What should I do at the rental desk?

 

Renting a car overseas? Sort out the insurance before you go, and you’ll get better coverage at a better price. Insurance products and full protection products may differ based on where you live and where you’re going. So, choose your destination from the country list below and we’ll help you compare a typical rental car company policy, often called Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), to what you’d get with our plan.

 

Popular destinations

Australia    Canada    China    France   Germany   

Italy   Japan     Mexico   UK    US       

Other destinations

 

While we provide you rental protection, we partner with dozens of booking agents who are responsible for your car rental.

To make changes to your car booking, the contact details for our partners are below. 

Read this article for step-by-step instructions on how to cancel or modify your RentalCover Protection.  

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

We provide you with rental protection and our partners are responsible for the rentals. A lot of our partners have very similar names to RentalCover, so it’s easy to get us mixed up. This means that for most customers we handle plan cancelations and other changes. Read this article for step-by-step instructions on how to cancel or modify your plan.

The first major difference is that rentals in the US do not always include CDW at the time of booking (as explained in our Rental Guides, CDW - or Collision Damage Waiver - waives most of the rental car damages in the event of an accident). Instead it is available at the rental desk. This is because Americans (and Canadians) are covered by their own car insurance (in most other countries car insurance is tied to the vehicle rather than a driver). RentalCover's CDW policy is available for Americans and visitors to the US and is equivalent to those sold at the desk, for up to 50% less†.

Secondly, CDW policies are typically zero - or low - excess (called a "deductible" in the US), meaning the amount to pay in the event of an accident is smaller than other countries if you have CDW. Our "Extra Cover for USA" policy covers that amount for US visitors and also includes roadside assistance, which is also at the rental desk for up to 50% extra cost.

Thirdly, if you have an accident in the US and are found to be at fault, you are liable if there's damages to other vehicles or injuries to their drivers. Unfortunately, those costs can be significant because rental companies are only required to carry a small amount of third party liability cover for their vehicles (the amount differs from state to state). Supplemental Liability Insurance ("SLI") mitigates the third party liability risk. Equivalent policies are available for US residents and visitors alike and are sold by rental companies and RentalCover. 

US rental cars typically have a lower excess (called a 'deductible' in the US).  

it is not mandatory for car owners (i.e. the rental companies) to insure hired cars nor is it mandatory for them to insure the drivers against third party personal & property damage (this is called "Liability Insurance" or "Supplementary Liability Insurance"), nor personal injury to the driver (called "Personal Accident Insurance"). Those responsibilities fall to the renter. This is not the case in the EU, Australia, NZ and most other countries so it is important that you understand the options and purpose of each insurance product that you will be offered by the rental companies! The other main difference to other countries is that the rental companies do not offer "Super CDW", "Super LDW" or equivalent "premium" insurance products. When sold in Europe and most of the World, these products are designed to reduce your excess towards zero from an amount that is usually between €/£/$1,000-4,000. In the US all rentals are sold with either the renter being liable for the full amount of the vehicle, or there is zero deductible excess: there's nothing in between! Our "Extra Cover for USA" fills the considerable "out of pocket" costs that still remain even when there is no deductible excess.

CDW/LDW

SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance)

Theft Protection

PAI (Personal Accident Insurance)

Roadside Assistance

You can benefit from our popular primary plan called the Collision Damage Coverage.

With our plan, you get damage protection without touching your personal auto plan. If you need to make a claim, you can rest easy knowing that there’s no deductible and your rate won’t increase in your personal auto plan.

We give a further rundown on the benefits in this article.

The following information is for US rentals only.

Supplemental Liability Insurance insures you for injuries to other drivers and their vehicles. Most states require the rental car company have third-party liability that covers a renter, however, they are only required to have state minimum limits which can be quite low and insufficient for more serious accidents. This means it’s the driver’s responsibility to carry insurance to protect against potential liability for injuries to other people and damage to their vehicles and property.

You will usually be offered SLI (also called Accident Liability Insurance/ALI, Supplemental Liability Protection, Liability Insurance Supplement or Renter Liability Protection) by the car rental company. Our SLI provides similar coverage.

