RENTAL CAR INSURANCE
Compatible with rental car companies in Canada 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!
Rental car insurance built for smart travellers
Explore the Great White North and beyond, knowing that a small scrape won’t cost you thousands. Our policy offers superior protection to the Loss or Collision Damage Waivers offered by leading car rental companies at a fraction of the price.† Our coverage is also more comprehensive than complimentary insurance your credit card may offer.
Credit card coverage is usually secondary to your personal auto insurance. With our primary coverage, you don’t need to make any claims on your insurance policy or worry about impacting your premiums. Take the easy approach to rental car insurance in Canada.
$0 Excess Cover
$0 deductible in the event of a claim
Better Price
Up to 50% cheaper than the rental counter†
3-Day Claim Payouts
We pay 98% of claims in 3 days
What's covered
We offer coverage 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.
Depending on your needs, we offer primary CDW coverage, or coverage for your car rental insurance deductible.
Coverage for damage rental companies usually exclude, such as damage caused by harsh climate and road conditions.
Coverage for flat tires, cracked windshields, damaged headlights, lost keys, key replacement and lockout.
Complete coverage for all authorized drivers listed on the 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.
Coverage built for all types of Canadian travellers
Our coverage is ideal for any Canadian traveller who wants simple rental car insurance at an affordable price:
Business travellers
If you’re always doing business on the go, we’ll save you time and money at the rental desk.
Vacation travellers
Kickstart your vacation without any wasted time thanks to our simple, stress-free coverage.
Budget-conscious renters
Keep more money in your pocket with coverage that’s up to 50% cheaper than the rental companies.†
International travellers
With a simple and affordable RentalCover policy, you have more time for sightseeing and more cash for souvenirs.
Trusted by 10+ million of customers worldwide
Compare coverage sources: Credit cards, rental companies and RentalCover
Rental car coverage in Canada can feel complex, with rental companies, credit cards and third-party providers offering different levels of coverage. Here’s how our simple policies compare to typical coverage from rental companies and Canada-issued credit cards.
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
We take a refreshingly simple approach to rental car insurance in Canada:
Get instant coverage online
Get a quote and purchase your coverage in less than 2 minutes.
Decline rental company insurance
You’re comprehensively covered, so there’s no need to purchase rental desk coverage.
Travel protected and claim if needed
If things go wrong, make a simple online claim for reimbursement.
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
Rental car insurance can be complex in Canada:
- Rental companies offer policies known as CDWs, reducing your liability for damage to the rental vehicle in the event of a claim. More comprehensive policies are also available, with fewer exclusions and no deductible.
- Personal auto insurance policies can cover incidents involving rental vehicles, if your policy includes add-ons or 'endorsements' with this coverage. This works differently from province to province, especially in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where public insurers sell coverage.
- Some credit cards in Canada offer secondary rental car insurance that works with your personal auto insurance, covering additional costs after your personal auto insurance has been activated.
Want to keep things simple? We offer comprehensive, primary coverage for rental cars in Canada. Our policies are up to 50% cheaper than equivalent coverage from rental companies, while also having fewer exclusions.† With a RentalCover policy, you're fully covered in your hired vehicle.
Rental car insurance refers to policies used to cover collisions and other incidents that occur when you rent a vehicle. A common form of insurance is a Collision Damage Waiver, which reduces your legal liability if your vehicle is damaged or stolen. You can generally purchase a CDW from your car hire company, or a similar primary policy from RentalCover.
We also offer Rental Vehicle Excess Cover that works with your auto rental company's CDW, covering the high excess (also known as deductible) fees incurred when you make a claim. Other options for rental car insurance in Canada include credit cards and personal auto insurers.
A Collision Damage Waiver (or Loss Damage Waiver) is a type of car insurance that reduces your liability for damages to a rental vehicle if it is damaged or stolen.
A CDW is not strictly insurance. It's a waiver that transfers the risk of financial loss for damages like towing and administrative fees to the rental company.
Rental car companies usually offer a CDW when you pick up your rental. This coverage usually comes with a high deductible, which you can reduce with additional upsells.
If you have a RentalCover CDW policy, you can say 'no' to upsells at the rental desk. Our policies come with a $0 deductible and go beyond standard rental company CDWs. For example, we offer coverage for windshields and all authorized drivers on the rental agreement.
If you want to purchase your rental company's CDW, we also offer Rental Vehicle Excess Cover, covering the excess or deductible of your rental company's policy.
Many credit cards do cover rental car insurance. However, relying on your credit card could mean paying thousands of dollars out of your own pocket. Your credit card likely provides secondary car rental insurance that only kicks in after you make a claim through your personal auto insurance. This may lead to an increase in the rate.
Credit card coverage often has an additional list of exclusions, which can include:
- Specific damages like damage to windshields or undercarriages.
- Damage caused by additional drivers.
- Lost keys.
- Roadside repair costs.
- Long-term rental.
- Any fees your rental company may add to your repair bill.
With RentalCover, you have more comprehensive protection at a lower cost.
The price of car rental insurance in Canada can vary significantly depending on your vehicle, rental period and insurance provider. Car rental agencies often offer costly, subpar insurance with significant exclusions.
RentalCover's policies are up to 50% cheaper than what you pay at the rental counter,† while offering coverage for items that rental companies often exclude. This includes tires, underbody damage and more.
Some credit card providers offer rental car insurance as a complimentary benefit, but this is limited, secondary coverage that requires you to make a claim through your personal auto insurance.
Whether your car insurance covers a rental car or not depends on your particular policy. If your policy has a specific add-on or 'endorsement', certain coverage may apply to rental vehicles. This coverage could be quite limited and leave you with significant out-of-pocket costs.
Our coverage is linked to your rental vehicle. If your rental vehicle agreement permits you to take the car into the United States or another country, your coverage will still apply. You don't even need to let us know!
Yes, rental car insurance is worth it. It gives you protection for potentially extreme rental company deductible fees if your hired car is damaged or stolen. Without insurance, you could face very high costs if an incident occurs.