01183 218197
(+44 118 321 8197 from abroad)

Monday to Friday	10am - 4:00pm
Saturday, Sunday & Bank Hols	Closed

Looking for something specific?

Use our search tool to browse our database of frequently asked questions!

Car Hire Excess Insurance Quotes > FAQ Section > Car Hire Insurance Frequently Asked Questions >

What do zero excess car hire insurance policies offer?

Zero excess car hire insurance policies - what are they?

Most collision damage waivers (CDW) come with an excess that you are liable for - meaning you have to pay the first £xxxx of any damage done to the hire car. So a zero excess must mean you won't have to pay for anything mustn't it?

The answer is yes and no. If something is covered by the CDW then yes, you won't have to pay anything if the hire car gets damaged. But there are frequently quite a few things not covered by most collision damage waivers. Typical exclusions include damage to tyres, windows, mirrors, underside and roof of the vehicle where these are the only areas damaged. So damage to these areas would still be your responsibility. You could also face charges for losing the car keys or putting the wrong fuel in the vehicle.

Another area where you may be charged is for towing and recovery charges following either an accident or as a consequence of something else not covered by the CDW. For example, if you get a puncture on the motorway and need to be towed off the motorway to allow the tyre to be changed, the car hire company would argue that as the tyre is your responsibility so is the cost of recovery.

Some CDW policies do have some stranger exceptions. For instance, one will not cover you if your car gets scratched or dented while unattended in a public car park.

So even with a zero excess car hire, you may still be liable for charges. Thankfully the specialist car hire excess insurers on the MoneyMaxim comparison service realise that they'd sell more policies and have happier customers if they cover some or all of these areas. Run a quote on the MoneyMaxim car hire excess comparison service and you can quickly see how one of these policies could cover you from those CDW exclusions.

At MoneyMaxim we can only stress the importance of reading the policy terms and conditions, as these will often answer some of your queries and mean you will find no nasty surprises!

Should you have any questions please do contact the MoneyMaxim team via web chat or phone during our office hours and we'll be happy to help you.

This content was last reviewed on 09/10/2023

Similar Questions

General Car Hire Insurance Questions Answered

Your Driver related Questions Answered

Car Hire Companies - Your Insurance Questions Answered

Vehicle related Questions Answered

Claims related Questions Answered

Combined Worldwide CDW, SLI & Excess Policy Questions Answered

Questions on CDW & SLI Policies for the USA and Canada Answered

Geographical related Questions Answered

Excess Insurance Questions Specific to Countries

Which car hire excess insurance policy is best for UK car rental?

Moneymaxim aims to inform its visitors through its journalistic sourced information, but things change rapidly in our market and we cannot guarantee everything will be perfectly up to date. Please do be aware you use the information at your own risk, that the information provided is not financial advice and that your own independent research is essential to make sure that any product or service used is right for your circumstances. We cannot accept liability for any decision you take as a result of information provided on moneymaxim. This service is free to you but to operate this service moneymaxim may receive commissions from the partners you are referred to.

Moneymaximiser Limited trading as moneymaxim is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA FRN 496690). Moneymaximiser Limited, registered in England No. 6706021. Registered Office: 4c Market House, 19-21 Market Place, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1AP. Telephone 01183 218197.