 

What liability coverage limits are provided with the rental vehicle?

In the United States, states have different minimum insurance limits for auto liability. These minimum levels of coverage are often quite low whereas our SLI offers insurance coverage up to $1 million.

The table below is a comparison of minimum auto liability insurance amounts as compared to the SLI coverage for certain states. Remember that rental car companies may only provide auto liability at the state minimum level, or provide none at all in those states that they are not required to.  In addition, if you have personal or business auto insurance it may provide a certain level of coverage when renting a vehicle. Our SLI provides coverage in excess of this insurance coverage, up to $1 million.

 

	Sample of Minimum legal coverage
State	Per Person	Per Accident	Property Damage	Our SLI
California	$15,000	$30,000	$5,000	$1 million
Florida	$10,000	$20,000	$10,000	$1 million
Georgia	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000	$1 million
Texas	$30,000	$60,000	$25,000	$1 million
Washington	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000	$1 million
Other	$10-50K	$30-100K	$5-25K	$1 million

 
Note: from time to time, states change their minimum insurance limit requirements so this chart should be used as an example only.

How does the claims process work?

SLI claims are submitted via our online claims form. Any party (i.e. yourself, the other driver or their insurer, or another third party) can start the claim process.  You will need to provide details about the accident, submit the police report if there is one, provide information about the accident and your rental receipt, as well as provide any details from the third party showing evidence of damages or injuries sustained. As the claim process can be extensive and legally complex we use an insurance partner with highly experienced claims adjusters.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address. From your RentalCover Account, you can make a claim, make changes or view your wording.

We specialize in providing customers coverage that’s up to 50% less † than what you may be offered at the rental desk. We provide protection for rental cars, including minivans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles rented from a rental car agency valid anywhere in the world. Supplemental Liability Insurance covers US-origin rentals (excluding New York) in Canada if the vehicle is collected in the US.

Our plans include the following as standard:

Additional drivers Covers losses incurred when the rental vehicle is driven (or in the possession of) any licensed driver listed on your rental agreement	Tires and windshields covered Our plans do not exclude losses caused by damage to tires or windshields	Zero deductible CDW claims are not subject to a deductible/excess

Timely claim repayments

If you make a claim and it is approved, we will pay you as quickly as possible - on average within three business days.

 

Global protection	Global partners and underwriters	Payments in your currency
Authorized by top-rated carriers, and available worldwide	Our wide network of partners allows us to bring you great coverage at an affordable price	Payable claims are refunded in your local currency

 

Want more information? Our Rental Guides explain how everything works.

† We compared the costs of collision damage protection sold by Cover Genius Insurance Services, LLC on RentalCover.com to the average cost of collision or loss damage waivers (including taxes and fees) for a one week rental (December 11 - 17, 2016). Cost comparison is in U.S. dollars and is based on online quotes provided by Alamo, Avis and Hertz for an airport pickup and drop-off of a compact car in Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Portland for a U.S resident over age 25. No discounts applied.

RentalCover uses full calendar days to calculate your price to ensure you are covered for the full day of pickup and dropoff, regardless of the time, however, partners who sell RentalCover may use a 24-hour clock, meaning an extension of your trip by a few hours leads to an adjustment to cover the extra period.

To shorten or extend your policy please follow these steps: 

1. Visit My Account. When you first visit  RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

2. Next login. 

3. Lastly, choose your policy and select Extend / Reduce Cover dates. 

Reducing Days
You can only reduce unused days, This means refunds are not available for today and other preceding days. If you reduced the number of days we will refund you the difference to your original payment card. 

Adding Days
If you are extending your dates you will just need to pay the additional amount.
However, you will not be able to extend your policy if the policy’s end date has already passed (i.e. you cannot extend your booking if it is January 2, and the policy ended on January 1). If you have extended your rental and need extra protection, please create a new policy for the remaining days of your rental.

At RentalCover we believe that you shouldn’t need a legal degree to understand our plans. Where possible, we have made sure our plans are designed to help eliminate confusion and help you understand your protection when you hit the road. 

