Question 1

Should you buy the excess waiver at the car hire desk?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Buying it at the counter is one of the most reliably poor-value purchases in travel, and a **standalone policy** does the same job for a fraction of the cost.

**What the situation is.** Car hire in Europe typically includes **Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)** and theft protection as standard — but with a very large **excess**, commonly £1,000 to £2,000. If the car is damaged, you pay up to that amount.

The hire company then offers **Super CDW** or excess reduction at the desk to remove it.

**Why counter cover is poor value:**

**The price is high** — frequently £15 to £30 per day, which on a two-week hire can approach or exceed the rental cost itself.

**Commission drives the sales pressure.** Desk staff are commonly incentivised on it, which is why the pitch is often persistent and occasionally alarming.

**It is sold at the point of maximum leverage** — after a flight, with a queue behind you, holding a large card pre-authorisation.

**What standalone excess insurance does.** Bought in advance from a specialist insurer, typically for **£40 to £70 for a full year** of European cover, or a few pounds a day for a single trip. It reimburses the excess if you are charged.

It frequently covers things the hire company's own product **excludes**: tyres, windscreen, undercarriage, roof, keys, misfuelling and towing — which are among the most common charges.

**How it works mechanically.** You still leave a deposit and, if damaged, the hire company charges your card. You then **claim it back** from your standalone insurer. So you need available credit and must be prepared to reclaim rather than avoid the charge.

**Practical steps:**

**Photograph and video the car thoroughly** at collection and return, including wheels, roof and interior, with a timestamp.

**Get existing damage recorded** on the form before leaving.

**Check whether your travel insurance or credit card** already provides it.

**Read what the hire company's own waiver excludes** before deciding.

Question 2

What happens if my insurance company goes bust?

Accepted Answer

In the UK, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) exists for exactly this, and insurance is among the better-protected products — but the level of protection depends on the type of cover.

Question 3

Is legal expenses cover on my insurance worth having?

Accepted Answer

Legal expenses insurance (LEI), usually sold as a modest add-on to motor or home policies, funds legal costs for pursuing or defending certain disputes. Whether it is worth the money depends on what

Question 4

What is employers' liability insurance, and is it compulsory?

Accepted Answer

Employers' liability (EL) insurance covers an employer's legal liability for injury or illness suffered by employees arising out of their work — and in the UK it is compulsory by law for almost every

Question 5

What is the difference between an aggregate limit and a per-claim limit?

Accepted Answer

Whether the limit applies to each claim separately or to everything in the policy period combined — and the difference determines whether a second claim leaves you with any cover at all. Per-claim

Question 6

What is a no claims discount and is it worth protecting?

Accepted Answer

A no claims discount (NCD), sometimes called a no claims bonus, is a reduction applied to your premium for each consecutive year you insure without making a claim. It builds up — commonly around 30%

Question 7

What is the difference between an excess, a deductible and a franchise?

Accepted Answer

Three ways of setting an amount the insured bears — and although the first two are used almost interchangeably, the third behaves entirely differently. Excess. The amount deducted from every claim

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