FAQs ABOUT car hire insurances

 Why should I buy an Odyssey policy? What is an excess?

When you hire a vehicle you will probably take out the vehicle rental outlet’s Loss (or Collision) Damage Waiver cover (sometimes referred to as LDW or CDW). This will include an Excess which varies depending upon the vehicle hired and location but is often over £500 and may be up to £1,500. This Excess is the amount you, as hirer, will be asked to pay if the vehicle is damaged or stolen towards the repair or replacement costs. The Odyssey range of policies offers you insurance against the cost of the Excess. 

 Won’t my car rental agreement already include insurance?

Probably, if you are hiring a vehicle in the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Your vehicle rental agreement is likely to include cover for Damage to the rental vehicle - known as Loss (or Collision) Damage Waiver (sometimes referred to as LDW or CDW), Third Party Liability and Theft.

However, there is almost always an excluded first amount to the Damage cover under the rental agreement known as the Excess (or Super CDW, or Deductible, or Non-Waiver). This Excess is often over £500 and may be up to £1,500. The Odyssey range of policies offers you insurance against the cost of the Excess.

If you are hiring a vehicle in the United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, you may be offered the rental on an inclusive or exclusive of insurance basis. If you opt for the exclusive of insurance hiring agreement, the vehicle rental outlet will offer you its own motor insurance which may contain an Excess. An excess is usually applicable to vehicle rental agreements in South America and the Caribbean and is becoming increasingly common in the United States of America and Canada. 

 Is there a difference between an Excess, Super CDW, Non-Waiver or the Deductible?

These terms are interchangeable and all refer to the excluded first amount that you, as hirer, will be responsible for under the terms of the vehicle rental agreement in the event of damage to or theft of the rental vehicle.

When you hire a vehicle you will probably take out the vehicle rental outlet’s Loss (or Collision) Damage Waiver cover (sometimes referred to as LDW or CDW). This will include an Excess (sometimes called the Super CDW, Non Waiver or Deductible) which varies depending upon the vehicle hired and location but is often over £500 and may be up to £1,500. This Excess is the amount you, as hirer, will be asked to pay if the vehicle is damaged or stolen towards the repair or replacement costs. The Odyssey range of policies offers you insurance against the cost of the Excess. 

 Why should I buy an Odyssey policy instead of an Excess / Super CDW sold by the rental vehicle outlet?

When you collect your rental vehicle you may be offered Excess / Super CDW cover at the counter by the rental vehicle outlet. Policies offered by the likes of Avis and Hertz generally do not cover damage to windows, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof.

Premiums charged by vehicle rental outlets may be as much as £12 per day for their Excess cover. This can really mount up on an average holiday of two weeks – 14 days at £12 per day would mean an extra £168 on top of the daily rental charge.

The Odyssey policy offers you cover for

• the Excess as a result of damage (including damage to windscreen or windows, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof) for up to £2,000 any one claim
• drop off costs of returning the rental vehicle to the origination rental outlet up to a maximum of £200 due to accident or illness (excluding one way rentals)
• costs incurred for replacing a lost or stolen rental vehicle key and locksmith charges up to £500
• costs incurred to open the rental vehicle up to £50 in the event of unintentional lock out.

Odyssey annual covers also provide restitution of holiday and emergency fund benefits.

Please see Policy Summary for further particulars.

You can have peace of mind for annual cover for Europe for as little as £39.75 with our Euro Odyssey 31 policy. 

 If I take out an Odyssey policy will the vehicle rental outlet block any money on my credit card?

You will need to check with the rental outlet for details of its particular policy and procedures with regard to deposits. Some companies block a sum equal to the Excess on the credit card while others merely take an imprint. 

 I think my credit card package automatically affords me Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) cover so do I need an Odyssey policy?

You should check the policy wording provided by your credit card company carefully. It may not cover the country in which you are intending to hire. It may have an excess. It may not apply in respect of damage to windows, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof. 

 Is Excess cover compulsory?

Car excess reimbursement cover is not compulsory but if you choose not to purchase an Odyssey policy in the event of the rental vehicle being damaged or stolen you will be liable for the amount excluded under the vehicle rental agreement which could be as much as £1,500. 

 Are all Excess cover policies the same?

No. Cover available from the car rental company will probably exclude damage to the undercarriage and window and tyre damage and other providers may not provide restitution of holiday and emergency fund benefits.

The Odyssey policy will cover you for

• the Excess as a result of damage (including damage to windscreen or windows, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof), fire, theft, vandalism or loss of use for up to £2,000 any one claim
• drop off costs of returning the rental vehicle to the origination rental outlet up to a maximum of £200 due to accident or illness (excluding one way rentals)
• costs incurred for replacing a lost or stolen rental vehicle key and locksmith charges up to £500
• costs incurred to open the rental vehicle up to £50 in the event of unintentional lock out.

