Rental Car Insurance Australia: Do You Need Extra Cover?

Pick up a hire car in Australia and a basic level of insurance is already baked into the daily rate. That compulsory bundle covers injury liability and major damage, yet still leaves you on the hook for a cash excess that can run anywhere from AU $3,000 to AU $8,000 – even if a kangaroo or hailstorm is to blame. For many travellers and locals alike, absorbing that potential hit feels unnecessary, which is why ‘extra cover’ exists.

Extra cover is simply any add-on that shrinks or wipes the excess and plugs gaps the standard policy ignores. You can buy it at the rental counter under names like Super CDW, organise a stand-alone excess policy online before you collect the keys, rely on complimentary protection bundled with a credit card or travel policy, or use a domestic motor insurer that extends to short-term rentals.

This guide gives you the facts you need to decide whether paying for extra protection is worth it. We’ll explain how rental car insurance works in Australia, compare the four main upgrade options, break down real-world costs, show you how to claim, and answer the questions people ask Google every day. By the end, you’ll have a clear view of your risk – and a few tactics to keep more money in your pocket.

How Rental Car Insurance Works in Australia

Before you decide whether to pay for extra protection, you need to know exactly what you are already paying for. Australian rental companies must include certain coverages by law and industry practice, but the fine-print still leaves sizeable financial holes. The next three sections break down what is automatically provided, where the excess fits in, and the exclusions that catch many drivers out.

Mandatory cover that’s automatically included

Every registered vehicle on Australian roads carries Compulsory Third Party (CTP) bodily-injury cover. It’s built into the car’s registration, so the rental fleet has you covered if you injure someone in a crash. CTP, however, does not pay for damage to vehicles or property.

To handle that, Aussie hire cars come bundled with a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). Despite the confusing name, a waiver is not full insurance; it’s simply an agreement that the rental company won’t chase you for the entire cost of repairs or replacement. Instead, they cap your liability at a pre-set excess.

Standard inclusions usually look like this:

• Collision damage to the rental vehicle
• Theft of the rental vehicle
• Limited third-party property damage (often capped at AU $20 million)

The coverage applies as long as you stick to the terms of the rental agreement—licensed driver, sealed roads, no drink-driving, no unauthorised states or territories, and so on.

Understanding the excess you’re responsible for

The excess (sometimes called the “liability” or “damage liability fee”) is the amount you must pay the moment the car is damaged, lost or stolen. Think of it as a giant deductible.

Current excess ranges (September 2025) typically sit at:

Vehicle type	Typical excess
Economy hatch	AU $3,000–$4,000
Family sedan / small SUV	AU $4,000–$5,500
Large SUV / people mover	AU $5,000–$6,500
Prestige / luxury	AU $7,000–$8,000
4WD & specialty	AU $7,500–$8,500

Key points to keep in mind:

• A credit-card pre-authorisation for the excess (or slightly less) is taken at pick-up. This holds part of your available limit hostage for the duration of the hire.
• The excess applies per incident. Two scrapes on separate days can mean two excess charges.
• Even if another driver is at fault, you generally pay first and get refunded only after liability is confirmed—often weeks later.
• Some companies add higher excesses for drivers under 25 or for remote-area use.

That liability exposure is why many travellers search “rental car insurance Australia” the night before pick-up and scramble for an excess-reduction product.

Common exclusions in standard hire-car cover

CDW/LDW is packed with carve-outs designed to protect the rental firm’s bottom line. The most frequent trouble spots are:

• Roof, underbody and overhead damage (e.g. hitting a car-park height bar)
• Tyres, wheels and hubcaps
• Windscreens and windows
• Single-vehicle rollovers and reversing damage
• Hail, flood, cyclone or other weather events
• Animal strikes—kangaroos are a real risk on rural highways
• Water or salt-water immersion, including creek crossings and beach driving
• Negligence: distracted driving, speeding, drink- or drug-driving
• Use of the vehicle on unsealed or prohibited roads
• Theft if the keys are left in or near the car

On top of repair costs, rental firms routinely bill “ancillary” fees that are not waived by standard CDW:

• Loss-of-use (daily revenue lost while the vehicle is off the road)
• Towing and storage charges
• Administrative or processing fees (sometimes $100+ just for paperwork)
• Credit-card surcharges on the excess amount
• Diminution of value (especially on prestige models)

When you add those extras to a $5,500 excess, a seemingly minor mishap can balloon into a five-figure bill. Understanding these gaps is the first step toward deciding if purchasing extra cover is worth the extra dollars—or whether you are comfortable shouldering the risk yourself.

