Rental car insurance: additional options or not?
If you are planning to rent a car, it is important that you choose the right car insurance and read up on it beforehand. This will prevent you from having to make decisions when you pick up your rental car. Consider in advance what options and extras you want the rental car to include, such as air conditioning or a navigation system. Also think about the car insurance you want to purchase when renting the car.
Insuring a rental car is necessary, but at the same time one of the biggest annoyances is the additional cost of additional insurance. If you choose not to insure your rental car, you risk losing a lot of money if something goes wrong. Thus, you are actually more or less obliged to insure the rental car. This makes renting a car still a very expensive joke.
Rental car insurance
What exactly about insuring a rental car? What is insured as standard and what is smart to insure extra?
Virtually every rental car has third-party insurance as standard. In fact, in most countries, car insurance with third-party coverage is required by law for every car. Insurances offered by the rental company, such as liability, are usually in addition to the standard third-party insurance. When insuring your rental car, make sure that the car is indeed WA insured. In the Netherlands, this is compulsory insurance. Are you going to insure a rental car abroad? Ask about the local rules and determine whether additional insurance is necessary.
Car insurance rental car abroad
When you go for car insurance for a rental car abroad, you may find that different rules apply with regard to car insurance than in the Netherlands. You will have to deal with different insurances abroad that often have a different name than in the Netherlands. Not only the name of the insurance may differ but also the coverage may be different from what you are used to with Dutch insurances.
Below are a few more important things to keep in mind when renting a car abroad.
With third-party insurance, you as the driver are covered for damage you cause to others with the car. As the renter, you are responsible for all damage caused to the rental car. With a limited liability insurance you are (largely) covered for these damages to the rental car. This insurance usually has an excess. It is also possible that certain damages are excluded from coverage. For example, damage to the underside of the car or damage caused on unpaved roads.
In addition, it is also important to check whether your rental car is insured against theft as standard and how high any deductible is, should the rental car be stolen. Check with the rental company in advance to avoid unforeseen costs as much as possible.
Important: Alpina does not have options to insure a rental car. This must be arranged by the rental company at all times.
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