Here’s a summary of the protection you receive when you purchase a CDW plan with us:

	What you get with RentalCover*	What you might get at the rental desk
Multi-vehicle accidents	✓	✓
Single vehicle accidents	✓	Sometimes
Fire, car theft and vandalism	✓	Sometimes
Lockout & keys due to an accident	Not covered for US residents	x
Windshield and headlights	✓	x
Tires and underbody	✓	x
Standard deductible	$0	$3000 - 4000 Usually fixed cost
Total coverage amount	$35000 Covers rental company’s excess charges. Refer to your plan document	See rental guides for details
Price per day	Up to 50% less expensive† than the rental desk	$10-$30* per day *Airports surcharge +10-25%†

 

*Coverage is subject to the terms, limitations, and exclusions of the plan. Coverage may vary by country of residence. For more information please read our country-specific Rental Guide.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation SMS or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

Unfortunately, for US rentals we do not provide coverage for luxury vehicles, trucks, RVs, 4x4s, motorcycles, quad bikes or vans. These may be available if you're traveling internationally. Please check your policy wording.

We do however provide cover for vehicles with disability modifications.

Follow the tips below to avoid the hassle and have a safe, stress-free trip. There are more details in our Rental Guides.

1. Your plan is valid and doesn’t need to be “recognized”!

If you are told by the rental company that they don’t recognize your plan, just explain that you are covered by RentalCover. Rental companies have “waivers” that compete with RentalCover and are up to twice the price, with many common types of damage excluded†.

2. But if they refuse to rent you a vehicle

If the rental company refuses to provide you with a vehicle, you can either:

• Try to rent with another company. If their price is higher, you might still save money because of the cheaper RentalCover Protection, or
• Cancel your RentalCover Protection. Instructions for how to login are provided below.

3. Be prepared

Have all required documents ready for your check-in and take a look at your country’s Rental Guide for a detailed overview of the waivers sold by rental companies at your destination.

4. Be confident

With our policies, you are insured by a fully underwritten, global distributor of insurance products with a proven track record of assessing claims in a timely fashion. We have been doing this since 2014 and ranked #1 for rental car insurance on TrustPilot, with 4.7 stars from thousands of reviews.

5. If they still refuse to give you a vehicle

We recommend speaking to the rental company about anything relating to your vehicle. If you need to make changes or have a question about your booking, for example, if you need to reduce or increase your rental days, you can manage it via your booking agent. 

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address. From your RentalCover Account, you can make a claim, make changes or view your wording.
 

Renting in the US? Please read this article for US-specific information. You can also check our rental guides at any time for more information.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

CDW (and Loss Damage Waiver, which adds Theft Protection to CDW) is usually included in the rental rate that you see on a website. Note that these “waivers” just reduce your risk from a high amount (similar to the full value of the car) to somewhere between $/£/€1500 and $/£/€3000 depending on the car and the rental company. That lowered amount is called the "excess" or "deductible" and it's payable in the event of an accident.

Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) and our Full Protection

SCDW (also called "Damage Liability Waiver" and many other names) is sold at the rental desk and it lowers the excess/deductible towards $0 (the amount payable can still be as high as $/£/€500 depending on the rental company, plus other charges for administration fees, towing, loss of use and more). Our "Full Protection" policy provides equivalent protection up to 50% cheaper†, with $0 to pay in the event of an accident and it also covers the additional accident-related fees charged by rental companies.

Check if your RentalCover Protection requires you to have the rental company's CDW.

We understand that insurance, and especially insurance acronyms, can be confusing. Learn what the most commonly used terms mean.

CDW (Collision Damage Waiver)

CDW covers all or a portion of the amount payable to the rental company in the event of loss of or damage to a rental car. In our plans, this coverage is referred to as Rental Car Damage and Theft Coverage or Rental Car Damage.

Our Collision Damage protection* covers a rental vehicle for accidental damage and/or theft during the course of a rental period with no deductible.

SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance)

SLI provides coverage for damages or injuries you may cause to another person or their property while operating a rental vehicle.

Deductible 

A deductible (or “excess” outside of the US) is the amount payable by you if there’s damage to the rental vehicle. Our CDW plans do not have a deductible.

