27 August 2024

Did you know we can help with excess insurance for motorhomes, vans and minibuses too?

When you are driving a larger vehicle it is even more important to consider vehicle hire excess cover.

Many are familiar with car hire excess insurance but these will only cover standard cars. If you are driving a different type of vehicle, you will need to take out a specialist policy.

How can I make sure I get the right quote for the vehicle I am hiring?

Our car hire excess insurance form allows you to change the type of vehicle you are hiring. You can use the drop down list to select the appropriate vehicle for your needs.

By using our form, you can be provided with a range of quotes to compare.

If you are hiring a 7 seater please be aware that, if the rental company is in short supply, you may be provided with a 9 seater on pick up. With that in mind, you may wish to select the ‘up to 9 seats’ option to ensure you have suitable cover.

Why do these policies cost more than a car hire excess insurance policy?

Many drivers are not as familiar with driving larger vehicles such as a van, minibus or campervan compared with a car. This means damage, such as scrapes and dents, is far more common and therefore the claim rate on excess policies covering these vehicles is also higher.

To try and avoid such incidents we always recommend asking one of your passengers to act as banksman when you are reversing, close to overhanging trees or when parking or manoeuvring in tight situations.

As a result of the higher claims ratios, some of these policies still have an excess that the hirer remains responsible for, although much smaller than the normal level of excess your rental company will charge you.

Do you need a Collision Damage Waiver or Liability Insurance?

We can offer more comprehensive cover for rental cars including collision damage waiver or supplementary liability insurance. Unfortunately, we cannot offer this additional cover with other types of vehicle at present. You should ask your rental firm if this can be bought at the desk when you hire. We can then provide excess cover which can also reimburse you for areas that may be excluded from your collision damage waiver such as the glass elements, tyres, wheels, roof and underbody.

Is the interior of my vehicle covered?

Be it motorhome, van or minibus no policy covers the interior of the vehicle. It's therefore very important to avoid damage or spills whilst using the van.

Why are there different excess insurance policies for different vehicles?

Each different type of policy is designed specifically to cover certain vehicles. Policy inclusions and exclusions will be adapted according to what may be needed.

If you are hiring a motorhome or van, you may find that you are still responsible for an excess and you are liable for areas excluded from the collision damage waiver such as the glass. Windows and tyres on an RV can be big and very expensive to replace so motorhome excess insurance can really come into its own!

Another risk is that accidental damage you cause can mean the vehicle is kept off the road for repairs – and this can, in turn, mean a loss of rental income to the hiring firm – a cost they may pass onto you. Loss of Use is often covered by vehicle hire excess policies.

For all these reasons we highly recommend making sure you are fully covered when hiring a vehicle – whether it’s a humble Fiat 500, minibus, motorhome or van.