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Hire car CDW query

I'm a little puzzled by the new (?) CDW waiver policy.

I recently hired a car from Hertz (Marseille) on picking up the car I was offered the CDW excess insurance at their standard rate of around €25 per day.

As I already had bettersafe CDW (annual) I declined. 

I was warned that a total loss/theft of the vehicle would be €54,000 and would my CDW insurer cover this?

I thought that was 'sales tactics' but upon checking it appears Hertz do indeed have this in their terms.
https://www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/reservation/policy/policy-detail/enGB/LHRT50/CDW

My Bettersafe policy seems to have a max claim of £7,500.

So my question is: is there ANY CDW excess policy that actually now covers the full amount in the case of a total loss or am I better off simply coughing up at Hertz with their rather pricey CDW or CDW supercover?


Comments

  • Mark_d
    Mark_d Posts: 1,956 Forumite
    1,000 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Collision Damage Waiver is always included.  The insurance you were offered would pay the excess on the CDW.
    £7500 is more than enough to cover the excess on the CDW.
  • Mark_d
    Mark_d Posts: 1,956 Forumite
    1,000 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Just to add, large corporates tend to manage their own insurance.  So if this car rental is arranged as part of business travel, then in the event of an accident you might be covered under your employer's insurance rather than the Hertz CDW policy.
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,257 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    edited 14 September 2024 pm30 4:47PM
    discat11 said:
    I'm a little puzzled by the new (?) CDW waiver policy.

    I recently hired a car from Hertz (Marseille) on picking up the car I was offered the CDW excess insurance at their standard rate of around €25 per day.

    As I already had bettersafe CDW (annual) I declined. 

    I was warned that a total loss/theft of the vehicle would be €54,000 and would my CDW insurer cover this?

    I thought that was 'sales tactics' but upon checking it appears Hertz do indeed have this in their terms.
    https://www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/reservation/policy/policy-detail/enGB/LHRT50/CDW

    My Bettersafe policy seems to have a max claim of £7,500.

    So my question is: is there ANY CDW excess policy that actually now covers the full amount in the case of a total loss or am I better off simply coughing up at Hertz with their rather pricey CDW or CDW supercover?


    Your post is contradictory, first you say "I was offered the CDW excess insurance at their standard rate of around €25 per day. As I already had bettersafe CDW (annual) I declined. "

    Then you say CDW wasn't included at all??

    I thought all (non corporate) hires in the EU always included CDW (but usually with a big excess, eg around £1000). That would fit with you being offered CDW excess insurance at the desk. What does your car hire documentation say? 

    It sounds like the desk staff were talking bull, it's common for them to come up with utter rubbish in an attempt to flog their overpriced excess insurance, they are probably targetted on it or get bonuses for selling it. 

    But in answer to your specific question, yes some excess insurers do sell full CDW, as it's not always included in some countries, plus SLI (top up third party liability for countries where only limited TP liability is required by law). I have one with insurance4carhire which covers CDW up to USD$100,000
  • Thanks all, thats set my mind at rest.
    I didn't think CDW was actually covered, although I realise now I was referring to excess rather than CDW per se.

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