Hire Car precautions

Manxman_in_exile

My wife may need to hire a car over the weekend for a ~ 250 mile round trip. (Our car is awaiting a new clutch and won't make the journey).


We will take photos of the car's condition before taking it (and when dropping it off) but I'm a bit confused about the insurance position - I've read lot's of posts on this board where people have had scrapes and ended up with huge bills for repairs and loss of rental income.


What is the most prudent way of approaching this? I seem to recall some mentions of an insurance "waiver" but unsure of the detail.


Also anything else to be aware of with hiring a car?

waamo

The hire company might want to see a DVLA check code. Get one here https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Personally I've never been asked but it's free and only takes a minute.

Alanp

I think you can pay extra insurance when hiring to cover any damage to the car, check with the hire company

Mercdriver

Insurance is included, but the excess is generally huge. You can pay for a excess waiver at massive costs or you can get excess insurance which is much cheaper, but you have to pay out first and claim back.

TooManyPoints

Get your ow "Excess" insurance. It also covers you for other things not covered by the hire company's insurance (such as the underside of the car, tyres, etc.). I use this mob:

https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/

I get an annual for about forty quid. Daily/weekly is available (though, pro-rata, more expensive, of course). But still considerably cheaper than the Hire Companies' excess waiver.

Mobeer

I have used excess insurance from: https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/

Have had a claim before and the claims process was simple, got my payout quickly and easily.

Manxman_in_exile

waamo wrote: »

The hire company might want to see a DVLA check code. Get one here https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Personally I've never been asked but it's free and only takes a minute.

Thanks. I'd forgotten that.

Manxman_in_exile

Thanks all. Looks like excess insurance rather than a waiver.


Cheers