Types of Additional Rental Car Cover You Can Buy

Once you know the short-comings of the default hire-car policy, the next step is working out which add-on—if any—makes financial sense. Australian renters have four broad ways to trim or wipe the excess and pick up the bits the standard waiver ignores. Each method has its own price tag, claim process and fine-print, so it pays to compare rather than grabbing whatever the counter staff suggest.

Below is a plain-English run-down of the options you’ll see most often when searching “rental car insurance Australia”.

Excess reduction or waiver at the rental desk

Almost every hire company will pitch an upgraded waiver at pick-up. The names vary—Super CDW, Excess Reduction, Premium Liability Reduction—but the mechanics are the same: you pay a daily fee and the excess shrinks, often to zero.

Typical costs (per calendar day):

Vehicle class	Base excess	Desk waiver fee	Excess after waiver
Economy/Compact	$3,500	$30–$40	$0–$500
SUV/People mover	$5,000	$40–$55	$0–$750
4WD/Luxury	$7,500	$60–$80	$0–$1,000

Pros

• No reimbursement claim—if something goes wrong, the rental firm simply keeps the smaller excess (or none at all).
• The waiver is recognised instantly; no debates at drop-off.

Cons

• Easily triples your base rental rate on cheap cars.
• Still excludes the usual suspects (roof, underbody, windscreen, tyres) unless you pay an extra “Premium Plus” layer.
• You must buy it for every day of the hire, even if the car sits parked.

Good for: travellers who value convenience over price, or whose employer is footing the bill.

Stand-alone rental car excess insurance

Third-party insurers sell policies that reimburse the excess and many of the extras rental companies charge. You buy online before you collect keys, pay any excess demanded by the hire firm after an incident, then submit receipts for reimbursement.

Pricing snapshot:

• Single-trip: $8–$15 per day (capped at about 15 days).
• Annual multi-trip: $150–$250 for unlimited rentals up to 60–90 days each.

Cover usually includes:

• Up to $8,000 rental excess or repair cost reimbursement
• Windscreen, tyre, roof and underbody damage
• Towing, key loss, admin fees, loss-of-use charges
• Multiple incidents during the hire period

Pros

• Often one-quarter the price of desk waivers.
• Broader coverage for the tricky exclusions.
• Choose your excess limit to match the vehicle class.

Cons

• Reimbursement model means you still need a credit card capable of covering the initial excess.
• Claim turnaround can take a week or two.

Good for: budget-minded renters, road-trippers using several hire companies, frequent business travellers.

Complimentary credit-card rental insurance

Many premium and even mid-tier Australian credit cards bundle rental vehicle excess cover, provided you activate it correctly.

Activation rules generally require:

1. Pay the full rental charge (and often the security bond) on the eligible card.
2. Hire period under a set limit, commonly 31 or 60 consecutive days.
3. Vehicle weight and value within stated thresholds (luxury cars and motorhomes are often excluded).

Typical benefit limits & quirks

• Excess cover cap: $5,000–$7,500.
• No cover for drivers under 21–25 depending on card issuer.
• Some cards exclude windscreen and tyre damage outright.
• Claims must be lodged within a strict window (e.g. 30 days of returning the vehicle).

Pros

• “Free” if you already hold the card and meet the spending requirement.
• Year-round coverage without extra forms once activated.

Cons

• Benefit limits can be lower than luxury-car excesses.
• Everyone named on the rental agreement usually has to be an additional cardholder or meet narrower age limits.
• Claim lines sometimes run through global call centres, which can be slow.

Good for: existing cardholders hiring mainstream vehicles for short trips.

Travel insurance add-ons

Domestic and international travel policies almost always include an optional Rental Vehicle Excess benefit. The cover triggers when the car is part of a broader trip (flights, accommodation, tours).

Key points

• Excess caps typically sit between $5,000 and $7,500.
• Policy must be issued before pick-up, and the driver must be noted on the rental contract.
• Off-road use, utility vehicles and hires longer than 15–30 days are common exclusions.
• Some policies cover one excess claim per trip; others offer multiple.

Pros

• Bundles nicely with medical, cancellation and luggage cover.
• One premium can protect multiple drivers on the same policy.

