RENTAL CAR INSURANCE
Compatible with rental car companies in New Zealand 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!
Protect your trip with rental car excess cover
With RentalCover, you can travel around New Zealand and beyond without fear of paying thousands if things go wrong. Most Kiwi car rental companies include a Collision Damage Waiver in their base rental fees. However, this cover comes with large excess costs you must pay when you make a claim. We offer rental car excess insurance, so there’s nothing for you to pay in the event of a claim.
Our policy also covers areas often excluded from your rental company’s CDW, such as damage to windscreens, tyres, vehicle underbodies and much more. When you’re at the rental desk, your rental company might try to upsell you on more comprehensive policies like Super Collision Damage Waivers. Our cover is 50% cheaper than these policies, 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 within 3 days
What our rental car insurance cover includes
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 you pay nothing 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.
All authorised drivers listed on the car rental agreement are covered.
No sky-high charges added to your repair bill, including fees for processing, loss of use, relocation and roadside assistance.
Covers rental agreements lasting up to one year.
Cancel anytime before pickup for a full refund.
Cover built for all types of Kiwi travellers
We’re here for any Kiwi traveller who wants simple, affordable cover for their rental vehicle:
Business travellers
Get reliable and cost-effective rental motor vehicle insurance for your next business trip.
Long-stay travellers
Our policies offer cover for up to one year, so they’re perfect for long-term rentals in New Zealand or overseas.
International travellers
We offer cover in 60+ countries, so you’re protected in a wide range of destinations around the globe.
Frequent travellers
Our policies make it easy to spend more time sightseeing and less time negotiating at the rental desk.
Trusted by 10+ million of customers worldwide
What makes our car rental insurance different to other New Zealand providers
Unlike countries such as the United States, most credit cards in New Zealand don’t offer rental vehicle excess cover when you travel domestically. That means if you want cover that goes beyond the CDW built into your rental vehicle price, your options are a third-party provider like RentalCover, or more expensive rental agency add-ons. Here’s how our cover stacks up against rental company policies:
WHAT’S COVERED |  | RENTAL CAR COMPANIES (CDW INCLUDED IN PRICE) | RENTAL CAR COMPANIES (ADD-ON SCDW COVER) |
|---|---|---|---|
Excess on damage & theft | $0 excess (we refund everything you pay) | Excess depending on company (out-of-pocket costs) | $0 excess (reduced to zero on standard vehicles) |
Underbody, tyres & windscreens | Yes $0 excess | No Not covered | No Excluded – Sold as a separate product at the counter |
Climate & weather damage | Yes Covered | No Not covered | No Excluded – Sold as a separate product at the counter |
Roadside assistance & towing | Yes Covered | No Not covered | No Excluded – Sold as a separate product at the counter |
Loss of use & admin fees | Yes Covered | No Not covered | No Not covered |
Additional drivers | Yes Covered | No Extra fees per driver at the counter | No Extra fees per driver at the counter |
Cancellable before pick-up | Yes Free | No No | No Not covered |
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 renting a car
With RentalCover, it’s easy to be protected in your rental vehicle:
Get Instant Cover
Get an online quote and purchase your cover in under 2 minutes.
Rent With Confidence
Decline the upsell at the rental counter. You’re comprehensively covered.
Claim If Needed
If things go wrong, you can make a quick 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 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 full excess up to your protection limit. You will be reimbursed up to your policy's limit.
When you hire a car in New Zealand, a basic Collision Damage Waiver (or Loss Damage Waiver) is usually automatically included in the price of your rental. These policies offer basic protection, but often have significant exclusions like damage to windscreens and tyres.
CDWs also come with high excess costs, which you must pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Rental companies often have multi-tier add-on policies, which reduce or eliminate excess costs.
If you want a simple single policy with comprehensive cover and nothing to pay when you claim, choose RentalCover. Our policy allows you to avoid rental desk upsells, and is 50% cheaper than equivalent cover from rental companies.†
If you need to make a claim, your rental company will charge you the rental vehicle excess. You can then file an online claim with us, uploading documents like your rental vehicle agreement. We aim to pay out 98% of claims within 3 days.
Some New Zealand-issued credit cards offer travel insurance benefits including rental car excess insurance for overseas travel. However, few extend this cover to domestic travel.
For credit cards issued overseas, New Zealand car rentals are sometimes explicitly excluded from cover. For a full overview of the cover offered by your particular credit card, contact your card provider directly.
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.
For more information, check out our guide to rental car insurance pricing.