Odyssey annual covers also provide restitution of holiday and emergency fund benefits.

Please see Policy Summary for further particulars.  

 Is there a limit of the amount I can claim in respect of my Excess?

Your Odyssey policy will cover you for the amount you become liable to pay under your vehicle rental agreement, the Excess, for losses incurred during the vehicle rental agreement for up to £2,000 in respect of any one claim and up to a maximum of £3,000 for all claims occurring in any one period of insurance.

Such losses being as a result of damage (including damage to windscreen or windows, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof), fire, theft, vandalism or loss of use.

Please see the Policy Summary section for further particulars. 

 If anyone travels with me are they covered? Can I have a policy that covers other members of my family as well as me?

Under an Odyssey policy, cover applies to the insured providing that he/she is named as the main driver in the vehicle rental agreement and aged between 21 and 74 years of age (or 75 to 85 under the Euro Odyssey 75-85 policy or Odyssey Excess Worldwide 75-85 policy) and any of the person specified on the vehicle rental agreement providing that they are over 21 and under 74 years of age at the commencement of the period of insurance and hold a full valid driving licence.

Our Odyssey Family and Partners policies can cover you and/or up to 2 of your close relatives travelling with you or separately.

Please see the Policy Summary section for further particulars. 

 Are there any age restrictions? I am over 75 – can I still be covered?

To be eligible for cover under an Odyssey policy you must be at least 21 and under 74 years old (or aged between 75 and 85 under the Euro Odyssey 75-85 policy or Odyssey Excess Worldwide 75-85 policy) at the start of your policy.

You must also hold a full valid driving licence.

If you are over 74 years of age, we have policies designed especially for you. Please see the Policy Summary section for further particulars of the Euro Odyssey 75-85 and Odyssey Excess Worldwide 75-85 policies. 

 Are all hirings covered?

Odyssey policies will not cover you if you are hiring a vehicle from a rental outlet within 150 kilometres of your home. For example, if you live in Manchester you would not be covered if you rent a vehicle in Manchester. The rental location must be more than 150 kilometres away from your Manchester home.

This limitation does not apply to expatriates who normally reside outside the United Kingdom but who are hiring a vehicle, say in Manchester, on a visit home.

This limitation does not apply to island residents who are visiting and hiring a car in a nearby country even if the distance over the sea is less than 150 kilometres from their home. For example, cover will apply if you live in the Isle of Man and rent a car in Scotland. 

 Are all types of vehicle covered?

No – The Insurer will not pay for any liability arising from rental vehicles

• where the value of the vehicle exceeds £50,000, and/or
• which are more than 10 years old, and/or
• which are motor homes, camper vans, trailers or caravans, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, off-road vehicles, recreational vehicles and passenger vans

 Is just damage to the body of the vehicle covered? Does the cover apply just to accidental damage?

Odyssey policies extend to apply in respect of damage to windows, the windscreen, tyres, the undercarriage and the roof as well.

Your Odyssey policy will reimburse you for your excess in the event of damage by fire, theft or attempted theft, vandalism or loss of use as well as accidental damage. 

 I hire a car for business use and not just for holidays. Is business use covered?

Your Odyssey policy will cover vehicles rented for business or pleasure purposes. However, you must not be operating the vehicle off road or in violation of the terms of the vehicle rental agreement. 

 Which countries in Europe are covered under the Euro Odyssey policy?

Europe shall mean those states which are for the time being members of the European Union and/or all countries to the West of the Ural mountains including the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland, Iceland, islands in the Mediterranean, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores.

F.A.Q.

• Why should I buy an Odyssey policy? What is an excess?
• Won’t my car rental agreement already include insurance?
• Is there a difference between an Excess, Super CDW, Non-Waiver or the Deductible?
• Why should I buy an Odyssey policy instead of an Excess / Super CDW sold by the rental vehicle outlet?
• If I take out an Odyssey policy will the vehicle rental outlet block any money on my credit card?
• I think my credit card package automatically affords me Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) cover so do I need an Odyssey policy?
• Is Excess cover compulsory?
• Are all Excess cover policies the same?
• Is there a limit of the amount I can claim in respect of my Excess?
• If anyone travels with me are they covered? Can I have a policy that covers other members of my family as well as me?
• Are there any age restrictions? I am over 75 – can I still be covered?
• Are all hirings covered?
• Are all types of vehicle covered?
• Is just damage to the body of the vehicle covered? Does the cover apply just to accidental damage?
• I hire a car for business use and not just for holidays. Is business use covered?
• Which countries in Europe are covered under the Euro Odyssey policy?
• ... all F.A.Q.s in one