Cons

• More expensive if you only need car cover.
• Trip definition clauses: a “trip” may have to start and end more than 50 km from home.

Good for: interstate or overseas travellers who would buy travel insurance anyway.

Car insurance policies that extend to rental use

A handful of domestic motor insurers—National Cover included—let you tack on a rental-vehicle excess benefit to an existing car policy. Think of it as year-round umbrella protection whenever you step into a hire car inside Australia.

How it works

• Add an optional rider (sometimes called “Hire Car Excess Cover”) to your regular comprehensive policy.
• Benefit limits between $5,000 and $8,000 per incident.
• Cover usually applies to any passenger vehicle up to 4.5 tonnes hired for private use.
• Simply lodge a claim with the insurer if you’re charged an excess; no need for separate travel insurance.

Pros

• One annual premium covers unlimited rentals—handy for business reps, FIFO workers or rideshare drivers whose own car spends time in repairs.
• You deal with your familiar insurer, not a faceless overseas underwriter. National Cover’s 365-day claims support and lifetime repair guarantee flow through to hire-car claims as well.
• Can be cheaper over 12 months than two weeks of desk waiver fees.

Cons

• Generally limited to rentals inside Australia and New Zealand.
• Hire periods over 60 days may be excluded.
• You must already hold (or take out) a comprehensive motor policy, which won’t suit visitors.

Good for: Australian residents who rent cars several times a year and appreciate a single point of contact.

---

No single option is best for everyone. The right pick hinges on how often you rent, your tolerance for upfront deposits, the roads you’ll tackle and the thickness of your travel budget. The next sections will help you crunch the numbers and compare these covers side-by-side, so you can hit the road confident the excess won’t flatten your holiday fund.

Deciding Whether You Need Extra Cover

Extra protection isn’t a default yes-or-no purchase; it’s a balancing act between risk, cost and the cover you may already have. The four steps below will help you make a quick, evidence-based call before you reach the airport counter.

Assess your personal risk factors

Start with the odds of something going wrong, not the price tag. Ask yourself:

• Road environment – Will you be driving unfamiliar city streets, windy alpine passes, unsealed Outback tracks or roads known for wildlife?
• Weather window – Cyclone season in Far North Queensland and spring hailstorms around Melbourne dramatically raise damage odds.
• Vehicle size & value – Brand-new 4WDs and prestige SUVs attract higher excesses and cost more to repair.
• Driver line-up – Younger or inexperienced drivers have statistically higher claim rates. Adding multiple named drivers multiplies exposure.
• Trip purpose – Tight business itineraries and one-way hires involve more kilometres per day than a leisurely coastal holiday, lifting risk.

If two or more of those boxes tick “high”, leaning toward extra cover is usually sensible.

Do the maths: excess vs premium

Now convert risk into dollars. A back-of-the-napkin calculation often settles the debate.

Worked example – seven-day family road trip:

Item	Cost
Rental excess	$5,500
Desk waiver (7 × $45)	$315
Third-party excess policy (7 × $10)	$70

Break-even probability of a claim for each option:

break_even = premium / excess

• Desk waiver: 315 / 5500 ≈ 5.7 %
• Third-party policy: 70 / 5500 ≈ 1.3 %

Translated: if you believe there’s more than a 1-in-18 chance of copping damage, the $70 online policy pays for itself; the desk waiver needs odds of roughly 1-in-17. Anything lower and you’re mathematically better pocketing the premium and self-insuring—provided you can swallow a $5,500 hit.

Tip: include hidden costs (loss-of-use, admin fees, towing) when plugging numbers into the formula; stand-alone policies often refund these, while a desk waiver may not.

Audit existing cover before you buy

Plenty of Australians already possess rental car protection without realising. Check the following documents first:

1. Credit-card PDS – Confirm activation rules, excess limit, driver age caps and excluded vehicle types.
2. Travel insurance certificate – Look for the “Rental Vehicle Excess” benefit; note the per-incident limit and any country or kilometre restrictions.
3. Comprehensive motor policy – Some insurers, including National Cover, let you add a hire-car excess rider for the entire policy year.
4. Corporate travel or fleet agreements – Business travellers may be covered under a company policy.

Questions to answer while you review:

• Does the limit match or exceed the excess on your booking?
• Are all drivers named on both the rental contract and the insurance?
• Is windscreen, roof or underbody damage included?
• What documentation and time frames will the insurer require for a claim?

