Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific.
With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East.
You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.
Save On Car Rental Excess With Travel Insurance
Car hire excess insurance covers the amount you are liable to pay under your rental agreement if your vehicle is damaged, stolen or involved in an accident. You can pay extra with your rental company to reduce the excess however this can often double the cost of your car hire.
With excesses ranging from $2,000 - $8,000 depending on your vehicle, it's risky business not getting any cover at all. But don't fret, help is here! We have some nifty options that can save you money and reduce those hefty out of pocket expenses.
Travel Insurance & Car Hire Excess | Compare Rental Excess | Reduce with your Rental Company | Standalone Plans | Cover with your Credit Card
| Top Tips | FAQs
Travel Insurance & Car Hire Excess
You may be aware that travel insurance can bail you out of a number of tricky scenarios including injury, illness, luggage theft, trip delay and more. But did you know that some policies will cover your car rental excess as well?
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies have a built-in feature on both domestic and international policies so if you are involved in an incident and your rental company charges you an excess, you can claim on your travel insurance to cover this.
In the event of an accident, usually, your rental company will charge your credit card with the excess amount and then you'd be reimbursed by your travel insurer. In some cases, your policy would cover the cost of repairing the car if that works out to be cheaper than the excess. In the event of a claim, you must provide a copy of the repair account and/or receipt showing the amount charged to your travel insurer.
PROS
Extra Benefits: When you take out travel insurance for your trip, your policy will often include cover for medical expenses, trip cancellations and luggage as well as rental car excess insurance.No additional charge: Comprehensive policies usually include rental excess cover for no extra cost – wahoo!
Campervan cover: As long as your vehicle is hired from a licensed rental company, you can also cover the excess of campervans and motorhomes (not exceeding 4.5 tonnes) which makes for happy campers.
Save yourself some bucks: When you pay to reduce your excess at the car rental desk this can increase your costs to almost double the rental. If you’re heading on holiday, taking out travel insurance with rental excess cover can save you some pennies.
Accident extras: If you're involved in an accident and found medically unfit to drive, the cost of returning your rental vehicle to the nearest depot is usually covered, along with medical expenses if you're also injured.
CONS
One policy does not cover all: All drivers need to be listed on the travel insurance to be covered whilst driving the hire car.Exclusions: Your policy will mirror the rental agreement so any exclusions will also apply to your excess cover. Make sure you're reading the t&cs to see if windscreens, tyres and roofs are covered as well.
Driving domestically: If you’re travelling within 50kms from your home your policy probably won’t cover you for car hire excess. Check with your insurer to see if any distance restrictions are in place.
Motorcycles & Vans: Unfortunately, if you're hiring a motorbike or moving van you won't be covered for the excess as they are not considered a 'rental vehicle' under travel insurance definitions.
Compare rental excess
The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account any particular personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your personal objectives, needs and circumstances. Cover levels could change at any time.
