Car Rental Insurance Ireland

Credit card coverage varies significantly from one provider to another. Many credit cards offer coverage for vehicles in Ireland, though some providers may exclude coverage.

Credit card insurance is generally secondary coverage; it relies on a primary form of insurance like your personal auto insurance before it kicks in. Within this structure, credit card insurance can offer rental car deductible cover and insurance for other things your primary policy might exclude.

Since personal auto insurance often doesn't apply when you travel overseas, some credit card policies will default to primary coverage in these cases.

Even if your policy does include coverage for Ireland, it may have significant exclusions worth being aware of. If you have any questions about your coverage, contact your card provider and make sure you fully understand your policy.

Rental desk insurance in Ireland typically covers you for the basics. But it leaves some real gaps.

When you rent a vehicle in Ireland, you'll get the legally required minimum insurance included, and a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is also almost always included.

That's a reasonable baseline, but CDWs commonly exclude:

• Windscreen and headlight damage
• Underbody damage
• Lost keys
• Additional driver costs

Rental companies often sell a step up, a Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW), to close these gaps. It's usually pricier than third-party options like RentalCover that cover the same exclusions.

Some travel insurance policies include a level of rental vehicle cover. For example, some policies offer rental vehicle excess/deductible insurance, covering your out-of-pocket costs if you make a claim with another insurer, like your rental car company.

Your travel insurer typically won't offer primary cover for damage or theft to the rental vehicle itself. As a result, you shouldn't rely exclusively on most travel insurance policies to cover your rental car.

The insurance that's legally required to drive in Ireland is automatically included in your rental's daily price.

Additional cover from providers like RentalCover can bolster your peace of mind, filling gaps often excluded by rental company cover, with nothing to pay out of pocket if you need to claim.

The average cost of RentalCover protection comes to approximately €9 a day. Hire car insurance purchased from car rental companies costs around €15 to €21 a day.

Generally, your Irish car insurance policy will not cover you when travelling overseas. Read your product disclosure statement or contact your insurer for more precise information.

Car hire excess insurance offers financial protection if things go wrong while driving a rental vehicle. Outside the United States and Canada, your rental price usually includes a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW).

Your CDW/LDW reduces your liability if the rental car is damaged or stolen, similar to basic insurance. However, it usually comes with a high excess, meaning you could still face significant out-of-pocket costs.

Car hire excess insurance covers that excess. You can buy it from the rental desk, or choose an alternative provider that may offer better value.