Powered by Insurance4carhire, carhireinsure.com (www.carhireinsure.com) provides excess insurance to protect those hiring a car against excess charges in the event that a hire car is damaged or stolen.

The policy holder is insured rather than the car, which means customers are covered for unlimited car hire throughout their chosen policy period and chosen location – whether Europe, North America, Worldwide, or closer to home.

The policies not only cover the total amount of Excess up to £2000 for which a customer is liable if the car is damaged or stolen, but also for damage to the roof and undercarriage of the car, and windows and tyres.

Marketing Director Mark Temple-Brown said: “One of the key worries for people hiring a car – and often the thing that puts them off all together – is possible damage and what this can mean in terms of costs. The excess fees hire car companies charge before insurance kicks in can often be substantial, and carhireinsure.com helps to completely eliminate this concern.”

Prices start at only £4.50 per day for local car hire, and annual cover from only £49. The website fully explains excess insurance and features a nuts and bolts guide to hiring a car, including choosing a car, the extra costs to consider, explaining Insurance, and collecting and returning a hire car.

Visit: www.carhireinsure.com

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Notes for editors: carhireinsure.com is powered by insurance4carhire, a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Hiring a car, particularly overseas, can seem a complicated business: different languages, laws, road rules and charges can make the whole process seem less than easy. However, with some simple explanations and advice, the experience can be totally pain-free.

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There are many car hire companies and website car hire brokers so do your research online and consider all the options available.

You can either go direct to the actual car companies – Hertz, Avis, National and Alamo are four of the biggest – or book through an agent that consolidates car companies, such as Holiday Autos, Expedia or Carrentals. Check what you are paying in advance and what you will need to pay at the car hire counter. With agents you sometimes only pay a deposit, with the remainder of the booking paid at the counter or at the end of your holiday.

It usually pays to book your car in advance to save money, and there is rarely any benefit in leaving it to the last minute. Always get a few quotes first from a number of car hire companies. Obviously the price will play a major part in your choice but also consider where you will pick up and drop off the car and any extra costs.

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The extras can sometimes cost as much as the car hire. Here are some examples:

Fuel
If on offer, choose a car with a full tank of fuel and you will then return the car with a full tank. Apart from the practical reason of wanting to start your journey with a full tank, it is also often cheaper to pay for fuel at a petrol station than pay for fuel through the car hire company.

Additional drivers and surcharges for young or old drivers

Decide who will be driving the car and if you add an additional driver expect to pay a surcharge. The minimum car hire age is normally 21, although if you are under the age of 25 you often have to pay an additional charge.

Child Seats
If you are travelling with small children then you will have to pay for a child seat (infant and booster seats for children under 12 years old are mandatory in most countries in the EU). You may want to take your own child seat to ensure you get one (they are not always available), although make sure it fits the car you are hiring.

Winter holidays
Skiing and snow holidays need to be considered: you may need a larger car to accommodate equipment such as from ski boots, skis and snowboards. Hiring a ski rack with your car can help to save space. You might also need snow chains or winter tyres if there has been heavy snowfall at your destination, and in some counties this is a legal requirement.

Late return fees
If you return your car late you may be liable for late return fees. There is usually an initial grace period, then charges per hour for the first few hours and then per day. Ahead of returning the car, you can always call the car agent or hire company to extend your booking.

Mileage
Booking in advance usually gives you unlimited mileage, although if you wait until you get to the car hire counter to book your car there may be a mileage restriction with an additional charge per mile over the daily allowance.

Excess Waiver
Usually the insurance that comes with your car hire has an excess, which is deducted off the amount paid to you if you have to make a claim. The exact amount will be detailed in your car hire policy. Excess Waiver is additional insurance that is sold to you at the car hire counter when you collect your car to either reduce your excess in part or in total. Depending on where you go and the type of car you take, the excess you are liable for can be anything up to £1500, and the excess waiver can cost up to £10-£15 per day. However, by purchasing Excess Waiver insurance at the time you hire your car, all excess amounts become null and void. So, for a small cost and peace of mind, buy ‘Excess Waiver’ before you go away.