| Insurer | Underwriter | Rental Excess Amount | Option to increase? (Additional charges may apply) | Distance Restrictions from your home | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1Cover
|
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $5,000 | $8,000 | 100km | |
 American Express
|
Chubb Insurance Australia Limited | $3,000 (optional add-on) | - | 100km | |
 Budget Direct
|
Auto & General Services Pty Ltd | $4,000 (domestic) $6,000 (comprehensive) |
- | No restriction | |
 Columbus Direct
|
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $4,000 (standard) $5,000 (premier) | - | 500km | |
 Downunder
|
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $3,000 (domestic) optional for international | $6,000 | 50km | |
 Fast Cover
|
Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd | $5,000 (domestic) optional for international | $8,000 | 200km | |
 InsureandGo
|
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited | $7,500 (gold) $4,000 (silver) | - | No km restriction, however, you're only covered if your rental is less than 15 days. More terms apply. | |
 Insure4less |
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's |
$1,500 (excel) $3,000 (excel plus) | - | 250km | |
 iTrek
|
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $4,000 (long-term cover) $3,000 (comprehensive) | $8,000 | 250km | |
 Simply Travel Insurance
|
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $6,000 | - | 50km | |
 Tick |
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited | $2,000 (standard) $4,000 (top) | - | No km restriction, however, you're only covered if your rental is less than 15 days. More terms apply. | |
 Travel Insurance Saver
|
Pacific International Insurance | $2,000 (essentials) $5,000 (comprehensive) | $10,000 | 200km | |
 Travel With Kit |
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $5,000 | - | - | |
 Worldcare
|
Allianz Australia Insurance Limited | $3,000 | $6,000 | 250km | |
 Virgin Money
|
Allianz Australia Insurance Limited | $2,000 (optional add-on) |
$10,000 | 250km | |
 Zoom Travel Insurance
|
Certain underwriters at Lloyd's | $5,000 (domestic) optional for international |
$8,000 | 50km |
General Advice Warning: The contents of this article were accurate at the time of writing. Insurers change their policies from time to time, so some information may have changed. You should always read the Product Disclosure Statement of your chosen insurer to understand what is covered and what isn't. The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account any personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your personal circumstances
Reduce With Your Rental Company:
You can choose to pay an extra daily fee with your rental company to reduce your excess however, this often turns your cheap car hire into a not-so-cheap and affordable rental. If you have forgotten to organise your rental excess insurance this can be a convenient option however be prepared to fork out an extra $25 to $40 a day.
By comparison, travel insurance rates are much cheaper on a daily basis and will cover you for a range of additional expenses which means more value for less money. Sounds like a no brainer to us!
You don't have to be going overseas on holiday to benefit from cheaper car hire excess options. Aussies and visitors to Australia can purchase standalone car hire excess cover.
These policies are designed specifically to cover car rental excess. They usually include circumstances that are excluded by the rental company and travel insurance policies such as damage to bumpers and trim, windscreen and tyres, single-vehicle accidents and hitting the poor wildlife crossing the road.
Main benefits of standalone plans:
- All drivers listed on the rental agreement are covered behind the wheel so there's no need to purchase a policy for everyone. That's a bonus!
- Cover for motorhomes and campervans at no extra charge.
- No distance restrictions for domestic journeys (which may apply to travel insurance).
- No price hikes if you've had a history of pre-existing medical conditions.
- Certain companies offer no excess on claims.
- The longer the hire, the cheaper the daily rate.
- Country of residence is often irrelevant, so whether you're an Australian resident or here to holiday you can take out a standalone plan.
Of course, these purpose-built policies don't come with all the extra travel trimmings of a travel insurance policy such as overseas medical, luggage and cancellation so consider your needs carefully before making a decision.
If you have a premium or rewards credit card, you may automatically get cover for rental vehicle excess insurance. However, it’s important to note that credit card insurance generally isn’t as extensive as travel insurance or standalone policies and a number of terms and conditions usually apply.
Catches to look out for:
- You must have paid for the booking using your credit card to activate the cover.
- Restrictions on the hire period (often no more than 30 days).
- International OR domestic trips are covered, rarely both.
- Only the cardholder is covered to drive the rental vehicle.
- Annual fees and interest rates of your credit card can hike up overall costs.
- Excesses range between $200 - $500 for claims.
- Limitations on coverage will apply such as exclusions for windscreens, tyres and the underbody of your vehicle.
As with all policies, it’s essential that you understand the conditions that come with your cover. You may find that you’re spending in excess of what you would pay for travel insurance or a standalone policy.
Top Tips
Say no to the rental car rip-offs! Kindly refuse the extra charges to 'reduce your rental car excess' at the hire car counter. Buying travel insurance is usually cheaper than paying to reduce your excess at the rental car counter and provides you with a wide range of added benefits such as medical cover, cancellation cover and more.
