Car hire excess insurance in South Africa
What is car hire excess insurance?
Car hire excess insurance covers the large excess you'd otherwise have to pay if a rental car is damaged or stolen. Rental companies include cover with a high excess - often tens of thousands of rand - and excess insurance reimburses that amount, usually far more cheaply than the rental firm's own excess waiver. You can buy it per rental or as an annual policy if you hire cars often.
Key takeaways
- Rental cars come with cover, but a very high excess you must pay on a claim.
- Car hire excess insurance reimburses that excess if the car is damaged or stolen.
- It's usually much cheaper than the rental company's own excess waiver.
- Available per trip or as an annual policy for frequent hirers.
- Check what it covers - tyres, windscreen and undercarriage are often excluded by rental firms.
How rental excess works
When you hire a car, the rental company includes damage and theft cover but with a high excess - the amount you pay if something goes wrong, often tens of thousands of rand. Their counter-sold 'excess waiver' removes it but at a steep daily rate. Standalone excess insurance does the same job for far less.
What it covers
Car hire excess insurance reimburses the excess you're charged after a rental-car accident, theft or damage claim, up to a limit. Good policies also cover items rental firms often exclude from their basic cover, like tyres, windscreen, mirrors and the undercarriage. Read the wording so you know what's included.
Per-trip or annual
If you hire once or twice a year, per-trip cover is simplest. If you rent regularly - for work or travel - an annual excess policy usually works out cheaper and covers multiple hires. Compare both against the rental firm's waiver.
Frequently asked questions
Is car hire excess insurance worth it?
Does my own car insurance cover a rental?
What does rental excess insurance not cover?
Related guides
- How much does car insurance cost in South Africa?
- How to claim car insurance in South Africa
- How to lower your car insurance premium
- Comprehensive vs third-party car insurance
- Is car insurance compulsory in South Africa?
- Car insurance for women in South Africa
- Car insurance excess: how it works in South Africa
- Car insurance for older cars in South Africa
- Car insurance no-claim bonus explained
- What does car insurance cover in South Africa?
- Car Insurance overview