Nearly all Brits who hire a car abroad are not prepared to pay the minimum excess cost they could face if they damage their rental. Data from personal finance comparison website finder.com revealed just 2% are willing to pay these costs.
According to the website, car rental firms in Europe charge a minimum excess cost of around £1,000, meaning consumers without additional insurance are liable to pay for any damages up to this amount. However, 54% said they would only be willing to pay up to £100 for any damage caused, even though there have been numerous reports of rental companies charging more than £400 to repair a minor scratch.
The website warned that those who rent cars without additional insurance are at risk of paying inflated charges from car rental kiosks. These can include a super collision damage waiver, for which the premium in Europe is often around £20 a day - adding £140 to a week’s rental.
“It’s always worth taking a few minutes to read the small print of your car rental agreement so you know exactly where you stand before travelling,” said Jon Ostler, UK CEO of finder.com. “Unfortunately, it isn’t unheard of for staff at rental kiosks to mislead customers about what insurance they should buy or to discredit valid insurance that has already been purchased through a third party.”
