Car Hire Excess Policy Terms

nmtd

Hi All

I am noticing this clause (or similar) when researching multiple Car Hire Excess policy exclusions

• "any claim resulting from the use of the Rental Vehicle whilst not on a Public Highway". 
• "Driving off the public highway;"

with public highway defined as "Public Highway means a main road or thoroughfare, such as a street, boulevard, or parkway, available to the public for use for travel or transportation".

I get that the intention of this is to exclude 'off road' / 'track' activities etc. but we all know that insurance like to use any excuse not to pay - so does driving in a public car park or using a ferry etc. constitute a public highway?

We've all had those little dings in supermarket car parks etc, so from experience, do you know of any Car Hire Excess policies that DO cover all typical car usage?

Thanks

jbrassy

I'm not a lawyer, but I expect the excess insurance would cover car parks. This is because a car park is "available to the public for use for travel or transportation". I think they're trying to cover themselves in case you decide to take the car on some kind of off-road assault course.