Anyone renting a car may wish to consider car hire excess insurance. This type of insurance may potentially save you money if the worst case scenario were to occur.

What are excess charges?

When renting a car you usually have some form of insurance with the company you are renting from. This insurance typically provides protection against damage to the rental car, along with liability insurance for the third party. Typically a policy comes with what is known as excess. This is the amount that you need to pay if you make a claim before the insurance company takes over the rest of the claim. Typically this amount is taken off the credit card you paid with when renting.

What does the policy cover?

Car hire excess insurance typically covers or reduces the amount of excess you have to pay, up to a set limit.

Frequent users of rental cars

If you are a frequent user of rental cars you may be wise to check if you are able to take out an annual rental car insurance policy.

Typically car hire excess insurance is taken out at the time you hire a car. However you do not have to take out excess insurance with the place you hire your car from, you are able to search for a policy independently, and this may be a suitable way to save on the cost of cover. As with any type of insurance policy always check over the small print of any rental insurance you are offered.