Is it possible to buy out the excess insurance for a rental car?

Renting a car is quick and easy nowadays. You might rent a car for your holiday, for instance, or because your own car is temporarily at the garage for maintenance. The excess is the amount you have to pay if damage is caused to the rental car. The excess can sometimes amount to hundreds of pounds. Many people wonder if it's possible to waive the excess on a rental car. In this blog, we will delve deeper into this question.

What is the excess on a rental car?

The excess on a rental car is the amount that you, as the renter, have to pay in the event of damage to the rental car. You also pay excess in case of loss or theft of the rental car. The excess is usually a fixed amount stipulated in the rental agreement. The amount of this sum varies depending on the rental company and the type of car you are hiring. In some cases, the excess can be more than a thousand euros.

Why is excess/deductible on car hire necessary?

A deductible when hiring a car is charged to protect the rental company against any costs in case of damage, theft, or loss of the rental car. It is a type of insurance that enables the rental company to cover the costs of repairs or replacement of the car. The deductible is a way of sharing the responsibility for paying these costs between the renter and the rental company. It also incentivises renters to be more careful when driving the rental car, as they are financially liable for any damage caused during the rental period.

What damage is covered by the excess (deductible) of a rental car?

In short, if you cause damage to the rental car, you will have to pay for it either partially or in full from your excess. However, this does not apply to all damage:

• Damage through no fault of your own: If damage to your rental car is caused by another car and you are not at fault, this is covered by the other party's car insurance. In this case, you will not have to pay any excess.
• Damage due to unknown cause: When it is unclear who caused the damage, it falls under the driver's own risk. After all, the car rental company cannot determine who is potentially responsible for the damage. What about the excess when there are multiple drivers? Read the answer in this blog.
• Damage caused by your own actions: When you cause damage to the rental car yourself, it is clear that the damage incurred will be deducted from your car insurance's excess. Read in this article how the car hire insurance is arranged.

Is it possible to buy out the excess on a hire car?

It is indeed possible to buy out the excess when hiring a car. However, this can vary by rental company and country. In some cases, rental companies offer an option to buy out the excess for an extra charge. You pay an additional amount to reduce or even completely waive the excess. This can be a good option if you want to protect yourself against high costs in the event of damage. Always read the terms and conditions before renting, as you don't want any nasty surprises. If you want to know more about renting a holiday car, read this blog.

Is it wise to pay for the excess waiver when hiring a car?

It is important to remember that waiving the excess on a rental car is not always the best option. It can be quite expensive, and if you return the car without any damage, you will have spent the extra money on waiving the excess for nothing. Furthermore, the excess with some rental companies can already be low, meaning that waiving the excess is not really necessary.

Rent a car with no excess with Adrem?

If you decide to waive the excess, it is important to carefully review the rental company's terms and conditions. Read the small print to ensure you understand what is and is not covered by waiving the excess. For example, certain damage may not be covered, or there may be limitations on the coverage provided by waiving the excess.

At Adrem Limburg, the excess for a passenger car is €1000. You can reduce this to €250 for an additional premium. The amount of this premium depends on the car segment you rent. Read in this blog what car segments there are. We do not offer car hire with fully comprehensive excess waiver. In our experience, a higher excess encourages our renters to drive more carefully.