19 January 2024

Protect your Rental Car Against the Perils of Winter Driving with Car Hire Excess Insurance

How can car hire excess insurance help you this winter? Make sure you avoid paying a nasty bill at the end of your hire

Over the next few months many of us hire a car as a reliable way to get us to our destination - whether that's a UK trip to friends or relatives or because we are making for the ski slopes where a rental car is the ideal way to get from the airport to the hotel, apartment or chalet with all the luggage.

Most hires pass off totally smoothly, but in poorer weather it is obvious why the chances of having a bump or scrape in your hire car increase.

This can result in a large bill at the end of a trip which can be a real sting in the tail so why not compare car hire excess insurance and find out how you can protect your rental car from as little as under £2 per day.

When you rent a car it usually comes with a Collision Damage Waiver and a Theft Waiver which mean that you are not responsible for the whole cost of the car should it be damaged or stolen. There is, however, normally a car hire excess on both parts which you are liable for and there are also areas of the car which are not covered by the CDW. These areas include the wheels, glass, roof and underbody. A small scratch to the car door, a dent on the roof from a falling stick or a scrape on the hub caps could all see you with charges at the car hire desk when you return your vehicle.

With any amount of driving there is always the possibility of an accident but with slippery roads and harsh winter weather, the chances increase. By taking out a car hire excess insurance policy you can claim back your costs if you are charged for the excess or for those areas typically not included in the collision damage waiver.

During the colder months many roads are gritted so chips on the windscreen caused by pieces flying up are not uncommon. Winds bring down more branches and cause more debris on the road which can lead to punctures and damage to the underside of the car. However you can get car hire excess protection by buying one of the policies offered through our service.

Rain, snow and ice can all make driving hazardous and heighten the risks of skidding, collisions and damage to the rental car. An excess insurance will help but in many snowy destinations you can also lessen your chances of losing control on the roads by renting a car with winter tyres included. Winter tyres offer better grip on roads which are wet or snowy.

If you do not have a collision damage waiver or a theft waiver included with your car hire then we may be able to help here too. Use our car hire excess insurance comparison service to find the insurance you need. We have a number of providers so you can compare policies to find th one that best suits your car hire protection needs. With excess insurance in place you can drive your rental car with confidence this winter.