When you’re hiring a car, there’s so much to consider. From the type of vehicle you require, to your chosen hire period, it can be easy to forget about, arguably the most important thing, insurance.
In this blog, we discuss what car hire insurance covers, along with how it works.
If you would like to find out more about our trusted vehicle hire services, please get in touch. For vehicle hire in Newbury, call us on 01635 44519. For enquiries regarding vehicle hire in Reading, please call 0118 947 6500.
What Does Car Hire Insurance Cover?
As a general rule of thumb, all rental companies should provide you with third party cover as standard. This covers damage, theft and Third Party Liability Insurance. In most cases, you will then be given the option to purchase optional extras.
You will also receive a damage waiver with either collision (CDW) or loss (LDW) included. This functions in a similar way to standard insurance, meaning you’re covered for certain types of damage to the vehicle. Any claims you make will be subject to excess.
Basic Hire Car Insurance Includes:
Third Party Cover (TPC)
A compulsory addition to your car rental price, TPC covers you in the event of an incident. This includes damage to something or someone else, including passengers and any valuables kept in the vehicle.
What’s covered?
- Injury to passengers in the vehicle
- Damage to property in the vehicle
What’s not covered?
- Theft of the vehicle
- Theft of personal belongings
- Death/injury to driver
- Damage to vehicle
Vehicle Damage Cover
Should your hire car be damaged during the rental period, vehicle damage cover will manage the cost of repairs to a point. You will need to cover the cost of the excess.
What’s covered?
- The cost of repairs if the hire vehicle is damaged up to a certain amount – this applies regardless of who is at fault.
What’s not covered?
- Intentional damage/damage caused by gross negligence
- Damage caused by using the wrong type of fuel
- Damage to the windscreen
- Damage to the tires.
Vehicle Theft Cover
No matter how conscious you are during your rental period, one thing that often can’t be predicted is the likelihood of the vehicle being stolen. Vehicle theft covers the cost should your hire car be stolen. However, you will be required to pay a fixed amount towards the cost of replacement.
What’s covered?
- You’re covered for the cost of replacing the vehicle if it is stolen.
What’s not covered?
- If the vehicle is stolen because you left the keys in the ignition
- If the vehicle was stolen because you left it unsupervised for a long period of time.
At Caversham Vehicle Hire, we believe in offering value for money with the utmost transparency. All of our vehicle hire quotes are fully inclusive, including VAT and breakdown cover with no hidden costs. All of the cars in our extensive fleet are fully serviced and have been maintained to the highest standard. To learn more about our specialist vehicle hire services, please get in touch.
Car Hire Excess Insurance – How Does it Work?
As previously mentioned, the insurance you’re supplied with when you hire a car will likely be subject to an ‘excess’. In short, this means that, should the vehicle be damaged whilst in your possession, you would have to pay towards the repair of a vehicle, regardless of who is at fault.
Excess insurance can be as high as £2000. It will cover you for the excess provided by your chosen hire company, as well as additional damage that isn’t covered by your basic policy. If you’re likely to require car rental at multiple points throughout the year, it’s worth considering purchasing excess car insurance as an annual policy.
Do I Need Car Hire Excess Insurance?
Excess insurance isn’t mandatory, however, no matter how good a driver you think you are, there’s no way of guaranteeing that an accident won’t occur during your rental period.
If you don’t want to risk being faced with a hefty bill should an incident occur, excess insurance can provide much needed peace of mind. It’s also worth bearing in mind that your basic hire car insurance won’t cover damage to the tyres, wheels or windscreen. Therefore, by purchasing excess insurance, if something does go wrong, your bank balance won’t be at risk.
At Caversham Vehicle Hire, we pride ourselves on our superior vehicle hire services. Whatever your requirements, we’ll offer an affordable car hire rate that suits your unique needs and desires. Our helpful, experienced team will do all they can to help, providing tailored advice and guidance throughout your entire hire period.
If you would like to find out more about the insurance included when you hire a car, or wish to learn more about the vehicles featured in our extensive fleet, please get in touch. For vehicle hire in Newbury, call us on 01635 44519. For questions regarding vehicle hire in Reading, please call 0118 947 6500.