LDW (Loss Damage Waiver)**

This is the same as CDW but it adds theft and vandalism protection.

Loss of Use Fees

Renters are often charged additional fees by rental companies if the rental requires repairs that keep it off the road (these “loss of use” fees are also called “demurrage”). These costs may be covered by our plans (i.e. they are “inclusions”).

Want more information? Our Rental Guides explain how everything works.

**N/A for US residents.

We work with some of the largest and most respected insurers to provide you with coverage, no matter where you drive. Our top-rated global panel of insurers includes Crum & Forster in the US and Lloyds, Collinson, Munich Re, Intact and other global insurers in other regions.

If you make changes to your RentalCover policy or create several quotes over time you may notice a small difference in price from when you originally booked. While we make every effort to make pricing consistent for our customers, there are multiple factors that impact claims and therefore the price that we charge, including travel dates, lead times, trip duration, car pricing and the fees charged by our underwriting partners. There may also be broking or other fees applied to your bookings.

If you see a charge from RentalCover on your credit card statement that you don’t recognize, it is likely because you added protection through one of our partners, and it has been charged separately to your rental. Our partners include Rentalcars.com, Booking.com and many more. 

If required, you can cancel or modify your protection directly by logging into your RentalCover Account.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

We support over five million customers through our Help Center. Once logged in, you can also contact us if you can’t find an answer.

​When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.
​
We provide rental protection and partner with dozens of booking agents who are responsible for your car rental - please get in touch with them if you need to make changes to your car booking. 

We often get asked if we protect the following rentals. When you purchase a plan with us you may see options for the vehicle types below. If you don’t see them, unfortunately, they aren’t available for your location.



You can select a Vehicle Type on the homepage.



If you have a quote or booking, you can add vehicle types, if available, within your RentalCover Account.



If you have a quote or booking you can add vehicle types, if available, on the RentalCover.com Payment page.

If you purchased our insurance through one of our partners (some of whom specialize in campervans, motorhomes, RVs and off-road 4x4s), their automated systems will ensure you have the right protection for your rental. You can check your coverages and, if available, upgrade to include these vehicle types at any time. Just log in to your RentalCover Account or get a quote.

Your rental needs to be booked with an authorized rental company, car dealership, accident replacement service or loan cars from an authorized mechanic. Depending on your country, RentalCover Protection is available for the following when you get a quote on RentalCover.com. The meaning of each may differ based on your country. To view your wording, click the link in your RentalCover Account or on the quote page.

✓ Cars: “Cars” are the default coverage on RentalCover.com. 
✓ Recreational vehicles (RVs), motorhomes and camper/campervans.
✓ Off-road 4x4s for use on unsealed roads. You do not need to select this if you intend to drive any type of 4x4 on normal sealed roads. If you choose “Off-road 4x4” you must have rented a 4x4.
✓ Campers are covered in selected countries.

When are you not covered?

This is a general summary only and may not apply to your RentalCover Protection. Please login to your RentalCover Account or get a quote to view your plan wording. 

Depending on your country, RentalCover may not cover the following. 
✗ Misfueling. 
✗ Out-of-pocket costs like phone call fees, taxis and accommodation. 
✗ Charges incurred through service providers that aren't authorized by your rental company. 
✗ Loss or damage to accessories/equipment.
✗ Interior damage like spillage or tears. 
✗ Personal property: we don't cover theft or loss of items that you own.
✗ Liability: please read the Rental Guide to better understand how this works in your travel country. 
✗ Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) for drivers: this is usually covered by your travel insurance.
✗ Annual protection: We no longer offer annual protection. You are however still covered if you previously purchased Annual Protection on RentalCover.com and it’s still active.
✗ Personal vehicles or others that aren’t from authorized vehicle rentals as outlined above.
✗ Commercial trucks and other vehicles that are used for commercial purposes such as removal/moving trucks, pantech trucks, commercial delivery vans, courier trucks, trailer trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, carriers and refrigerator trucks. Americans renting “Passenger Trucks” for non-commercial use are covered under the default “Car” type, as outlined above.
✗ If your vehicle requires a special license (for instance, if the passenger limit or cargo capacity exceeds the limitations of a standard license) or if it is a commercial van, truck or bus, you will not be covered. 
✗ Vehicles that have trailers, camper trailers or other extensions - with the exception of caravans (see above) - attached to the tow bar.
✗ High-end supercars, high-end sports cars, classic cars and exotic vehicles (including but not limited to, those made by Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Bentley).
✗Certain combinations of country of residence and destination country.
✗ Motorcycles or other bikes.

