Q: What is car hire excess insurance?
Car hire excess insurance protects you from having to pay for the extra costs associated with insuring a rental car. It covers any damage to the car during the rental period that is not covered by your rental company's insurance policy, up to a certain amount. Our policies offer coverage for those excess costs, so you don't have to worry about them.
Q: Do I need a special kind of Driving Licence?
You must hold a valid and internationally recognised driving licence.
Q: Do your policies cover van hire?
No. At the moment we are unable to offer cover for van rentals.
Q: Are courtesy cars covered?
Yes - provided you have a signed car rental agreement in place for the loan car, as this will confirm you as acceptable as a car hire excess customer. In addition to a signed car rental agreement, and in the event of a claim, you will be required to provide damage reports, etc.
However, please note that you would not be covered under this car hire excess policy if you use your own personal car insurance (i.e. the loan car is insured by your policy - not by the garage/dealership providing the car) and only take out this SimplyExcess car hire waiver. A car hire excess claim would not be considered in such circumstances.
Q: What’s the difference between an additional driver and a joint policyholder?
An additional driver is someone listed on the car rental agreement alongside the policyholder, as long as the policyholder is named as the lead driver. The additional driver is covered to drive the rental car—even on their own—but only when the policyholder appears as the lead driver on that rental contract.
A joint policyholder, on the other hand, shares the policy with equal rights. Both named individuals can hire cars independently as the lead driver and enjoy the same level of cover—without needing to be on the same rental agreement.
If you’d like both drivers to be able to hire cars independently, please choose the joint policy option during the purchase process and add the second policyholder. An additional fee applies.
Q: How do I use excess protection Worldwide?
When you get to the car rental desk, don't buy their excess insurance. You don't need to show them your policy with SimplyExcess, but they will ask for your credit card so they can block out the amount of excess you are responsible for. If the rental company charges you for something that is covered by your policy, you can make a claim with us to get reimbursed. You can download a claims form here: www.simplyexcess.com
Q: What type of insurance do I need when renting a car?
When renting a car, the standard coverage typically includes Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft, and Third Party Liability. However, in the event of theft or damage to the vehicle, you may still be responsible for an Excess fee, ranging from £500 to £1500 or more. While you can buy Excess insurance from car rental desks for approximately £10 to £20 per day, it often excludes damage to tires, windows, roof, or undercarriage. SimplyExcess provides a more affordable option for Excess Car Hire Insurance, ranging from just £2.99 for one day's cover to £12.99 for a week. Their coverage extends to additional damages, unlike standard offerings. You can purchase this insurance directly through SimplyExcess; the Voyager Daysaway policy costs range from just £3.99 for one day's cover to £14.99 for a week, while the Annual Europe policy is priced at £30.99 annually.
Q: What is the difference between a Daily and an Annual policy?
The Daily/Single Trip policy cover one or more consecutive Car Rental Agreements within the period of insurance shown on your Certificate of Insurance, up to a maximum of 90 days. Only one rental vehicle may be covered at one time.
The annual cover provides unlimited individual Car Rental Agreements, up to a maximum of 31 days per agreement during the period of insurance as shown on your Certificate of Insurance. Only one rental vehicle may be covered at one time unless you have selected the Optional Joint Cover.