It’s important to note that rental excess included in travel insurance is not rental vehicle insurance. This is usually included in the daily price of your hire car, or you can often arrange such insurance with your hire car company. You are advised to secure separate insurance for any injuries or damages your use of a hire car may cause to other people and their property.
Keep in mind that if you do have an accident, you will often have to first pay the excess amount you are liable for and then submit a claim to your insurer for reimbursement.
So...
- Always purchase your policy before picking up your rental vehicle.
- Keep a copy of your rental agreement handy.
- Read your rental agreement carefully to make sure you understand any exclusions that apply to your cover. If you’re in breach of your rental agreement you won’t be covered.
- Check the definition of a rental vehicle on your policy to make sure your vehicle is eligible – car-sharing services won’t be covered.
- Look out for extra hidden fees including toll fees, administration fees, credit card surcharges, relocation fees and excess kilometres, to name just a few.
- If you are involved in an accident and your vehicle is damaged, you’ll need to provide the following documents; a copy of your rental agreement, police or accident report, receipts of charges or repair invoice.
- Make sure you hold the correct licence for your vehicle
- Take time to research the various car hire excesses across the board. A little extra time comparing policies could make a wheel big difference!
Car hire excess Faq'S
Do I still have to take the excess insurance the car hire company are offering?
You don't have to pay extra to reduce your excess as your policy covers the damage waiver fee you would be liable for.
Are windscreens, tyres and the roof covered?
Travel insurance policies mirror the agreement with the rental company so any exclusions also apply to your rental excess cover. Standalone policies often include cover for loss or damage to windscreens, roof, tyres and underbody of the rental vehicle.
Is it cheaper to purchase a standalone policy or travel insurance with car hire excess?
This would depend on the details of your trip. If you only want cover for car hire excess it may be more cost-effective to take out a standalone policy. However, most travel insurance companies include rental vehicle excess cover for free so if you’re already taking out insurance for your trip this may be your best option.
Does an excess still apply to my policy?
Yes, you would still need to pay the excess selected on your travel insurance. However, you can pay to lower your excess to $100, or $0 with most policies. Either way, you’ll save yourself heaps if you were to accidentally damage your rental vehicle.
Are admin fees also covered if I were to have an accident?
No, your policy only covers the rental vehicle excess you would be liable to pay.
I’m riding a motorbike overseas, does this count as a rental vehicle?
You would need to check the definition of a rental vehicle with your insurer however, mostly it covers campervans, motorhomes, sedan, hatchback NOT motorbikes or scooters.
There will be multiple drivers, does everyone have to be included on the policy?
Yes, whoever will be driving the vehicle needs to be listed on your travel insurance policy to make sure they are covered.
How do I claim my rental excess from my insurer?
The hire car company will usually deduct minor repair costs or any excess amount from your credit card. You would then seek remibursement with your insurer. Most insurers offer an easy online claim process via an online portal. You will need to supply supporting documentation such as invoices or receipts from the rental car company.
If I have a crash and can’t drive the car would this be covered?
Most policies will cover up to $500 to return your rental vehicle to the nearest depot if you are unfit to drive. A medical adviser usually has to certify this in writing.
Do I have to disclose pre-existing medical conditions if I’m purchasing travel insurance just for the car hire excess?
If the insurer requires you to disclose any pre-existing conditions, you still have to let them know even if you are taking out a policy just for your car hire.
Which rental companies are covered?
As long as you are hiring a vehicle from a licensed rental company, you can take out travel insurance to cover the rental excess.
Harriet Morton-Fishwick
After completing her psychology degree, Harriet left the UK for her Australian adventure – rafting, paragliding, shark-diving and jumping out of planes – before settling down in Sydney. Harriet has Tier 2 General Insurance General Advice certification and has specialised in travel insurance for the last two years. A foodie who loves learning all about local cuisines, she likes giving customers top travel insurance tips and restaurant recommendations.
BACK