PAI (Personal Accident Insurance)
This insurance pays out if you kill or maim yourself or a passenger. Your own travel insurance should cover you for injury or death, plus medical expenses. Check the details of your travel insurance policy.

Personal Effects Insurance
This should also be covered with your travel insurance, or home insurance cover if you have opted to take cover for personal possessions away from home.

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Understanding what insurance is included and what is excluded is often the most difficult aspect of hiring a car, so let’s make it simple. Your car hire usually comes with inclusive insurance to cover three areas:

LDW/CDW (Loss/Collision Damage Waiver) – to cover damage to the car.
TP (Theft Protection) – to cover the car, or part of the car, if it is stolen or damaged during an attempted theft.
Liability/SLI (Third Party Liability) – the minimum cover that’s mandatory in most countries

HOWEVER, on the Damage and Theft portions, the insurance is only reducing what you are personally liable for, and there is often an excess to pay in the event of having to make a claim. In Europe this can be a few hundred pounds. In other countries it can be as much as £1500.

The final point to make clear is that windows, tyres, the roof and the undercarriage of the car are usually excluded (i.e. not covered). These are the parts of the car most prone to damage and often not covered by the car hire company’s insurance.

There are a few options to reduce your excess to zero:

Super CDW:  A top up policy from the car rental company itself, usually payable when you arrive at the counter to collect the car. This can cost up to £15 per day and often excludes cover for damage to the windows, tyres, roof and the undercarriage of the car.

Damage Excess Waiver (DEW):  Holiday Autos, which is the biggest broker in the UK, charges £2.50 per day, at the time of writing, for its zero excess policy making it considerably cheaper than buying cover directly from the car hire companies. However, it does not cover damage to the windows, tyres, undercarriage and the roof of the car.

Excess Insurance:  There are a number of businesses which focus on just selling insurance to reduce the excess to zero. You can take a daily policy or, if you are travelling and hiring a car more frequently, an annual excess policy. www.carhireinsure.com offers both of these policies – only £4.75 for the daily policy and annual policies from £49. These will cover all named drivers on the car hire agreement plus any damage to the roof, windows, tyres and undercarriage of the car. Companies like carhireinsure.com (who have written the article you are now reading) are often a cheaper alternative and if you rent cars a few times a year then their annual policies prove very cost effective.

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When you collect your car it’s worth remembering to do the following things:

Have your passport, driver’s licence (both parts of the license), copy of your car hire agreement and your credit card handy. Most car hire companies require you to provide a credit card at the counter (debit cards and cash are not accepted).

Check what you are signing at the car hire counter – especially what the exclusions are.

Make sure you walk around the car and inspect the vehicle. Even the smallest scratches or dents should be noted on the vehicle damage report before you leave the car park. It’s a good idea to take photos of any existing damage.

Make sure that the petrol tank is full if you have arranged to hire a car with a full tank.

Make sure you keep your car hire documents with you at all times (don’t leave them in the car in case the car is stolen). It is also worth making a note of the registration number and car hire company’s telephone number and keeping it with your passport.

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Before you hit the road make sure that you feel comfortable with the car, including your seat position, lights, heating, wipers, indicators and warning lights.  Also set the radio or load up a CD and have your map and directions to hand.

It is also important that you understand the laws of the country you are visiting. Visit the AA for a useful summary of international road rules.

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ANNUAL EUROPE POLICY ONLY £49

Annual Excess Policy covering Europe – 31 days per car rental agreement

• Covers Excess on damage to the rental vehicle including the undercarriage, Excess on theft, and damage to windows and tyres
• Valid at all European car rental locations
• One low, annual premium allows unlimited use within the 12 month cover period
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement

Take advantage of the low Annual Premium today – and choose the starting date of the policy up to 3 months in advance.

