Save 10% on Your Car Hire Excess Insurance

Money Saving Tips

Avoid Hard Sell at the Desk

Some car hire companies can be very insistent you buy their own policy. Stories of customers being told their standalone policy isn't valid or not recognised by the hire company aren't uncommon. Remember, this is a reimbursement policy, allowing you to claim back charges from the hire company in the event of damage to the vehicle. Sometimes it's best not to tell the hire company you have cover elsewhere and instead politely decline their cover and accept responsibility for the excess.

Annual Cover vs Single Trip

When buying stand-alone cover you normally have a choice of annual cover, or a policy the same duration as your rental agreement. If you plan on renting several times in the next 12 months you can make a further saving by opting for annual cover rather than several single trip policies. As a rule of thumb if you'll be hiring a car for 21 days or more annual cover can work out cheaper.

Consider Family Cover

If relatives living with you (like your partner or spouse) often hire cars separately, you can sometimes make further savings by purchasing a stand-alone car hire excess insurance policy with family cover. This usually means anyone named on the policy can rent a car in their own name at any time and benefit from the same level of excess protection.

Only Buy the Cover You Need

Like most types of insurance, car hire excess allows you to tailor coverage to your specific needs. Don't pay more than you need to by selecting cover you won't use. For instance, if you only plan on travelling in Europe, don't pay extra for a Worldwide policy.

Make Sure the Hire Car has CDW

Most stand-alone policies require you to ensure the hire car has CDW or Collision Damage Waiver. This is like your own car insurance, it covers the majority of the value of the vehicle in the event of an accident, but with an excess. Some car hire companies are now offering the option to remove CDW, leaving you responsible for the full value of the vehicle, which is usually more than the reimbursement limit of standalone policies. The only exception to this is in the USA and Canada where it's not uncommon for rental cars not to have CDW cover, ReduceMyExcess.co.uk offer a special policy for North America to ensure you're always covered.

Check Your Credit Card

Because car hire excess is a reimbursement product, you'll need to pay the car hire company when you return the car if there is any damage, plus they'll usually pre-authorise your credit card when you collect the car. So make sure you have a credit card with enough available credit to cover the excess.