Europe vs Worldwide Car Hire Excess Insurance: Which Policy is Best for You?

When buying car hire excess insurance, one of the most important choices you’ll make is the geographical cover. Choose the wrong one and you could find yourself uninsured when you need it most.

This guide explains the difference between UK & Europe and Worldwide policies, who each one is designed for, and how CDW fits into the picture. Already know the geographical cover you need? Get a quote now.

What is Europe car hire excess insurance?

ReduceMyExcess UK & Europe car hire excess insurance policies are designed for drivers hiring vehicles in the UK and across the continent.

You’ll be covered in:

• England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• The British Islands including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
• European countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland etc
• European islands that are part of these territories including the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira

At ReduceMyExcess we define Europe as the following countries:

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark (inc Faroe), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, (including Azores and Maderia), Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including
Canaries), Sweden, Switzerland and the British Islands (including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland,
Channel Islands and Isle of Man). We also include the Mediterranean islands that are part of the above
territories.

UK & Europe policies will not cover you in any country or region where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel.

UK & Europe cover is usually right for you if:

• You’re taking a holiday in Europe
• You’re hiring a car in the UK
• Your trip stays entirely within Europe

What is Worldwide car hire excess insurance?

Worldwide car hire excess insurance is for customers hiring cars outside Europe, while still including all UK & Europe destinations.

Worldwide cover includes:

• All UK & Europe destinations
• The continental United States, including Alaska and Hawaii
• US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands
• Canada

Worldwide cover excludes certain countries listed in the policy wording and any destination where the FCDO advises against all travel or all but essential travel.

Worldwide cover is usually right for you if:

• You’re hiring a car in the USA or Canada
• You’re travelling beyond Europe
• You want one policy that will cover you for multiple long-haul destinations

Where does CDW fit in?

If CDW is included in your rental agreement, the hire company agrees not to charge you the full cost of the car if it’s damaged or stolen. However, you still pay the excess. This what a ReduceMyExcess policy can reimburse.

Is CDW included everywhere?

In the UK and Europe

• CDW is usually (but not always) included in the rental price
• Many customers already have CDW without realising it
• You are still responsible for the excess

In the USA and Canada

• CDW is often not included as standard
• It may be offered as an expensive add-on at the rental desk
• It can catch a lot of drivers out

These differences are one of the main reasons why customers travelling to North America choose Worldwide cover and opt to add CDW to their policy.

Should you add CDW to your policy?

CDW is only available on annual policies; learn more single and annual pages on their respective pages. Adding CDW to your car hire excess insurance policy might make sense if:

• You regularly hire cars in the USA and Canada
• You want to avoid buying CDW at the rental desk
• You want consistency across multiple trips in different regions

Adding CDW cover onto your ReduceMyExcess excess insurance policy for hire cars will see you covered up to USD$50,000. The usual £10,000 excess limit applies.

If you only hire cars in the UK and Europe, you may not need to add CDW to your ReduceMyExcess policy at all. With that said, if the rental company offers you CDW cover you should take and it decline the excess. We’ll cover the excess, they’ll cover the CDW.

Want a more in-depth look at collision damage waiver insurance? Read about what CDW is here.

Choosing between UK & Europe and Worldwide car hire excess insurance is ultimately about where in the world you’re driving. Match the policy to your destination, understand how CDW works in that region, and you’ll avoid unexpected costs at the rental desk.

Ready to get covered? Get a quote today.