If the existing cover is thin or riddled with exclusions, layer on extra protection.

Key questions for your rental company

Even seasoned drivers can be blindsided by fine-print. Before you hand over a credit card, clarify these points with the counter staff (and get the answers in writing or via email):

• Exact excess amount for your specific vehicle and any young-driver surcharge.
• Deposit size and whether the full excess is pre-authorised on your card.
• Exclusions that still apply if you decline the desk waiver—e.g. hail, tyres, single-vehicle rollovers.
• Availability and cost of roadside assistance beyond mechanical faults (punctures, lost keys, flat battery).
• Policy on multiple incidents—does the excess reset each time?
• Grace period to report minor damage without extra admin fees.

Armed with those answers—plus a clear view of your risk profile, the hard numbers and any pre-existing cover—you can decide, confidently and calmly, whether extra rental car insurance Australia-wide is worth the spend on your next trip.

How Much Does Extra Rental Car Insurance Cost?

Spoiler: prices oscillate wildly. Season, vehicle class, driver age and where you buy the cover all swing the needle, so quoting a single figure is meaningless. Instead, use the ranges below as a “what’s normal” yardstick when you’re staring at a long list of optional extras.

Daily rates for rental-desk waivers

The counter upsell is charged per calendar day and is almost never negotiable. September 2025 snapshot:

Vehicle class	Standard excess	Typical waiver fee (metro)	Typical waiver fee (airport peak)	Excess after waiver
Economy / Compact	$3,000–$4,000	$30–$40	$38–$48	$0–$500
Mid-size SUV	$4,500–$5,500	$40–$55	$48–$65	$0–$750
People mover (8-seater)	$5,500–$6,500	$48–$60	$55–$75	$0–$1,000
4WD / Prestige	$7,000–$8,500	$60–$80	$75–$95	$0–$1,200

Add-ons and surcharges

• Young driver (21–24): +$10–$20 per day to the waiver.
• One-way or remote pick-up: waiver fee can lift 10 %+.
• Public holidays: some brands apply “premium location” mark-ups.

Rule of thumb: once the waiver exceeds one-third of the base hire rate, a third-party policy usually wins on value.

Prices for stand-alone excess policies

Third-party insurers, brokers and some motor insurers (including National Cover’s optional rider) sell reimbursement cover you can buy online in minutes.

Cover type	Cost band	Excess limit options	Notes
Single-trip daily	$8–$15	$4k–$10k	Capped at 15–31 days per hire
Annual multi-trip	$150–$250	$5k–$8k	Unlimited hires up to 60–90 days each
Motor policy rider	$40–$90 per year	Matches rental excess up to $8k	Only for existing comprehensive customers; Australia & NZ only

Pricing levers to watch

• Higher excess limit → +10 % premium.
• Including campervans or motorhomes → +20 – 25 %.
• Drivers under 21 or over 75 may trigger a $50-$75 loading or outright exclusion.

Even at the top end, an annual policy often costs less than six days of a desk waiver on an SUV.

Hidden costs and administrative charges

Whether you choose a desk waiver or an external policy, factor in the extras that can sneak onto your credit-card statement:

• Loss-of-use: $50–$120 per day until repairs are finished.
• Admin / “damage processing” fees: flat $55–$165.
• Credit-card surcharge: 1.0 – 2.5 % applied to the excess charge.
• Towing and storage: $5–$8 per kilometre outside metro areas.
• Windscreen or tyre “incidental” fee: $75–$95 on top of parts and labour.
• Key replacement & recoding: $300–$850 for smart keys.

Rental-desk waivers rarely cover these fully; some don’t cover them at all. Quality stand-alone policies—and National Cover’s rider—reimburse most or all of the above, so read the inclusions line-by-line. A policy that costs $30 more but refunds a $600 loss-of-use bill is the cheaper option by a country mile.

Bottom line: compare total cost of protection, not just the headline daily rate, before you hand over your plastic.

Comparing Your Extra Cover Options

So you know the types of extra rental car insurance Australia offers and roughly what they cost—now it’s time to stack them up. Rather than chasing the absolute cheapest premium, weigh convenience, cash-flow, and the fine-print that decides whether you’re covered when things go pear-shaped.

