RENTAL CAR INSURANCE
Compatible with rental car companies in Australia and abroad
Protection from RentalCover is compatible with rental car companies worldwide such as Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar and thousands more. This makes us the perfect travel companion wherever you go!
Why RentalCover for car hire excess cover
Travel with peace of mind, knowing you aren’t on the hook for thousands of dollars if things go wrong. While most car rental companies in Australia include a Collision Damage Waiver bundled into rental fees, this protection comes with large excess costs. This is the amount you must contribute out-of-pocket when you make a claim. With our hire car excess insurance, there's nothing for you to pay in the event of a claim.
Our policy also covers areas often excluded by rental company CDWs, such as damage to windscreens, tyres, vehicle underbodies and much more. Your hire car company might try to upsell you on a more comprehensive Super Collision Damage Waiver. Our cover also beats out these policies, as it’s 50% cheaper and has even fewer exclusions.†
$0 Excess Cover
Nothing to pay in the event of a claim
Better Price
50% cheaper than rental companies†
3-Day Claim Payouts
We pay 98% of claims in 3 days
What's covered
We offer cover for a wide range of vehicles hired from rental car agencies. This includes cars, pickup trucks, sports utility vehicles, 4x4s, motorhomes/RVs, campervans and minibuses.
Cover for your car hire insurance excess, so there’s nothing for you to pay in the event of a claim.
Cover for damage rental companies usually exclude, such as damage caused by harsh climate and road conditions.
Cover for flat tyres, cracked windscreens, damaged headlights, lost keys, key replacement and lockout.
Complete cover for all authorised drivers listed on the car rental agreement.
No sky-high charges added to your repair bill, including fees for processing, loss of use, relocation and roadside assistance.
Covers rental agreements lasting more than 30 days.
Cancel anytime before pickup for a full refund.
Cover built for all types of Australian travellers
RentalCover is built for any Aussie who refuses to overpay for car rental insurance:
Business travellers
Get reliable, cost-effective rental vehicle excess cover, and protection for common items your rental company excludes.
Holiday makers
Whether you’re hiring interstate or overseas, take the stress out of rental vehicle insurance with our easy-to-understand policy.
Frequent travellers
Constantly travelling around Australia and the rest of the world? Our simple, no-fuss policies mean less wasted time at the rental desk.
Long-stay travellers
We offer cover for up to one year, perfect for long-term rentals in Australia or overseas.
Trusted by 10+ million of customers worldwide
What makes our car rental insurance different to other Aussie providers
RentalCover adds to the cover of your rental company’s built-in CDW with excess insurance and cover for common exclusions. Many Australian credit cards also offer rental vehicle excess reimbursement.
Here’s how these 3 policy types compare:
WHAT’S COVERED |  | RENTAL CAR COMPANY CDW | CREDIT CARD COVER |
|---|---|---|---|
Excess on damage & theft | $0 excess (we refund everything you pay) | Full excess depending on company (out-of-pocket costs) | You pay full excess first and then you claim back (reimbursement may take weeks) |
Underbody, tyres & windscreens | Yes Covered | No Excluded – Sold as a separate product at the counter | No Not Covered |
Climate & weather damage | Yes Covered | No Excluded – Sold as a separate product at the counter | No Not Covered |
Roadside assistance & towing | Yes Covered | No Excluded – Sold as a separate product at the counter | No Not covered |
Loss of use & admin fees | Yes Covered | No Not covered | Conditional — insurer decides what's "reasonable" |
Additional drivers | Yes Automatically covered if named on rental agreement | No Extra fees per driver at the counter | No Extra fees per driver at the counter |
Cancellable before pick-up | Yes Free | No No | Not available N/A |
Claim process | Reimbursement — typically within 3 business days | Immediate waiver (no claim needed) | Immediate waiver (no claim needed) |
Find out more in our complete rental car insurance comparison breakdown.
How it works when you're hiring a car
We make it easy to be protected in your rental vehicle:
Get Instant Coverage Online
Get a transparent quote and purchase your cover online in under 2 minutes.
Rent Your Car with Confidence
Confidently decline upsells at the rental counter. You’re comprehensively covered.
Claim Back Your Excess
If an incident occurs, you can make a quick online claim, and we’ll reimburse your costs.
Ready to save on your rental car insurance?
Get an instant quote in under 2 minutes. No commitments, cancel anytime before pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Many Australian-issued credit cards include car hire excess insurance. However, this cover is often not comprehensive, with exclusions for tyres, windscreens, underbody damage, towing costs and more. Excess cover is often capped at a lower level than the actual costs incurred when making a claim.
A key difference between credit card cover and a RentalCover policy is pay-out speed. While we pay 98% of claims within 3 days, you could find yourself waiting weeks for excess reimbursement from your credit card provider.
If your credit card was issued in another country, you might find Australian rentals are explicitly excluded from your cover. For a full overview of the cover offered by your particular credit card, contact your card provider directly.
The price of car rental insurance in Australia varies significantly depending on the vehicle you hire, your rental period and your insurance provider. A basic Collision Damage Waiver is almost always included automatically in your rental fees.
However, this cover has significant exclusions and high out-of-pocket excess costs. A RentalCover policy is 50% cheaper than equivalent cover from rental companies.† Get an online quote in under 2 minutes and find out how we can help you enjoy more peace of mind the next time you hire a car.
When you hire a vehicle in Australia, a basic Collision Damage Waiver (or Loss Damage Waiver) is usually automatically included in the price of your rental. These policies offer a basic level of protection, but they also exclude incidents like windscreen and tyre damage.
They also come with high excess costs. This is the cost you must cover out-of-pocket if you make a claim. If you want a superior level of protection with fewer exclusions and nothing to pay in the event of a claim, you can also choose RentalCover.
If you have a RentalCover policy and need to make a claim, you'll first pay the rental vehicle insurance excess to your hire car company. Then, you fill out our simple online claim form and attach any relevant documents, like your rental vehicle agreement. We pay out 98% of claims within 3 days.
Rental car excess covers the additional amount you are liable for if your hired car is damaged or stolen. Excess is the amount you must pay out of your own pocket, as it is not covered by a rental car company's insurance.
If your hired car is damaged and has a rental agreement with a $4,000 excess, you must pay out-of-pocket for damages up to $4,000 before your rental agreement coverage kicks in.
However, with our rental car insurance, you are covered for the excess up to your protection limit. You will be reimbursed up to your policy's limit.
Exactly what a car rental insurance policy doesn't cover can change depending on the policy. RentalCover specifically does not cover:
- When you are 'at-fault' for injuries and damages.
- Damage from negligence.
- Unauthorised drivers.
- Reckless or negligent driving.
- Vehicle types such as supercars, high-end sports cars, motorcycles or quadbikes. You can see more restrictions here.
- Vehicle modifications such as child seats, bike rack attachments.
Yes, car excess insurance is worth it. We provide protection for potentially extreme rental company excess fees if your hired car is damaged or stolen. Without rental vehicle excess insurance, you could face very high costs if an incident occurs.