Find out how much you could save on a damage protection plan by creating a free quote on our website.

1. Log in to your RentalCover Account and enter your country of residence and destination country. When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link  If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

2. Confirm the start and end dates for your trip, and then select the vehicle you plan to rent; a car is always selected by default.

3. Lastly, click “Get a Quote” to retrieve your personal quote. You can review the details and complete your booking by entering your payment details.

The quote page displays the plan price and all the important information you need to know before you set off, including any inclusions and exclusions. You can also review your damage protection plan before you buy.

You can change plan holders any time before you pick up the vehicle. Just sign in to your RentalCover Account. Here you can also add your company name to the invoice. 

When you first visit  RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address

Additional drivers are automatically covered by your plan.
 

You can check the status of your plan at any time by accessing your account.

1. Log in to your RentalCover Account. When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

2. Next, sign in. 

3. On the left-hand side menu, you will be able to see the status of your plan:

Confirmed	Your plan has been purchased
Quote	Your plan has not yet been purchased
Canceled	Your plan is no longer active and a refund will be issued, if applicable

At RentalCover we send two types of emails. Newsletter emails and quote/transactional emails. You can learn about how these emails are sent and managed below:

You can update your newsletter email preferences at any time from your My Account page.

1. Log in to your RentalCover Account.
When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

2. Next, sign in. 
 
3. Select "Profile" from the left-hand menu. Click “unsubscribe” from the bottom of your profile and you will no longer receive our promotional emails.

Please note if you have made a booking inquiry you may receive quote/transactional emails from us with more information about your policy. You can’t unsubscribe from these emails. However, they are only sent for a short period regarding your trip and will automatically stop.

You can view, download or print your plan wording and invoice from your My Account page.

1. Visit My Account.
When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.
 
2. Next sign in. 

3. Select Profile from the left-hand menu. Click on "Plan Wording" to read or download your plan by clicking the save iconon the top right of the page. You can also select "View Invoice" to automatically download your invoice as a pdf.

From your profile, you can also amend the plan holder’s personal information and add your company name on the invoice.

Find out more about how to modify your plan here.
 

Our policies can only be used to cover one rental vehicle. The only exception is if your rental company replaces the vehicle, in which case your existing policy will still work.

Our Collision Damage Insurance (CDI) policy for US residents permits you to drive the vehicle in Canada if it was collected in the US. The same applies for SLI unless you are a New York resident. You can view your wording in your RentalCover Account if you have any concerns about travel in sanctioned countries. 

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

If you damage your rental vehicle and the rental company provides you with a replacement, our protection will automatically cover you, as long as the car type, rental carrier, rental period and plan holder details remain the same.
 

Inclusions and exclusions can vary depending on your coverage type so please check your plan wording to find out more. You can find your plan wording attached to your confirmation email, or download it by logging into your RentalCover Account.  

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

For a broad overview of our plan inclusions, as well as more information about what to do at the rental desk and how you should proceed in the event of an accident, please read our country-specific Rental Guides.

 

On the homepage we ask for the country you “live in”.



You can choose a country that you currently live in, or have resided in recently or one where you have the right of abode. Most rental companies permit you to drive with an international driving license.

 

Age requirements can vary depending on our provider. To see the limits that apply to you, please check your wording. You can view, download or print your wording from your RentalCover Account.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.
 

Rental companies sell a policy called "Collision Damage Waiver" (CDW) to reduce your contribution to the rental car damage repair bill towards $0. "Supplemental Liability Insurance" (SLI) is also available which tops up the minimum state-mandated liability coverage that comes with the rental.

