Car Hire Excess Insurance FAQs

What is an excess?

In the case of your hire car being stolen or damaged in an accident, the person who has rented the vehicle will be required to pay the first part of the loss, known as the “excess” which can be as high as £10,000.

Can I purchase these products from my car hire company?

You often can. Car Hire Excess insurance is usually offered as an option that car hire companies will add on to your bill often at a premium rate.

What if my car hire company advises that this policy isn’t valid?

You should check your rental Terms and Conditions to see if there are any restrictions and limitations. This is not an insurance for the vehicle and just for the excess you would be required to pay therefore it will be valid unless there are exclusions in either the car rental terms and conditions or our policy wording.

My car rental company still charged my credit card with the excess – is this right?

This is standard practice – you still provide your credit card when you rent your vehicle for them to hold the “excess”. Then as long as your claim falls within the terms and conditions – if your rental company does not return this excess to you – you can claim on your policy for this.

Who can buy this product?

Any person:

1. Holding a valid full UK, EEA [European Economic Area] or Swiss driving licence
2. Permanently resident in the United Kingdom
3. Eligible to hire and drive a hired vehicle and able to adhere to the terms of the hire agreement

Is there a minimum or maximum age to purchase these products?

The minimum age we require is 21 and the maximum age is 84.

How many drivers are covered?

One lead driver is covered. The first name on your policy must match the lead driver on your car hire. Any other drivers on this policy must be additional drivers named on the car.

How many passengers are insured in the car?

You do not need to inform us about the number of passengers. Any limitations on passengers will be from your car rental company. We have a limit on the size of vehicles which can be found in your policy wording.

Is breakdown recovery covered?

This policy is not the insurance cover for the vehicle. This insurance policy covers the excess you will be required to pay if the rental company chooses to claim on their vehicle insurance. Therefore for any information related to the rental or insurance for the rental vehicle you should contact your rental provider.

Do you cover third party protection?

You are not covered for any claim in respect of the excess if a third party is responsible for the damage to the rental vehicle and, as a result, the car rental company will be or have reimbursed the excess amount to you.

Does my policy cover me for uninsured motorist protection?

No. If this is covered it would be under the vehicle insurance and does not constitute part of the excess.

What is CDW and is it included?

CDW or Collision Damage Waiver is damage insurance coverage that is available to you when you rent a car. This is included as standard on UK and Europe rentals and as part or the insurance packages you buy for rentals in the USA. Car Hire Excess Insurance is an additional insurance that you can buy to protect yourself against the excess you will pay if a claim is made.

Does this policy cover bodywork damage?

The policy covers the excess you pay if the car rental has bodywork damage as long as this falls within the policy terms and conditions.

What models of cars does this policy cover?

All models as long as they meet the following criteria:

• Any vehicle with a value up to £50,000 (excluding tax) at the time of the policy being incepted.
• Less than 20 years old at first registration.
• Cars with up to 9 seats.

What type of vehicles does this policy cover?

We only compare prices for Cars. However Leisure Guard offer cover for Vans, Mini-bus and Motorhomes – you can get quotes for these directly on their website.

Am I covered for public or personal liability?

Liability insurance is provided by your rental firm. You can often purchase Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI) which can top-up this cover offered by the rental companies if you feel it is inadequate. This is not something we currently compare.

Are one way hire agreements covered?

Yes.

Can I claim for damage to another vehicle?

No, this would be covered under the vehicle insurance and does not constitute part of the excess.

Are fly drive trips covered?

The trip itself would not be covered but the excess waiver on the hire vehicle would be covered.

How far in advance can I buy my policy before travelling?

You can purchase your Single Trip Car Hire excess policy up to 365 days in advance. Annual policies can be bought up to 90 days in advance.

Can I purchase cover if I have already picked up my rental vehicle?

This policy will not cover any rental that has already commenced.

What do I do if I need to change anything?

You should contact the brand you have selected and they will be able to check and amend as necessary.

Can’t find the answer to your question?

Call us on 0333 300 2176