Faster and smarter in the app... Open app

Car Hire Excess Insurance

Car Hire Excess Insurance

Hiring a car when travelling abroad allows you to take to the road at your own pace, and explore new lands with the freedom you just wouldn't get from using public transport. Once you've secured your hire car and have hit the road, the last thing you want is in the unfortunate event of an accident, to be left short. In this rare instance, we want to make sure you're as protected as possible. This is where car hire excess insurance comes in.


What is Car Hire Excess Insurance?

Car hire excess insurance is an additional insurance coverage that can be purchased outside of your car hire agreement to supplement the basic insurance provided under that agreement. This type of cover will insure you against the agreed upon excess amount you'd be liable to pay should your vehicle be damaged or stolen, you missfuel your vehicle, your vehicle breaks down, or any charges relating to key replacement. Put simply, with a car hire excess insurance policy you'll be covered against these excess charges.


How does Car Hire Excess Insurance work?

An often overlooked part of the insurance provided under your car rental agreement, car hire excess can typically range between £500 - £2,000 (and in some instances, even more). This means, should your vehicle get damaged or stolen, you will have to pay out of your own pocket, despite having insurance under your rental agreement.

For example: If you hire a car (available with Holiday Extras here) more often than not the vehicle itself will come with standard insurance, known as a collision damage waiver. In most cases the insurance provider will have written into the clause a voluntary excess that you will have to pay up-front, should the vehicle become damaged or stolen.

So, say you had a voluntary excess of £500, even with something as minor as a scratch, you'd have to pay that amount before anything else was covered. Taking out car hire excess gives you that all too important peace of mind that you'll be protected from these excess charges, should something untoward happen to the hired vehicle while it's in your possession. What's more, our excess insurance is available in the UK, Europe and Worldwide.


Do I need Car Hire Excess Insurance?

Strictly speaking, you don't need additional insurance when renting a car. However, with car hire excess insurance, an substantially smaller up-front payment could save you hundreds, potentially thousands in the voluntary excess costs listed in your car hire agreement.


What am I covered for?

Here is a brief overview of some of the main upper limits and inclusions of our excess policy. For a more in-depth look, be sure to check out the full policy wording.

Cover
Limit (up to)
Accidental Damage
£7,500 (£10,000 within the policy period)
Excess / Deposit Reimbursement
£7,500 (£10,000 within the policy period)
Misfuelling cover
£500 (£1,000 within the policy period)
Rental car key cover
- Lost, stolen or damaged keys
- Lock out

£500 (£2000 within the policy period)
£200
Rental vehicle breakdown recovery
£500

Making a claim

To make a claim on your car hire insurance excess cover policy, you will need to provide all receipts, invoices, reports and other documentary evidence we may require depending on your claim, but overall the process is simple and straight-forward. Here's some examples what you might need to make a claim:

  • Your original policy schedule, vehicle rental agreement and travel documents showing the dates and times of travel
  • Original bills or invoices you are asked to pay
  • Original receipts and accounts for any out-of-pocket expenses you have to pay
  • A copy of the driving license of the person driving the insured vehicle at the time of the accident.

Please refer to the policy wording to check if your circumstances are covered and notify our Claims team:

Phone: 01403 286542

Email: [email protected]

A claim form will be sent to you, either by post or by email. Alternatively, you can download one from www.ergotravelinsurance.co.uk/travel-insurance/claims.

Please keep copies of everything you send to us, we would also recommend using registered post.

If you have any further enquiries/amendements/cancellations regarding your policy please fill out the Car Hire Excess Cover Contact Form, following the intructions provided.

Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.

Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register

Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.

Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register