When you rent a car, always check what kind of insurance is included in the rental fee and also check what are the prices for each additional car insurance. You can pay for extra insurance the same way as for any additional service. You can buy these services in advance online, which may cost you less than if you buy the service directly at the car rental branch when you pick up the vehicle. It should be noted that car rental insurance works a little differently than private car insurance. You are not the owner of the vehicle, so the classic Mandatory Contractual Insurance and CASCO as well are called differently and they also work slightly differently. Therefore, you should know at least the most common types of insurance that you may encounter when renting. These types of insurance are usually not mandatory which every car rental company must have and it is up to you whether you buy the insurance or not. However, it can protect you, for example, in the event of an accident, when you should pay liability for damage. So, here is the overview of additional insurances that you can pay extra if you are interested:
1. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
It is probably the most popular type of car insurance and it is co-insurance. Sometimes you may come across a similar name Loss Damage Waiver. Collision damage waiver insurance is able to provide coverage in the event of a collision or damage to the car. Collision insurance only covers damage to the car you are renting and therefore does not cover damage to another vehicle. Windshield, tires, interior are mostly not covered in this type of insurance. It may happen that part of the CDW is already included in the basic insurance, but make sure if this insurance is included in the rental price and what is the amount of the co-participation.
2. Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW)
It is a super-insurance of a waiver of damage in the event of a collision, which covers damage to the rented vehicle. Unlike CDW, this insurance reduces the co-payment to zero. Tires and windscreens are already covered by this insurance, which is a great advantage, but there are also some exclusions from this type of insurance. These exclusions may vary according to the terms of the car insurance company, so it is recommended to verify the conditions in advance. Exclusions are most often caused by driver's gross negligence, driving under the influence of alcohol or different stimulants, burnt holes in seats, and much more.
3. Theft protection
It is a co-insurance. This insurance protects you in the event that someone steals your rented vehicle or if the perpetrator damages the car when trying to steal it. Theft insurance almost always includes co-participation, so part of the cost of stolen car or damage caused by an attempted theft must be paid by the customer. The amount of the co-payment depends on where you rent the car, on the conditions of the car rental company, and on the type of car. as well. In the case of this type of insurance, be careful especially in cases where you have left vehicle documents or keys in the vehicle and thus you simplified the sale of the stolen vehicle to the perpetrator. It is also important to say that the coverage is only valid if you comply with the terms of the lease. Therefore, always check the specific conditions.
4. Super Theft Protection
This type of insurance is not very typical in our geographical location. It pays off especially if you rent a luxury or premium vehicle because such as additional insurance is quite expensive. Super insurance covers losses caused by theft or losses caused by damage to a car that should have been stolen. This coverage can reduce the co-participation to zero. The coverage is also valid only if you comply with the terms of the lease. Always read any exclusion in the contract.
5. Full protection / Full insurance / Total cover
You can rarely find this type of additional car rental insurance in Slovakia, but it is common abroad. It is a type of insurance in the event of a collision and usually fills in the gaps of other types of insurance. It is basically a combination of the CDW and protection insurance in the event of theft. This type of insurance is usually insurance without co-payments, without any excursions so you can be absolutely without worries. It is basically the highest type of insurance that you can buy in addition to the rented vehicle and it covers the most insurance events. However, be prepared for the fact that such insurance will significantly increase the cost of a rented car.
6. PAI - Driver and passenger accident insurance (PAI)
This is the insurance for drivers and passengers and it covers possible accidents or injuries while traveling. Coverage is always limited to a certain height only. The price of this insurance will be set according to the amount you want to be covered.
So, always check in advance how can you pay for additional insurance. By default, it is possible online via the portal when booking a vehicle or directly in the place when picking up the vehicle. There are different types of insurances. They differ mainly in the amount of insurance coverage, the amount of co-participation, and insurance conditions. As a rule, car rental companies can name insurance types differently, but on a platform such as Rentalport, you can deal with it easily because the insurance names are standardized over there. The decision if it worth paying extra for insurance can be based on how far you travel, whether you travel around Slovakia or abroad. It can be also worth paying for extra insurance if the car will be not driven only by you but also by a less experienced driver. If you consider your choice carefully, nothing should surprise you along the way.