Desk waiver vs stand-alone policy: side-by-side comparison

Decision factor	Rental-desk waiver	Stand-alone excess policy†
Typical cost (economy to SUV)	$30–$65 per day	$8–$15 per day • or $150–$250 annual
Up-front deposit on your card	Often reduced, sometimes nil	Full excess ($3k–$8k) still pre-authorised
Excess after cover applied	$0–$1,000	$0 (reimbursed after claim)
Covers windscreens/tyres/roof?	Usually not (extra fee may apply)	Generally yes if listed in PDS
Includes admin, towing, loss-of-use fees	Rarely	Frequently (check table of benefits)
Claim process	Rental firm keeps reduced excess—done	Pay excess → lodge online → reimbursed in ~3–7 business days
Where claims are handled	Same counter that hired the car	Australian insurer/underwriter (e.g. National Cover offers 365-day help)
Flexibility	Must buy for every hire day	Can cover multiple hires; annual plan covers unlimited trips
Good for	Travellers who hate extra paperwork or lack credit-card headroom	Anyone willing to front the excess to save serious coin

^†Includes single-trip policies purchased online, credit-card and travel-insurance excess benefits, and motor insurers such as National Cover that let policyholders add a year-round rental-vehicle excess rider.

Coverage features checklist

Before you tap “Buy Now”, tick off the essentials below. If any are missing, get written confirmation or look elsewhere.

• Excess limit at least equal to the figure on your rental agreement
• Cover for single-vehicle accidents and reversing damage
• Roof, underbody, windscreen and tyre protection
• Reimbursement of loss-of-use, towing, key replacement and admin fees
• Acceptance of all authorised drivers on the rental contract
• 24/7 emergency helpline and Australian-based claims centre
• Hire periods and vehicle classes you actually intend to use (e.g., 4WD, 8-seater, EV)
• No hidden age surcharges or geographical exclusions (Outback tracks, alpine roads)

If a stand-alone provider or your existing motor insurer (such as National Cover) ticks every box at a lower total price than the counter waiver, that’s usually the smarter play.

Claim process and support considerations

The best insurance is the one that pays quickly and painlessly. Compare:

• Lodgement channels – Can you email a single PDF pack or must you snail-mail originals?
• Documentation required – Most ask for the rental agreement, damage report, photos and the excess receipt.
• Turnaround time – Quality third-party and motor insurers commit to reimbursement within 3–10 business days; some budget brands quote “up to 30 days”.
• Repair management – National Cover, for instance, offers a lifetime warranty on authorised repairs and will organise towing if your personal vehicle is later involved in a related claim.
• Local vs overseas call centres – Australian-based teams know our road rules and consumer laws, which speeds up tricky queries.

When comparing quotes, a few dollars saved is meaningless if you’re left chasing updates across time zones.

Money-saving tactics for renters

1. Lock in stand-alone excess cover when you book flights—rates often rise inside 48 hours of pick-up.
2. Frequent road-tripper? Crunch the numbers on an annual policy or a rental-excess rider attached to your existing National Cover comprehensive plan.
3. Split your hire – City pick-up fees and waivers are higher; sometimes it’s cheaper to rideshare into town and hire there.
4. Photograph everything at pick-up and drop-off (dash, roof, underbody if possible). Timestamped evidence quashes many bogus scratch claims.
5. Decline duplicate cover – If your credit card already provides $7,500 excess protection, paying $55 a day at the counter is flushing money.
6. Keep tyre pressures correct and avoid gravel shortcuts; punctures are the most common claim and often trigger a full excess.

Apply even two of those tips and you’ll usually slash the total cost of rental car insurance while keeping protection levels high—leaving more in the budget for fuel, flat whites and lamingtons.

What Happens If You Damage Your Rental Car?

Accidents happen, even to careful drivers. If you end up with a ding, cracked windscreen or more serious prang, the process is predictable yet often misunderstood. Knowing the sequence in advance saves stress, prevents extra fees and speeds up any reimbursement from your excess insurer. The following steps apply to most Australian rental brands, no matter whether you bought the counter waiver, a stand-alone policy or rely on credit-card cover.

Immediate actions at the scene

Your first priority is safety, not paperwork. Once everyone is out of harm’s way, work through the essentials:

1. Call 000 for police or medical help if anyone is injured or there’s property damage likely to exceed $3,000.
2. Move the vehicle off the road if safe to do so and set up hazard lights.
3. Photograph the scene from multiple angles—include number plates, street signs, skid marks and any wildlife involved.
4. Swap details with other parties: names, phone numbers, licence numbers, insurer and vehicle registration.
5. Contact the rental company’s emergency line; they’ll note the incident and advise on towing or roadside assistance.

