Car hire excess insurance compare

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - is not insurance, but an agreement to waive the costs of damage to your rental vehicle if it is involved in a collision. Frequently CDW has an 'excess' which is the first part of any claim which the renter will remain liable for.

If a hire car is damaged or stolen, there's a limit to how much the renter will have to pay to repair or replace it. 'Excess' is simply the name for that limit. The car's damage or theft cover will pay the rest of the cost.

For extra protection, some companies offer a 'super' CDW (also known as an excess waiver), which means you won't have to pay the excess either. Buying this can be relatively expensive, but it may be cheaper than not being covered at all.

Insurance excess is the amount you have to pay towards the overall cost of an insurance claim. It's usually a pre-agreed amount. Your insurer will then contribute the rest – up to the limit of the cover. You'll see insurance excess on insurance products like travel, motor, home and health.