Spain Car Hire

[Duvetdweller]

Every time we go away and hire a car I get completely flummoxed about insurance and end up just agreeing to all sorts at the desk. As I understand I either pay up front with them per day (about €10) and then I’m completely covered or I take out an excess and allow them to take that off my credit card if anything happens. I took out a third party policy once and was basically told at the desk it was worthless. I just feel scammed either way every single time. Can someone explain it to me in layman’s terms please?

Taking out your own excess protection means you'd still have to pay the excess and later claim it back from your own insurance. That's why they block the amount on your card. Taking out the insurance with the car hire company means you wouldn't have to pay out in the event of an accident.
I always have my own excess protection and just say a firm no to the hard sell, I understand I'm liable for the excess.

Ok - so (e.g.) I wrote the car off I would be liable for the full excess, in this example £1250 but I would claim that back from my 3rd party excess insurance and the hire car company would just claim for the cost of the write off on their insurance? So effectively the car is insured regardless by the insurance company and they can only charge the excess as a maximum?

We use these people: https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/car-hire-insurance

Fortunately we've never had to make a claim but they have saved us a fortune compared to the rental company policies.

Thanks - I’ve just found a link on Which was helpful too. I’d link it if I could 😆