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FAQ Section > Car Hire Insurance Frequently Asked Questions > Auto Europe Insurance

What insurance policies are offered by Auto Europe?

We explain the car hire insurance policies offered by Auto Europe.

Auto Europe offer a variety of policies available through the company.

Whilst we summarise these below please do read the company's terms and conditions for full details.

Auto Europe offer a wide range of packages, so firstly please check the details of any package you are looking to purchase. If you want wide cover consider a policy from the MoneyMaxim panel for comprehensive cover at extremely competitive rates.

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Basic Package with No Insurance - Normally for American residents (and not normally available through the .co.uk site). Will probably offer some third party/public liability insurance, but this could be limited to the local State limit, which in some places is as low as $5,000. Some states including California and Florida now have no state requirements so cars could come with no primary liability insurance. It is therefore worth checking this before travel so you can purchase top up insurance before you leave the UK or, if necessary primary liability insurance, rather than having to buy the local car hire desk alternative or finding you do not have adequate cover. Does not include Collision Damage Waiver or Theft Protection so you would be responsible for the loss or damage to the car to its total value. You can purchase Collision Damage Waiver and Supplementary Liability Insurance if required either at the car hire desk (check prices with the hire company before travelling as this tends to be an expensive way to purchase such insurance), or through the MoneyMaxim car hire insurance comparison service.

Zero Excess - Offered by selected car hire companies but can also be booked through Auto Europe. Covers the excess, but not windows, wheels, tyres, roof and underside of the vehicle. Also excludes some damage other car hire excess insurance would normally cover and at times this had led to negative comment on blogs where users feel that minor damage has been rather harshly attributed to driver recklessness - the company policy is to exclude covering damage where it is caused by the driver not taking due care, or where they consider the driver was reckless or negligent. (Auto Europe say this includes - but is not limited to - adding wrong fuel, not following the rules of the road, damages incurred while parking or in a parking facility, burned clutch, using the hand brake incorrectly etc).

Refundable Excess - Offers reimbursement for any excess paid to the supplier for accidental damage. You should decline the supplier's additional excess reduction insurance upon check out. Bear in mind the same exclusions as above.

Adding Super Cover to either of the above means that you are covered for glass, wheels, tyres, undercarriage and roof of the vehicle. These are covered on the same basis as the excess.

Please note that in the UK these take the form of waivers rather than insurance, so you do not have the added protection of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme should the product supplier fail. Furthermore disputes could not be dealt with through the Financial Ombudsman Service.

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This content was last reviewed on 17/10/2023

Image courtesy of: Alexandre Prevot

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