Insurance, protection and excess
Comprehensive insurance is included with every hire. What varies is the excess you remain responsible for, and how much of it an optional protection package caps.
What the excess is
Comprehensive insurance is included with every hire, subject to the rental agreement and to eligibility. The excess is the amount you remain responsible for if the vehicle is damaged.
It depends on the vehicle: £1,750 on a standard vehicle and £2,750 on a premium one. Your booking confirms which applies.
Which vehicles are standard, and which are premium
| Excess | Amount | Vehicle groups |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £1,750 | Economy, Compact, Intermediate, Family, Commercial |
| Premium | £2,750 | 4x4, Premium, EV, MPV |
The standard deposit is £100
A deposit is separate from the excess. It is taken and released, not charged.
- If your hire starts in fewer than 5 days, the deposit is taken when you book.
- If it starts in 5 days or more, the deposit is taken shortly before collection.
- Deposits are refundable once the vehicle has been assessed at check-in. Any confirmed damage or other valid charges may be deducted before the balance is returned.
- A deposit is required when: Any driver is under 24. A non-UK driver is aged 75 or over. A UK licence holder is aged 79 or over.
When the full excess is taken as the deposit instead
In these cases the deposit is the full vehicle excess rather than the standard amount.
- Older drivers, where required.
- Payment by a non-UK, prepaid, gift or temporary virtual card.
- Where the hire cannot be secured on an acceptable credit card and a BACS transfer is needed.
- Older drivers provide a deposit equal to the full vehicle excess.
- A driver under 24 provides a deposit equal to the insurance excess that applies to their booking. That amount depends on the vehicle group, so it is confirmed with your booking rather than fixed in advance.
Optional protection packages
Each package caps what you would pay on a covered claim. They reduce the excess. None of them removes your liability.
| Package | Per day | Standard vehicle cap | Premium vehicle cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | £14.40 (£12 ex VAT) | £228 | £588 |
| Enhanced | £18 (£15 ex VAT) | £900 | £2,100 |
| Plus | £27 (£22.50 ex VAT) | £300 | £1,500 |
| CHH Complete | £42 (£35 ex VAT) | £120 | £1,320 |
Caps shown include VAT. Protection is not available for EV, MPV, Commercial groups. This is a summary. The rental agreement you sign at collection is the authoritative document.
What protection does not cover
These are the limits, and they matter more than the caps. Read them before choosing a package rather than after a claim.
- Protection applies only where there is clear evidence that a third party caused the damage.
- It does not cover damage caused by the hirer.
- It does not cover overhead damage.
- It does not cover towing.
- It does not cover damage caused by using incorrect fuel.
- It does not cover damage caused by failing to secure the vehicle correctly.
- A breach of the rental terms may result in unlimited liability.
A damage administration fee of £30 applies to every damage incident
A damage administration fee applies to every damage incident, whichever protection package you hold. It is £25 excluding VAT, and it applies whichever package you hold, including if you hold none.
Still not answered?
If your question is about a booking you have already made, speak to the team directly on 01851 706500.