide minimum liability coverage only, so if you don't have personal insurance, you'll probably want to purchase extra rental car insurance through the rental company.
What is the excess on a hire car?
If a hire car is damaged or stolen, there's a limit to how much the renter will have to pay to repair or replace it. 'Excess' is simply the name for that limit. The car's damage or theft cover will pay the rest of the cost.
What does zero excess mean when renting a car?
When you choose a Zero Excess or Zero Deductible rate, you remove the excess you'd be responsible for in the event of an accident. Look for vehicles listed with a "No Deductible Rate" (pictured above) and enjoy renting a car with CDW and TP insurance; with no deductibles to pay in the event of a collision.
Is CDW the same as excess insurance?
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - is not insurance, but an agreement to waive the costs of damage to your rental vehicle if it is involved in a collision. Frequently CDW has an 'excess' which is the first part of any claim which the renter will remain liable for.
What is fully comprehensive insurance without excess?
FULLY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE. Fully comprehensive insurance covers damage to your own rental car or theft of the vehicle. It also covers damage caused by the insured person's own fault or in his absence. In addition to fully comprehensive cover without excess, you can also choose fully comprehensive cover with excess.
Do I have to pay my excess if my car is not damaged?
An excess is the amount you pay towards your own repairs or claim, so you don't have to pay an excess for a third party's claim. Also, if you don't claim for your own damage, you don't pay an excess either.
Does CDW cover dents?
What Does the CDW Cover? The CDW covers the cost of making necessary repairs. For example, it pays to fix a dent or scratch or even if the vehicle is totaled.
Does CDW cover scratches?
Yes, a collision damage waiver covers scratches on a rental car. A collision damage waiver is an optional rental car insurance add-on that covers most damage to a rental car, from damage caused by a crash to cosmetic damage from a scratch.
What is difference between CDW and LDW?
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) provides cover if there is damage to a rental car through an accident. LDW on the other hand, is a combination of CDW and Theft Protection, which means that you will be covered for car replacement if your rental car is stolen during the period of your rental.
Is CDW full coverage?
The minimum liability insurance afforded to your rental car without any add-ons will mean you are not fully covered if something happens to the vehicle while in your care, but with CDW you can know you are fully covered while on your trip.
What does CDW insurance cover?
The CDW covers damage from theft, vandalism, and traffic accidents, but rarely covers bodily injury liability caused by a traffic accident, per SmartTravel. It's important to remember that a CDW only covers the damage to your rental vehicle.
How much will an annual excess insurance policy cover me for?
At Direct Car Hire Excess we offer our customers three levels of cover; Basic, Standard and Deluxe. The amount of excess depends on the cover you t...
What countries are covered with an annual excess policy?
When taking out an annual policy with us please be aware that we do not cover Armenia, Iceland, Jamaica, or the Dominican Republic. Customers are a...
Are there any limits on who can take out annual excess cover?
Customers aged between 21 and 84 years (inclusive) can take out an annual excess insurance policy with us. You must have a full and valid driving l...
How long is annual car rental excess cover?
When you take out an annual policy with us you will be covered for 12 calendar months. Your policy will be active from the date you selected the an...
Can I cancel my annual excess insurance?
Yes, if your annual excess cover does not fit your needs you can cancel within 14 days of receiving the policy. You must cancel within the 14 days...
How much does a car hire excess cover?
The policy is designed to cover excesses of up to £10,000*.
What is excess insurance?
Car hire excess insurance protects you from paying a large excess if you have an accident in a hire car. Don't be confused.
What happens when you collect a hire car?
When collecting your hire car, you'll usually be offered different types of products which all come at an extra cost on top of the price of the actual car hire (like breakdown cover, personal injury cover etc). It can all be a bit confusing and costly, and what a lot of people don't realise, is that often if the hire car is damaged in any way, ...
Do you have to pay for car repairs yourself?
This isn’t insurance as you’d get for your car – rather, the company just doesn’t ask you to pay for the repairs yourself. This is called a damage waiver. However, you’re usually asked to pay towards the cost of the repairs – an excess.
Does a rental agreement have a damage waiver?
Your rental agreement should also come with a damage waiver, effectively covering any damage to the car you’re using at the time. The damage waiver does come with an excess, though. So if you’re in an accident, you’d have to pay an initial amount and the rental company would deal with the other costs.
Does car hire insurance cover excess?
While car hire agreements typically offer some level of insurance for your rental, excess cover could give you better peace of mind. Car hire excess insurance will also cover you for some of the 'extras' charged by the rental company such as damage to tyres, underbody damage and damage to any auto-glass.