Our equivalent plans save you money in these ways:

1. The total price of the rental company's CDW and SLI is up to double the price of equivalent coverage from us.†
2. You may be responsible for a deductible with the rental company's CDW. There is no deductible with our equivalent.
3. You may face a significant deductible if you choose to rely on your personal auto plan rather than the rental company's CDW or our equivalent. 
4. Because ours is primary coverage, it doesn't impact your ongoing personal auto premiums.
5. CDW from the rental companies may not cover damages such as windshields, lamps, tires, undercarriage and damage-related fees such as loss of use and towing. 

The following steps address the common issue of not being able to sign into your RentalCover Account. 

1. Check if you have entered the correct booking reference and email address. To do this you will need your booking reference number which ends with “-INS”.This can be found in the subject line of your confirmation email. We recommend you copy and paste to avoid mistakes.

2. If you still see an error message, click the “Forgot your booking reference?” link. You can then confirm your email address and we'll email you your most recent booking reference so you can access your booking details.

3. When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

If your payment card was declined, please follow the below steps:
 

1. Ensure you have entered all the correct details and try again.
    
2. Make the payment using an alternate card where possible.
    
3. If the problem persists, please contact your bank for more information.

 

If you have accidentally canceled your plan, the refund has already been processed. However, you can purchase the same protection on our website or click the “repurchase” link in the cancelation email that we sent when you canceled.

If you purchased a policy through one of our partners, it may take between seven and 21 days for the refund to show on your bank account or credit card statement. Please reach out to them directly if there’s a delay. If you purchased your policy on RentalCover.com, the refund is processed immediately. However, it may take up to four days to be reflected in your bank account or credit card statement.

Sometimes the limits of your policy are displayed in a different currency to the one you selected at purchase.

You can see the same limits in your preferred currency by clicking the question mark next to the ‘limit/excess details’ in your policy wording. Log in to your RentalCover Account to get started.

When you first visit  RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

No, our protection does not include luxury vehicles such as high-end supercars, high-end sports cars, classic cars and exotic vehicles e.g. Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley.

This article has more information on car types.

If you are traveling in the US, we recommend that you purchase Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) in addition to a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) plan to ensure you’re protected for third-party injury and damage. 

At RentalCover we support over five million customers through our Help Center.

Refund amounts differ based on your policy, when the policy is scheduled to commence and your booking agent (if you booked through one of our partners). We recommend you quickly follow these step-by-step instructions to cancel or modify your policy and, where applicable, obtain a refund.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address. From your RentalCover Account, you can make a claim, make changes or view your wording.

You may also see an offer for a credit note that can be used on future bookings. Please read this article for more information on credit notes.
 

Please follow the steps below to start the process. Refund availability may differ based on your policy, trip dates and booking agent (if you booked your rental through one of our partners). 

To cancel, extend or shorten your policy, please follow these steps:

1. Visit My Account.

When you first visit  RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

2. Next, log in. To do this you will need your booking reference number ending with “-INS”. This can be found in the subject line of your confirmation email.

3. Lastly, choose your policy and select either Extend/Reduce or Cancel. If you booked through a partner, you may be redirected to their site. Otherwise, we will handle the cancelation and refund, if applicable. Please contact your bank if it takes more than four days for it to show on your statement. 

We offer rental insurance and our partners are responsible for the rental cars. If you are having difficulty at the rental desk, please contact your rental agency directly for support.

If that sounds like you, and you are having difficulty at the rental desk, please contact your rental agency directly for support.

If you need to shorten, extend or cancel your plan you can do this online via the My Account page. When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address. From your RentalCover Account, you can make a claim, make changes or view your wording.

Your plan can be used for most rental vehicles*, from any rental company*, subject to the terms of the rental agreement.

Your policy can be used for any rental vehicle*, from any rental company*, subject to the terms of the rental agreement. If you have multiple rentals with different rental companies, you will need a policy for each.

*Please note that there may be some vehicles that are not covered by the rental plans (e.g. exotic vehicles), as well as rental companies we do not cover.

The Rental Car Damage and Theft Coverage (Collision Damage Waiver) in our plans apply whenever your rental car is in the possession of the named driver and all additional licensed drivers included on your rental agreement.  For Supplemental Liability Insurance, the named driver and all additional drivers included in your rental agreement are covered by your plan. Please ensure that you are named on the rental agreement.

