Why Consider Travel Insurance for Your Road Trip?
There’s nothing more freeing than hitting the road and travelling on your own terms. However, unexpected events can occur, making the rental vehicle excess option essential in your travel insurance when dealing with a rental car company. Having rental vehicle excess can save you from significant out-of-pocket expenses in case of unexpected accidents or other unforeseen issues.
Other trip types
Ski and snow
Cruising
Backpacking
What’s Covered in the Rental Vehicle Excess benefit?
You can customise your travel insurance policy to suit your travel needs. When we speak of ‘rental vehicle excess’, we refer to a potential add-on you can add to your policy. Here’s a list of some of the other benefits you can include in your policy:
- Overseas Emergency medical and dental costs - Cover for unexpected overseas medical emergencies while on your trip.
- Lost, stolen, or damaged luggage - Protect your personal belongings during your journey against loss or damage.
- Personal liability - Coverage for legal liability in case you accidentally cause injury or damage to someone else’s property.
- Trip cancellations or delays - Potential reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if your trip is unexpectedly cancelled or delayed.
Note: Not all benefits apply and will depend on whether you have selected them (and they are reflected on your Certificate of Insurance). Terms, conditions, exclusions, sub-limits, and limits apply. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for further details.
Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess Cover
Let’s look more closely at rental vehicle insurance excess and how it relates to your road trip plans. Rental vehicle insurance excess is an optional benefit that can protect you against excess charges in case you have an unexpected mishap with your hire car. Let’s say it’s been damaged or stolen through no fault of your own. If your rental vehicle insurance has an excess of $1,000 and you have an unforeseen accident causing $2,500 in damage, WAS Travel Insurance can cover the $1,000 excess, while the rental vehicle insurance reviews the claim for the remaining $1,500.
Let’s look closer at the policy wording:
Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess Specifics
- When Cover Starts: Cover applies if, during your trip, you hire a rental vehicle with comprehensive insurance cover.
- What’s Covered: We’ll pay up to the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits for the rental vehicle insurance excess or repair costs, whichever is lower. This includes costs if the rental vehicle is damaged or stolen while in your control, or the cost of returning the rental vehicle to the nearest depot if you can’t return it due to an event covered by this policy.
- What’s Not Covered: We won’t pay any claim for violations of the rental agreement, such as driving on unsealed roads.
Check your policy document for further information relating to your rental car excess benefit.
Road Trip FAQs
Browse answers to the most common questions we get asked about road trip insurance
Coverage applies to rental vehicles with comprehensive insurance coverage, as defined in the rental vehicle agreement. Here’s our definition of a rental vehicle: A campervan, recreational vehicle, motorhome (not exceeding 4.5 tonnes), a sedan, station wagon, coupe, hatchback, SUV, four-wheel drive, or minibus/people mover, rented from a licensed rental agency or company. Our definition of rental vehicle doesn’t include any other vehicle, irrespective of use or weight.
Document the damage, report it to the rental car company, and contact WAS Travel Insurance. Submit a claim form along with relevant information, such as the rental agreement and repair costs.
General exclusions and conditions always apply, such as violations of the rental agreement and driving on unsealed roads. Review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for detailed exclusions.
Report the theft to the police and the rental car company immediately. Keep all documentation and contact WAS Travel Insurance to start your claim process.
Note: Not all benefits apply and will depend on whether you have selected them (and they are reflected on your Certificate of Insurance). Terms, conditions, exclusions, sub-limits, and limits apply. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for further details.