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EUROPE FAMILY & PARTNERS ONLY £79

Annual Europe Excess Policy covering 2 Family Members – 31 days per car rental agreement

• Covers Excess on damage to the rental vehicle including the undercarriage, Excess on theft, and damage to windows and tyres
• Valid at all European car rental locations
• One low, annual premium allows unlimited use within the 12 month cover period
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement
• Cover is for 2 Policy Holders, who must be family members (defined as spouse, partner, parent, brother, sister, adult child or fiance), travelling together or separately

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UP TO 31 DAYS  ONLY £65

Annual Worldwide Excess cover – 31 days per car rental agreement

• Covers Excess insuarnce for hire cars on damage to the rental vehicle including the undercarriage, Excess on theft, and damage to windows and tyres
• Valid at all car rental locations worldwide where Excess is charged
• One low, annual premium allows unlimited use within the 12 month cover period
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement

Take advantage of the low Annual Premium today – and choose the starting date of the policy up to 3 months in advance.

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UP TO 60 DAYS OF COVER ONLY £79

Annual Worldwide Excess cover – 60 days per car rental agreement

• Covers Excess on damage to the rental vehicle including the undercarriage, Excess on theft, and damage to windows and tyres
• Coverage for an extended period of up to 60 days on any one rental agreement
• Valid at all car rental locations worldwide where Excess is charged
• One low, annual premium allows unlimited use within the 12 month cover period
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement

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GOING TO NORTH AMERICA & REST OF WORLD?

COMBINED CDW/SLI & EXCESS ONLY £129

Annual Policy covering SLI & CDW in USA & Canada and Excess worldwide
This policy covers: CDW/LDW (damage, theft and loss of use of the rental vehicle)and SLI (third party) in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and South America: and it covers Excess charges worldwide. Car rental companies in USA and Canada generally charge between US$20 and US$30 per day for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW) and Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI). Car rental companies charge up to £12 a day for Excess at the car rental counter

• Covers the rented vehicle in the USA, Canada, South America and the Caribbean for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)/Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) up to US$80,000
• Provides Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI), in the USA, Canada, South America and the Caribbean, up to US $1 million
• Covers Excess on damage to the rental vehicle, Excess on theft and damage to windows/glass, tyres/wheels, the undercarriage and the roof anywhere in the world where Excess is charged.
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement
• Unlimited use within the 12 month cover period

How it works – CDW/SLI: You must show the policy to the car rental company when you rent a car. Claims are handled directly between the insurance company and the rental company.
How it works – Excess: Decline the car rental company’s excess insurance at the counter. Charges for any damage to the vehicle will be charged on your credit card by the car rental company and you claim for full reimbursement.

Note: Not recommended for use in conjunction with fly-drive programmes in the USA and Canada.

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USA-CANADA CDW/SLI ONLY £109

Annual Policy covering USA & Canada – 31 days per car rental agreement

Take out annual Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) before you travel and avoid costly insurance charges of as much as US $30 per day, sold at the car rental counter.

• Covers hire cars for CDW/LDW (Collision Damage Waiver/Loss Damage Waiver = damage, theft and loss of use) up to US$ 100,000
• Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) covering third party up to US $1 million
• Lock-out provision to cover up to US $60.00 for a locksmith
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement

Note: Not recommended for use in conjunction with fly-drive programmes in the USA and Canada.

Take advantage of the low Annual Premium today – and choose the starting date of the policy up to 3 months in advance.

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USA-CANADA CDW/SLI PLUS EXCESS WORLDWIDE ONLY £129

Annual policy covering CDW/LDW (damage, theft and loss of use of the rental vehicle)and SLI (third party) in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and South America: and it covers Excess charges worldwide.

Car rental companies in USA and Canada generally charge between US$20 and US$30 per day for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW) and Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI). Car rental companies charge up to £12 a day for Excess at the car rental counter

• Unlimited use within the 12 month cover period
• Covers the Policy Holder, who must be the person hiring the car, and all additional drivers named on car rental agreement
• Covers Excess on damage to the rental vehicle, Excess on theft and damage to windows/glass, tyres/wheels, the undercarriage and the roof anywhere in the world where Excess is charged.
• Provides Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI), in the USA, Canada, South America and the Caribbean, up to US $1 million
• Covers the rented vehicle in the USA, Canada, South America and the Caribbean for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)/Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) up to US$100,000

Note: Not recommended for use in conjunction with fly-drive programmes in the USA and Canada.

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