Cheap car hire can be a potential God send on a holiday. It offers the chance to see more of a country than you would ever be able to through any other means whilst offering the chance to save huge amounts of your spending money in the process. However, sometimes it is not so clear cut about just what you are insured against, and so it is important you know all the facts before you decide which car to rent.
Most car hire companies will offer a certain amount of insurance. This is often called a Collision Damage Waiver. However, very often there will be certain aspects of a car such as the tyres, windscreen and undercarriage that aren’t covered by the general insurance. Also if the car is severely damaged or stolen, many companies will expect you to pay an excess, much like you might have to with insurance policies at home.
With the best will in the world, accidents are just that – unexpected events that are often not your fault. But should something happen – whether that is someone leaving a scratch in your car when you are away, or bumpy roads playing havoc with your suspension to the point that it is damaged – even with normal insurance, you could find yourself facing these excess charges which could leave you significantly out of pocket on your holiday.
By booking cheap car hire in advance it is much easier to understand what your car is covered for and what it is not. The best thing to do at this point is take out excess insurance. In advance, car hire companies will offer this at a much reduced rate. Effectively, this takes away any potential payments, meaning that whatever happens, depending on the policy, you shouldn’t be liable to pay anything at all.
To find the best deals try using comparison sites, and remember to always check exactly what your insurance, and your excess insurance covers you for.