Planning a half term getaway or a quick city break this autumn? Perhaps you’ll be hiring a car to enjoy the sights. If you book early, you’ll have the best chance of getting a great deal on the cost of your rental car, but what about holiday car insurance? How do you get the best deal that won’t leave you out of pocket if the worst happens?
Should I buy car hire excess insurance?
When you hire a car, you will get basic cover that means you won’t have to pay out if your car is stolen or damaged. But there’s still the excess to consider and with some rentals, that can run into thousands of pounds. So how can you mitigate your financial liability and make sure that you don’t ruin your autumn break with a big bill? Purchase car hire excess insurance.
Car hire company or standalone policy?
You will have two options when you want to buy car rental insurance; buy a standalone policy or buy from the car rental company. If you opt for the car company policy, you won’t need to block out a large deposit on your credit card as you will with a third party policy. They’ll also turn a blind eye to any existing damage.
However, the cover is expensive and often can’t match that offered by a standalone policy which can include additional cover for tyres and windscreens for just pennies a day.
Annual or single trip?
The cheapest way to buy holiday car insurance is to buy an annual policy that covers you for driving either in Europe or worldwide. Such policies are highly affordable and will cover you for any trips you make in a 12 month period. If you’re going to need car hire more than twice in the near future, then an annual policy may make sense.
If your autumn break is likely to be your only trip abroad for the year, single trip coverage is available but it’s not quite as cheap. However, any third party policy will save you money when compared with the car hire company policies that can cost up to £30 a day. A high price to pay for the convenience of not blocking out a sum of money on your credit card.
Use a comparison website
Getting stung by the rental company for costly car excess insurance is a major bugbear for travellers. That’s why most of us prefer to make our own arrangements when it comes to holiday car cover, so we get a policy that suits our travel habits whether we’re on business or holiday with the kids. And the best way to make sure you get the best deal is to visit a comparison site such as Excess Buddy.
We’ll help you to save up to 65% in comparison with rental desk insurance, with some policies costing just 11p a day. You’ll get better cover at lower prices with quotes from our panel of trusted insurers.
Getting the best deal on your holiday car hire doesn’t stop when you find that great car rental. Purchasing your standalone policy in advance with the cover that’s just right for you means that you’ll save money and enjoy peace of mind on your autumn getaway.