Which rental car insurance is suitable for me?

Important facts described briefly below:

The most important insurance for your rental car is fully comprehensive theft and liability insurance. The minimum statutory liability insurance is included in most booking packages. Depending on the chosen insurance package, the renter is either liable himself or gets a refund of the amount of damage after the case is settled by the insurance company.

There are offers that do not include insurance. With these offers, in the case of damage you will be held liable for all damages incurred without a limit. In such case, we advise you to either purchase an insurance with the local supplier or check with your credit card company if an insurance is included. 

Please note: For detailed insurance conditions please refer to the general terms and conditions of the respective provider. Furthermore, the customer must request a refund through the provider, which provides insurance and not with the local supplier. However, you can purchase extra insurance with the local supplier on-site.

********************

One of the most important services you need to book when renting a car is comprehensive car rental insurance, which covers various scenarios and problems. A lot can happen on a car journey, and in the following text, we would like to show you which insurances are necessary and best suited for you and your future trips.

Which car rental insurances are important or absolutely necessary?

Even though many additional insurances against special damages are optional, you should not do without the following rental car insurances:

1. Fully comprehensive insurance for the rental car:

With fully comprehensive insurance, you insure yourself against damages that you, the driver of the car, cause. It is considered essential rental car insurance for an upcoming trip. However, it does not cover you if you are grossly negligent. For example, if you do not refill the coolant in time and cause engine damage, or you lose the rental car keys, you are guilty of gross negligence. If, as a result of losing your keys, a thief steals the rental car, it will be very expensive for you. 

Differentiate between the fully comprehensive insurance with and without a refundable deductible. In general, however, the benefits of the different insurance packages vary from provider to provider, offer to offer, and country to country. Therefore, pay close attention to what is covered by rental car insurance when you rent a vehicle. Paying close attention is the only way to avoid unpleasant surprises in the case of damage. The amount of deductible usually depends on the vehicle class and the car rental company.

Note: Even if you choose fully comprehensive insurance with a refundable deductible, the rental company, in the case of damage, retains the deductible. However, as soon as the claim is settled, the provider will reimburse you.

   2. Liability insurance:

In the case of damage to objects or persons outside the rental car, you are covered by liability insurance. It is advisable to have the highest possible amount of coverage. This insurance can be cheap in the USA. In many European countries, there is even a minimum amount of cover for this rental car insurance, while in South America and Asian countries, there are hardly any legal regulations in this regard.

    3. Theft insurance:

Even though theft insurance does not pay in the case of loss of keys due to gross negligence, it is still worthwhile. Potential thieves are not dependent on stolen or lost keys. There are other ways to gain access to your rental car and drive off. As with fully comprehensive insurance, you have an option of with and without a refundable deductible. With theft insurance, however, the deductible is much more expensive. Therefore, car rental insurance against theft with a refundable deductible is recommended. 

Attention: If items are stolen from your rental car, the theft insurance does not pay.

    4. Glass and tire insurance:

The glass of the windows, the tires, the roof, and the underbody can also be damaged on a trip. This can happen while driving or when you have parked the vehicle. Unfortunately, fully comprehensive insurance usually does not cover such damages. In any case, take a closer look at the insurance conditions and check what is covered. If these specific areas are not covered by fully comprehensive insurance, you can take out a glass and tire insurance. With this rental car insurance, you should check again, or ask if the roof and the underbody are also covered. 

Warning: It is best to think about which rental car insurance and additional insurance policies are suitable for you in advance. Don't buy additional insurances at the rental station that you don't need or want. Unfortunately, it happens from time to time that some rental companies want to drive the price up. Therefore it is important to inform yourself about your rental car voucher, on which all booked rental car insurances are noted. Only really take out additional insurance when it is necessary, for example, when there is a risk of falling rocks, storms, or hail.

Who is included in the rental car insurance?

Usually, only the main driver is covered by the car rental insurance. The main driver is the person who is registered in the rental agreement and has paid for the car. If another person is going to drive the car in between, you should urgently have this additional driver entered in the rental agreement for a fee.

If another non-registered person, besides you, drives the car, and for example, an accident happens, possible damage is not covered by the insurance, which can result in high costs.

However, if you register one or more people as additional drivers, you can take turns on longer trips. Every additional driver can use the rental car without your presence and still enjoy the insurance coverage. Registering additional drivers is all the more practical if you may have to leave earlier, and the rental car has to be returned later. One of the registered additional drivers can take over this task without you having to worry about possible damages.