Car Hire Excess Insurance Review

Name	Features	Starting price (per day)	Apply
Car hire excess	Cover from $4,000 to $8,000 Additional cover for damage to windscreens, roof, tyres and underbody Underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE - Australia No further excess payable	$9.29 ($0 excess)	Get quote

^{*Prices are based on a 15-day hire in Australia, as of April 2024. Benefits vary from brand to brand. Always read through the product disclosure statement (PDS) to make sure the product is suitable for you.}

What are the key features?

Why should you consider Car Hire Excess? Key features of Car Hire Excess include:

• Additional coverage for damaged or stolen cars
• Simple policy that reduces excess rental fees from an accident down to $0
• All hire companies are covered
• $4,000-$8,000 excess coverage available
• Up to 60% cheaper prices for added hire car coverage with a range of $22.75-$33 per day
• Complete reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses
• Easy to file a claim; all that’s needed is a copy of the rental agreement and receipt showing how much was charged for repair
• Coverage for all types of vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes
• Worldwide coverage
• Coverage for insured drivers from ages 21 to 75

Additional scenarios covered by car

Apart from these features Car Hire Excess offers coverage for common scenarios that may not be covered in normal insurance agreements including:

• Vehicle theft
• Cracked, broken or damaged windows
• Water or hail damage
• Damage to tyres or wheels
• Damage to the body of the car including bumpers, undercarriage, roof, lights and trim

What exactly are you covered for?

Coverage applies to the nominated driver and includes coverage for the scenarios listed above. Additional terms and conditions include:

• The policy covers excess costs for repair above any other insurance claims. This means that the policy does not take the place of rental vehicle insurance, but instead provides cover for excess repair or theft costs that may not be covered. This can be for scenarios as simple as bumper damage up to major accident damage.
• You must be able to provide the repair quote or bill of service.
• The policy must be purchased before the rental is agreed.
• Coverage begins when the vehicle is collected and ends when the vehicle is returned.
• The policy will also allow for a $500 payment to be made if you cannot return the vehicle because of an injury sustained while driving or other health conditions.

What are some general exclusions I should know about?

While the policy has a wide range of coverage, there are some exclusions to be aware of.

Car Hire Excess will not pay out a claim if the rental vehicle was used in violation of the rental agreement, if you are without a licence while driving, if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident or if another driver was driving the car.

The claim may not be paid out if:

• You do not act in what is deemed to be a responsible way and avoid making a claim or act in a way that puts the hire car at risk
• The claim is made because of illegal activity and breaks government laws or is used in violation of visa requirements
• The claim is a result of a governmental authority confiscating or destroying the vehicle
• The claim is made during a time of war or as a result of an act of terrorism
• The claim is made after an act of attempted suicide

Written by

Jessica Prasida

Publisher

Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification. See full bio