Don’t admit liability on the spot—a factual account is enough.

How rental companies charge for damage

Within hours of the incident (often before drop-off), the hire firm will:

• Convert part or all of the pre-authorised excess to a charge on your credit card.
• Add fixed admin fees and, if the car is undriveable, initial towing costs.
• Issue a preliminary invoice; a final bill arrives once repair quotes and loss-of-use days are tallied.

If you purchased the desk waiver, only the reduced excess is processed. Otherwise expect the full excess—often $3,000–$8,000—until fault is settled.

Lodging a claim with your chosen insurer

Reimbursement hinges on documentation. Assemble a “claim pack” as soon as you get the invoice:

• Rental agreement and damage report form
• Excess or repair charge receipt
• Police report number (if obtained)
• Photos/videos from the scene
• Copy of your driver’s licence and credit-card statement showing payment

Email or upload the bundle to your insurer or credit-card claims portal. Good third-party providers (including National Cover) usually reimburse within 3–7 business days of receiving all paperwork.

Mistakes that slow or void claims

Avoid these common hiccups:

• Missing the insurer’s notification window (often 30 days from the incident)
• An unauthorised or unnamed driver behind the wheel
• Driving on prohibited roads (unsealed, beach, private property)
• Alcohol or drug presence over legal limits
• Paying cash for any repair or towing without an itemised receipt

Tick every administrative box and your rental car insurance Australia policy—whichever flavour you chose—will do exactly what you paid for: cap your out-of-pocket cost and get you back on the road quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rental Car Insurance

Below are quick-fire answers to the questions travellers type into Google most often. They’ll help you cut through jargon and decide whether the extra protection on offer is right for your situation.

Do I need extra insurance when renting a car in Australia?

Legally, no. Every hire car already carries CTP and a basic Collision/Loss Damage Waiver. Practically, the standard excess of $3 000–$8 000 and long list of exclusions mean one decent dent could torch your holiday fund. If you couldn’t comfortably absorb that hit, topping up with extra cover is sensible.

Is excess protection on a hire car worth it?

Run the numbers. Divide the waiver or policy premium by the excess you’d otherwise pay. If the break-even probability feels lower than your perceived accident odds—or if you value the stress-reduction—then it’s worth it. Desk waivers trade convenience for cost; stand-alone or card cover is cheaper but requires a reimbursement claim.

How much is rental car excess in Australia?

It varies by vehicle class and rental brand. Current ballpark figures: Economy hatch $3 000–$4 000, mid-size SUV $4 500–$5 500, people mover $5 500–$6 500, luxury or 4WD $7 000–$8 500. Drivers under 25, remote-area use and prestige models can push the liability even higher.

Does an overseas or provisional licence affect my cover?

Yes. Most rental companies and insurers require a full, valid licence printed in English (or accompanied by an International Driving Permit). Provisional (P-plate) drivers often face higher excesses or outright exclusion. Some credit-card and travel policies also impose minimum age or licence-tenure rules, so read the PDS carefully.

Can I refuse all extra cover and just leave a deposit?

Absolutely—you’re entitled to decline every add-on and rely on the included waiver. Expect the full excess to be pre-authorised on your credit card, reducing your available limit until the car is returned undamaged. If your limit or cashflow can comfortably handle that frozen amount, self-insuring is an option, albeit a risky one.

Key Takeaways

• Every Australian hire car already carries compulsory injury cover and a Collision/Loss Damage Waiver, but you’re still liable for a $3 000–$8 000 excess and a raft of exclusions.
• “Extra cover” comes in four main flavours: pricey desk waiver, cheaper stand-alone excess insurance, complimentary credit-card or travel-policy benefits, and year-round protection added to a domestic motor policy.
• Decide by weighing risk, maths and existing cover: calculate the break-even probability, confirm what your card or travel insurer already offers, and check excess limits against the rental agreement.
• Desk waivers cost $30–$80 a day; third-party policies hover around $8–$15 a day or $150–$250 a year, often with broader inclusions.
• If damage occurs, stay safe, document everything, pay the excess if required, then lodge a claim promptly to speed reimbursement.

Need a fuss-free quote for comprehensive car insurance that can extend to your rentals? Grab one in minutes with National Cover.