When you buy a car rental excess insurance policy from Cover4Rentals, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting the right geographical cover. Choose the wrong region and you could find yourself without cover when you need it most. That’s why understanding where your policy applies can help you choose the right level of protection.
This guide explains the difference between UK & Europe and Worldwide cover, how USA and Canada rentals work, and when you may need to add Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) cover to your policy.
If you already know the geographical cover you need, why not get a quote?
What Is Geographical Cover?
Geographical cover just refers to the countries and regions where your excess insurance policy is valid. if you rent a car in a destination that isn’t covered by your policy, any claim you make could be declined.
Car rental excess insurance works alongside the rental company’s insurance. It doesn’t replace it. Instead, it reimburses the excess you might be charged if the vehicle is damaged, stolen or involved in an accident. That’s why it’s important to make sure your policy matches where you’ll be driving.
Europe Car Rental Excess Insurance
European cover is designed for customers renting vehicles across the UK and most European destinations. This includes popular holiday locations such as Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland as well as many other countries across mainland Europe.
Specifically, you’ll be covered in:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, The Channel Islands, Corsica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Corsica, excluding Overseas Departments), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Isle of Man, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal (including Maderia), Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
It’s worth remembering that cover doesn’t apply in destinations where the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) advises against all travel.
Home Country Cover
If you want to be covered when renting a car in your home country, this is included as standard in all Cover4Rentals Gold policies.
It can be added to Silver policies for an additional premium.
Worldwide Car Rental Excess Insurance
Worldwide cover is designed for customers who may rent cars both within and outside of Europe.
It includes all countries covered under a European policy, plus destinations across North America and much of the rest of the world.
In addition to European cover, this typically includes:
The continental United States and Alaska and Hawaii (U.S. states), U.S. territories including Puerto
Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada and all other countries excluding: Afghanistan, Armenia, Belarus, Côte d’Ivoire, Crimea, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Liberia, North Korea, Myanmar, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.
If you’re purchasing an annual policy and aren’t completely sure where you’ll travel during the next 12 months, Worldwide cover gives you flexibility and removes the need to update your policy later.
How Does CDW Fit Into Geographical Cover?
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is often one of the biggest differences between renting a vehicle in Europe and renting one in North America.
CDW reduces your financial responsibility if the rental vehicle is damaged or stolen. However, even when CDW is included, you’ll usually still be responsible for paying an excess. This excess is what a car hire excess insurance policy is designed to reimburse.
Is CDW Included Everywhere?
In the UK and Europe
In many European destinations, CDW is often included in the rental agreement as standard.
However, this cover usually comes with a high excess which is why many drivers take out seperate car rental excess insurance.
In the USA and Canada
The USA and Canada operate differently.
CDW is frequently offered as an optional extra rather than being automatically included in the rental price. This means drivers may arrive at the rental desk expecting to be covered, only to discover they need to purchase additional protection.
Do I Need to Add CDW to My Policy?
Cover4Rentals offers an optional CDW upgrade which can provide cover up to USD $100,000. The standard £10,000 excess reimbursement still applies.
This option is primarily designed for customers hiring vehicles in destinations where CDW isn’t automatically included by the rental company, particularly in the USA and Canada.
If your rental agreement already includes CDW, your excess insurance policy can still reimburse the excess you’re liable for, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
For more information on CDW, head to our collision damage waiver page that explores this in more detail.
How Does CDW Fit Into Geographical Cover?
Selecting the right geographical cover comes down to one simple question: where will you be driving?
Before you travel:
That way, you can enjoy your trip knowing you’re protected against unexpected excess charges if something goes wrong.
FAQs
Your claim will be declined if the country is not included in your policy.
Yes, European cover includes the UK along with most mainland European destinations.
No. It is often included in Europe but may be optional in countries like the USA and Canada.
Taking a few minutes to check your geographical cover, understand how excess insurance works and confirm what your rental company does and does not include as part of the agreement can help you avoid unexpected costs.
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