How does your car hire excess insurance work?

If you are interested in knowing more about how to save money using our insurance, read on!

A car hire excess insurance policy covers the parts of your hire car that a car rental company generally won't - such as the excess (the first part of any claim for damage or theft), and most also cover the bill for damage to the glass (including the mirrors, lights and windscreen), tyres, wheels, underbody and roof. Regardless of whether you're in Europe, USA, New Zealand or Canada, you may like to take out an excess policy to protect yourself against any potential damage on these areas.

If you are renting directly from a US or Canadian car hire firm, your car may come with no Collision Damage Waiver cover at all, and minimal liability insurance. If that's the case you can buy a policy with full Collision (or Loss) Damage Waiver (CDW or LDW) and, if required additional Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI), which tops up any liability insurance provided locally. It will also cover the tyres, wheel, roof and underbody and most policies will also cover the glass..

Run a quotation on the MoneyMaxim car hire insurance comparison site and you will be prompted for the right responses as you go. If you have any further queries please call our customer service team during our office hours and we'd be delighted to help.

This content was last reviewed on 16/05/2017

Similar Questions

General Car Hire Insurance Questions

• Do I need Car Hire Excess Insurance when I rent a car?
• How does your car hire excess insurance work?
• Can I just buy an insurance policy, or do I need specific dates to be able to buy my insurance?
• What Does All Inclusive Car Hire Insurance Cover?
• Does my car rental agreement already include insurance?
• Why are there restrictions on UK usage?
• Can a hire company refuse to accept a car hire excess policy?
• Are other people travelling with me covered?
• Is damage to windows and tyres covered?
• Can I purchase your Excess Policies if I am not a resident of the UK?
• Will car hire insurance cover me if I pick the car up at one location and return it to another?
• Will car rental firms preauthorise on my credit card when I have car hire excess insurance?
• Are there credit cards which offer Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Excess Insurance?
• Which insurance do I need for my car hire?
• What cars are covered by car hire insurance?
• What do you mean by annual policy? Can I use it throughout the year?
• What is covered by the Theft insurance included in the car rental price?
• What is Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and do I need it?
• What is Personal Effects Cover (PEC) and do I need it?
• Do I need car hire cancellation insurance?
• How good are these companies at settling claims?
• Does it cost more for additional drivers?
• Does it matter what time of day I collect or return my hire car?
• What if I have a problem printing or downloading the car hire insurance document?
• Do you cover vehicles such as Camper Vans, Caravans and Motor Bikes?
• What does breakdown cover on car hire excess insurance include and how does it work
• No Excess Car Hire - What does this include?
• What do zero excess car hire insurance policies offer?
• What if I am unable to open my MoneyMaxim email with my car hire or car hire excess insurance quotes on?
• My car hire is for 31 days. Should I take a daily 31 day car hire excess insurance policy or an annual policy?
• Should I buy an annual Car Hire Excess Insurance policy or single trip policy for my upcoming hire car?
• What if I need a policy to cover two groups?
• Does deductibles mean the same as excess?
• Can I use excess insurance to cover peer-to-peer hire?
• Can I get excess insurance for a pickup truck?
• Can I cover two or more lead drivers on one policy?
• Is there an excess to pay on car hire excess insurance?

Excess Insurance Questions

• Do I have to have Excess Cover?
• What Cover is Provided by Car Hire Excess Cancellation Insurance?
• What are the restrictions on the Annual Excess Policies?
• In which countries is Excess/Super CDW charged?
• In which countries is Excess/Super CDW not charged?
• What is Excess Waiver Insurance?
• How do I make a Claim on my Excess Insurance?
• How are Claims handled?
• What is the Excess on a Car Hire?
• What is Covered by Baggage and Personal Accident Cover?
• What Cover does Car Hire Insurance provide for Carjacking and Road Rage?
• What Cover does Car Hire Insurance provide for Curtailment or Restitution?
• Is the price displayed a daily or total cost?
• What Countries are designated European for Car Hire Excess Insurance?
• Does Car Hire Insurance cost more for additional drivers?
• Does Car Hire Excess Insurance cover Bodywork Claims
• Car Hire Excess Insurance covers the underbody, roof and tyres but does it cover me if I have an accident?
• How do I know what the excess limit is for my hire car?
• Does Car Hire Excess mean I wouldn't have to pay for anything?
• Do I still have to provide my credit card for the excess on my hire car when purchasing a policy from you?
• Can a car hire accident claim affect my car no claims bonus?
• How to make a valid Car Hire Insurance Claim
• How large does my excess insurance limit need to be?
• When is the best time to get Car Hire Excess Insurance?

Questions on CDW & SLI Policies for the USA and Canada

• What are the features of a Combined CDW, SLI and Excess policy?
• How are Worldwide Policy Claims handled?

Combined Worldwide CDW, SLI & Excess Policy Questions

• What are the requirements for car rental insurance in the USA and Canada?
• What are the features of the CDW/LDW & SLI Policy?
• What are the restrictions on the CDW/LDW & SLI Policy for the USA and Canada?
• Is independent car hire insurance suitable for fly-drive holidays?
• How are SLI/CDW Claims handled?
• What cover is provided by the Combined Worldwide CDW, SLI & Excess Policy?
• If I purchase a Collision Damage Waiver and Supplementary Liability Insurance Policy, am I fully covered for car rental insurance in the USA and Canada?
• Is Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) the same as Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)?
• What Cover is Provided with an SLI Policy?
• What does the term Collision Damage Waiver mean?
• Collision Damage Waiver Insurance - What is it?
• Theft Protection - Car Hire definitions
• Can I buy independant car-hire insurance for my fly drive holiday?

Car Hire Companies - Insurance Questions

• What insurance policies are offered by Auto Europe?
• What insurance policies are offered by No Excess Zest Car Rental?
• What is Avis Insurance Cover like? Do they have CDW, Liability and Excess Waiver Cover?
• What insurance policies are offered by Budget?
• What insurance policies are offered by Car Hire Brokers? And are they a good deal?
• My hire company offers Super CDW or Excess cover? What is this?
• What insurance policies are offered by Dollar?
• What insurance policies are offered by Economy Car Rentals?
• What insurance policies are offered by Enterprise?
• What insurance policies are offered by Hertz?
• National Car Hire - are their Super Cover collision damage waiver excess policies a good deal?
• What insurance policies are offered by Sixt?
• Super CDW, Deductibles and Non Waiver - What do they mean?
• What insurance policies are offered by Thrifty?
• What insurance policies are offered by Alamo?
• Want does Super CDW, Deductible or Non Waiver mean?
• Does Sixt include CDW in its car hire packages?

Driver related Questions

• Young Drivers (under 25 years old)?
• Am I too old to hire a car?
• Are other people travelling with me covered?
• What are the age limits on Car Hire Insurance policies?
• If I want an additional driver on my hire car, will I have to pay more?

Car Rental Keys Questions

• What is Lock Out Cover and why would I need it?
• What is Key Replacement Insurance and do I need it?