Thinking of visiting other countries on your trip? Our Collision Damage Waiver coverage applies worldwide. Renters with our Supplemental Liability Insurance (for rentals that originate in the US, except New York) are covered for Canada if the vehicle is collected in the US.

You do not need to inform us of additional drivers or countries you are visiting.

Want more information? Our Rental Guides explain how everything works.

If your rental has started and you realize you forgot to buy protection, don’t worry, insurance can still be purchased. Just create a quote on the homepage.

As soon as your purchase is complete, your coverage is active. Find out more about how coverage days are calculated.

Please note that this doesn't apply to Canadian residents traveling within Canada or worldwide, due to underwriter limitations. 

We use cookies to collect and safely store some of your data. Here's why and how you can manage it.

How we look after your data

We take a duty of care when it comes to your personal data. This is why we will never share it with external marketing services. 

We have a regulatory obligation to record information like policies purchased or claims submitted for our legal records for 7 years. This information cannot be deleted.

However, you can manage your personal details at any time from your RentalCover Account. When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address. From your RentalCover Account, you can make a claim, make changes or view your wording.

I want to clear my cookies and cache

Our website uses cookies to help us process your booking, and include your country of residence and travel dates for example. These cannot be switched off. 

However you can clear all the cookies we use at any time by following the instructions below, tailored for your browser:
 

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Internet Explorer	Safari

If you want to learn more, visit our Privacy Policy page.

Our policies are predominantly sold through partnerships with other travel companies. When choosing our partners we take the time to understand their operations and provide ongoing training to their customer support teams so they can effectively handle insurance inquiries alongside car rental and other travel-related questions.

Our partners sell a range of travel products with a variety of cancelation and refund rules. You  can log in to
your RentalCover Account to make changes to your protection, however, we encourage you to contact your booking agent.

When you first visit  RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

 

Unfortunately the following credit note is not available for most RentalCover plans for US residents. When you cancel a RentalCover plan you may be offered a credit note with an extra 60% bonus credit (or more, depending on your residence). The credit can be used on any future bookings for up to 3 years. If you do not use all your credit you can use the remaining balance for future bookings.

The offer is only available in your RentalCover Account when you cancel a booking. The alternatives are laid out like this:
 

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You can choose to take the credit (with the extra 60% bonus) by clicking the blue button on the right, or proceed to cancel by clicking the white button.

Some of our partners also process RentalCover cancelations on their site. 

The terms and conditions of the offer are straightforward: 

• We will add a credit note to your account for the full amount of your original booking plus your 60% bonus credit
• The credit can be used toward any future booking on RentalCover. The credit is non-refundable and expires in 3 years. 
• Your credit can only be used on RentalCover and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. 
• If you purchased a plan using the credit and then cancel the plan, you will not be offered bonus credit again. Any credit that you spent on the canceled plan will be refunded for you to spend on your next purchase.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

If you cancel your protection via your RentalCover Account, depending on your country we offer you the option to either receive a credit note or a cash refund. Credit notes are processed immediately and added to your RentalCover Account. If eligible, you can choose to receive a credit note, otherwise, the refund will typically show in your card statement within 3-7 days, although it may take some of our agents longer. If it’s taking longer please contact your bank or your booking agent.

You can log in to your RentalCover Account to manage your RentalCover protection and view your invoices and certificates at any time. When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation SMS or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address. From your RentalCover Account, you can make a claim, make changes or view your wording.

For all plans except ones sold to American residents, Supplemental Liability Insurance for US-based rentals, and those that are for travel in Iceland, if you find a better price anywhere, we are happy to beat it. Policies for American residents and travel within Iceland are also ineligible for various discount coupons on RentalCover.com.

Just reply to any of our emails and include details of the alternative quote, including a screenshot or link to the other quote, your country of residence, your destination country and your travel dates, and we will further discount your RentalCover.com quote. 

We offer many types of accidental damage that the rental companies don’t, such as the following (not applicable with “Supplemental Liability Insurance" [for US rentals]):

Theft/fire/vandalism Windshields & tires Roadside repairs     Underbody damage Lockout & key replacement Headlights

Unfortunately, transaction fees are everywhere when you travel internationally. In this article we share tips for how you can avoid these fees.

