Is excess insurance really necessary?

• Posted by: blogan
• On: 15/11/2006 12:50:54
• In: Practical car hire tips

Right, here's the story - every possible Nova quotation, regardless of location or car type, includes 3rd Party Insurance, Vehicle Damage Cover (to a fixed amount) and Theft Protection. 

It is the fixed amount (or as the jargon-filled car hire industry calls it – the excess) where this whole 'excess insurance' comes into view. Our excess insurance reduces your liability to zero so that if any damage is caused to your hire car you won't be liable for any of the costs.

This will set you back UK£3.99 per day if you buy it from us but is it really necessary to purchase this extra cover? Here's a look at the good and bad points of excess insurance –

The Good:

If you're worried about your car hire being pronged in traffic – get hold of some excess insurance.

If you're worried about your hire car getting a nasty scratch while you've parked it up – arrange some excess insurance.

If you're worried that the local roads will cause damage to the suspension of the hire car and you don't want to fork out ridiculous repair fees – sort out some excess insurance.

If you're worried about some local hood breaking into your hire car and causing untold damage – purchase some excess insurance.

If you don't want the potential hassle of disputing any damage with the rental firm while you're abroad or even when you get home – you guessed it, get excess insurance.

The great thing about Nova's excess insurance is that you most certainly won't have to take out any further insurance for the car you're renting.

When you collect your vehicle, the car rental supplier's rep might try to push some extra insurance on you (that's their job!) but you can tell them you're already sorted.