Car Insurance

[MrsLadyBug]

Hi Just wondering how I stand if I decide to hire a car. My own insurance lapsed as I don't actually own a car at all at the moment. If hiring am I covered by their insurance or do I need to take out a new policy of my own which is pointless to me as I don't own a car. Not sure if it is a relevant point or not but I live in Ireland and am talking about travelling to UK to hire a car there. Have done before but not sure who's insurance would have been covering me.
Thanks

[ToraToraTora]

when you hire a car you get insurance too.

[MrsLadyBug]

Ok that's good. Thanks for that.

[ubasses]

Be careful though they will probably try and sell you their excess waiver insurance at a ridiculous price. If you can get a stand alone policy before you go it will cost you a fraction of the price.

[MrsLadyBug]

Ubasses.. OK , but does the stand alone policy come from them or my own insurer.
Sorry for being so dumb but never been in this position before.
Have travelled to and from ROI and UK Many times and hired cars but have always been in possession of my own policy for my own car so this is unfamiliar territory for me.

[Flonska]

You can buy excess waiver policies on line:-

https://www.travelsupermarket.com/en-gb/car-hire/excess-insurance/

[MrsLadyBug]

Ok Thanks for the info. will study up on it and hopefully know what I am doing when I do.
I am grateful for the knowledge.
Thanks

[malagabob]

Look at what’s included on the hire agreement Normally you get basic insurance included.

[MrsLadyBug]

Ok, Thanks.
Have learnt something today!

[Peter Pedant]

oh and good luck
the only time I have hired a car - the over fed sweaty unwashed wide-boys ( agents in the office ) started whooping as I came in the door as tho I were some sort of fresh meat

[KARL]

I suggest you choose your rental car by using search engines such as autoeurope.co.uk, economycarrentals.com or others - they get better rates than you can going direct to the rental companies. Do watch for distance restrictions and fuel policy (full-to-full or "as taken", etc.) plus any insurance or driver restrictions, etc. There are two stand alone excess insurance companies worth looking at, insurance4carhire.co.uk and icarhireinsurance.com, and there are others - do not take out excess insurance from the hire company as it is far more expensive. One or two smaller hire chains have a poor reputation regarding customer service in certain locations so it is advisable to read some reviews, always remembering that complainants are more likely to write one. At the end make sure you get a piece of paper to say you have nothing further to pay and keep it safe for at least 3 months - obviously you will look the car over carefully when taking delivery of it, including spare/jack, etc. and condition of the interior (remembering the shelf on a hatchback plus any hubcaps).

[MrsLadyBug]

Well they say every day is a learning day and today is no exception. Thanks to all for your replies. I shall be a lot wiser now and will do my research carefully. Hubby (when he was alive) took care of all matters like this and I have had to learn alot about things lately that I always took for granted.
It feels sometimes that I was living in a little bubble.

[ToraToraTora]

Insurance is included in the hire package. In the glove box there will probably be a one time use camara and instructions of what to do if there is an accident. There will be an excess which you'll have to pay if you are in an accident. (reclaimable if not your fault) You can also pay a small amount extra to cover that too, mentioned above by ubasses. When he talks about a "stand alone policy" he is referring to the Waiver insurance, not the main cover.

[Zacs-Master]

Just to be padantic (which isn’t a bad thing where insurance is concerned) the correct term for the additional insurance being discussed is Collision Damage Waiver. This doesn’t covers the car’s bodywork, so if there’s any damage to the windows, wheels or interior, you’ll have to pay the full cost of repairing the damage (unless you have further additional cover).

Sometimes, if you pay by credit card the company will apply a waiver to any damage. Worth checking with your CC company.