One major cost that most travelers don’t plan for is potential charges from the rental company in the event of an accident or damage. Those fees can cost in excess of $3,000 and credit card issuers typically charge 4-5% in additional fees for international travelers.

 

When you make a claim with us there are two factors that can explain the difference between the amount you paid for your damages and the final claim amount you receive.

1. Additional credit card fees: When you make a claim, we refund the charges you received from the rental company, but we do not refund any additional international transaction fees you might incur.

2. International money transfers: Our payment technology allows your claim to be paid into any bank in the world, with no additional fees. We waive the fees that banks charge for sending payments and wherever we can we waive the fees charged by your bank for receiving payment. We take these fees into account when calculating the exchange rates that you see at the time of payment.

For further information, please read this article. For more information on your plan options, visit our Rental Guides.

 

Refund processing times for our plans can differ based on where you booked. If you canceled or shortened your plan through your RentalCover Account, the refund should show on your bank or credit card statement within 4 days. It may take between 7 and 21 days if you canceled or shortened your plan through our partners. If it’s taking longer, please contact your bank or our partner.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.
 

It is not possible to update your payment method or currency after your plan is purchased.

If you would like to change your payment method or currency you can cancel and rebook your coverage with RentalCover.com any time prior to pick up.

Just visit My Account to get started.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation SMS or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

We sometimes hear of rental companies charging customers for damages that did not happen, inflating or miscalculating the final charges. If this has happened to you, you should file a “dispute” with your credit card issuer for this unauthorized transaction.

To save time filing your dispute please follow the instructions below:

1. Download our template letter  and fill in your details

2. Contact your credit card issuer and use your letter to file a dispute for the final transaction you were charged by the rental company. It is best not to explicitly request a refund as your bank may defer you to contact the rental company directly to contest the charge. Instead, we advise you state that “the charge was unauthorised” since you do not recognise the damage

What happens next? You can expect a response within 1-2 weeks, and for the charge to be reversed within 3-4 weeks. Our customers have a 95% success rate with these requests. However, if your request is unsuccessful, or if you have some excess charges remaining after the dispute is settled, please start a claim online with us here and we will review your case as soon as possible.

When you first visit RentalCover you will need to activate your account. Simply find the RentalCover confirmation text or email in your inbox or spam and click the activation link. If you’re having issues, it may be because the email addresses of some Apple users aren’t shared with RentalCover. Instead, you can simply click on the link provided in the confirmation email you received when you purchased RentalCover Protection and update your email address.

Unfortunately, insurance prices are set by state regulators in the US and cannot be discounted. 

We will always aim to price-beat like-for-like protection quotes. Please note however that we cannot price beat for the following cases:

- Quotes provided by CarInsuRent (we have major concerns about this business’s eligibility to sell insurance products). 
- Policies where Iceland is the destination country
- Quotes that provide a lesser level of coverage than offered by RentalCover.com
- Collision Damage Insurance (CDI) for US residents. 
- Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) for US-based vehicle rentals
- Policies purchased from our approved partner websites (our partners control their own car and insurance packaging and pricing).
- When quote details are inaccurate and do not match your trip (for example if you are an Australian resident travelling to Japan your price beat request must match this information)
   

Car rental companies will generally require you to leave a security deposit with them at pick-up, as a security measure in case you damage the car.

Deposit amounts are usually between £/$/€500 to £/$/€900 but can go up to £/$/€1200 depending on the destination and vehicle type.  Make sure your credit card limit allows you to pay the deposit plus any other expenses you have planned for your trip.

You will usually need a credit card for this and the rental company will either deduct or place a hold on your funds. If there is no damage to the car, the hold will be released or a refund will be issued after drop off.  Please note that it can take a few days for the money to get back into your account.
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If the car is damaged the rental company may deduct the security deposit and any other amounts from your card.

For more specific questions about your car rental, including queries about refunds of your deposit, please contact our partner you booked through.

Yes.

Any credit card can be used to make the purchase.