🚗Are You Paying Too Much for Car Rental Protection?
Renting a car for a holiday should be stress-free, but how often do we stop and ask, "am I paying too much at the rental desk?" Adding extra protection at the counter can quietly double your daily travel bill.
According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), basic car hire agreements leave drivers responsible for high excess damage fees if something goes wrong. You don't have to buy pricey extra protection at the airport desk, and getting separate cover beforehand could be a cheaper way to protect your wallet from unexpected fees.
Here are a few tips:
🛡️ Bypass the overpriced rental desk markup
Rental desk staff frequently encourage drivers to buy optional daily excess waivers at the counter. Purchasing standalone car hire excess insurance beforehand could cover that exact financial risk for less, helping you avoid overpriced counter fees.
🩹 Get full cover for sneaky exclusions
Rental desk waivers often come with fine print that excludes damage to windscreens, tyres, side mirrors, and the undercarriage. Some independent excess policies may cover these vulnerable areas, shielding you from expensive claims over minor road debris or parking scrapes.
🔑 Annual policies could unlock massive savings for frequent travellers
If you rent a car more than once or twice a year, taking out an annual plan or multi trip policy could help you save money and avoid counter stress entirely.
💳 Keep your holiday budget
If an accidental dent occurs during your trip, your independent excess insurer reimburses the damage fee deducted by the rental firm after you claim. You could get complete financial peace of mind without handing over steep daily charges before you even turn the key.
Take a few minutes to organise your cover before heading on the road trip. Compare car hire excess insurance policies online in advance, and check out this Car Hire Excess Insurance offer at One Big Switch to see how much you can save on your next trip!
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OBS People Power Holdings Limited, trading as "One Big Switch" is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland as an Insurance Intermediary.
AIG Europe S.A. is authorised by the Luxembourg Ministère des Finances and supervised by the Commissariat aux Assurances, and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. S.A. is an insurance undertaking with R.C.S. Luxembourg number B 218806. AIG Europe S.A. has its head office at 35 D Avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855, Luxembourg. AIG Europe S.A., Ireland branch office has its registered branch office at 30 North Wall Quay, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1, D01 R8H7, and branch registration number 908876. Telephone: 0818 244 244. VAT number: IE3580476UH.
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