Insurance on a rented van and how the excess works

What insurance on a rented van covers

Insurance on a rented van is made up of two different things that are often confused. Compulsory third-party liability insurance covers damage you cause to someone else. Comprehensive (collision) insurance covers damage to the van itself, including damage you cause yourself. Both are standard with a rental; the difference between offers lies in how much of that damage you end up paying.

The excess is your share of the damage

The excess is the amount you bear yourself in the event of an insurance claim. The insurer covers the rest. The higher the excess, the lower the rental price, and vice versa. Its amount depends on the cover package you choose when booking, so it's one of the parameters you decide on.

Decide according to the situation, not out of habit

You decide differently for a move across the city than for a full-day trip with building materials. If you know you'll be reversing into a narrow courtyard, parking in an unfamiliar neighbourhood or driving in the dark, a lower excess makes sense. For a calm drive on the motorway and loading in an open space, the risk is lower.

The most common damage isn't from accidents

Most damage to vans happens while manoeuvring and loading. A bumper scraped on a bollard, a scratch from a branch, a dented cargo door or a floor scratched by an unsecured washing machine. That's exactly why it pays to know how you're covered before you pick up the van.

Read what the insurance doesn't cover

Some damage isn't covered by insurance regardless of the package. Typically this means damage caused by gross negligence, driving under the influence, filling up with the wrong fuel or damage that occurred because someone other than the person named in the contract was driving. Go through the terms before you get behind the wheel.

Ask about the scope of cover, not just the price

Before booking, go through what the specific package includes. What you mainly want to know is whether the cover also applies to glass, the roof, tyres and the underbody. These are exactly the parts of a van that get damaged most easily: the underbody on an unpaved track to a building site, the roof on a branch, the glass from a stone on the motorway.

The load isn't insured

Comprehensive insurance covers the vehicle, not what you're carrying in it. A broken TV or a scratched tabletop are your belongings, and how they fare depends on how you secured them. So wrap more valuable items in blankets and fasten them with straps; there's no point relying on the van's insurance for them.

What to do if damage occurs

Safety first, then documentation

Make the scene safe and only then take photos. Hi-vis vest, warning triangle, hazard lights. If someone has been injured or you can't agree with the other party, call the police. Otherwise the normal road traffic rules and the accident report form apply.

Take more photos than you think you need

Photos decide how quickly the damage is dealt with. Photograph the overall scene, the positions of the vehicles, close-ups of the damage from several angles, the registration plates and the surroundings. Add a photo of the odometer reading. Digital photos record when they were taken, which is valuable as evidence.

Report it as soon as possible

Report damage to the rental company straight away, not when you return the van. It's then dealt with faster and there's no impression that you wanted to hide something. This applies to minor things too, such as a windscreen cracked by a stone.

Fill in the report completely and calmly

The accident report form should include even what seems unimportant. The date, time, exact place, direction of travel, position of the vehicles and the names of witnesses, including phone numbers. Don't sign a description of events you don't agree with, and don't agree to settle outside the insurer if you have nothing to prove the damage with.

How to reduce the risk before you even set off

Inspection at pick-up

Photograph the van in detail at pick-up. Pick-up is contactless through the web app, so documentation is part of the process. Pay attention to the bumpers, sills, door mirrors, wheels and the condition of the load floor. Whatever is documented beforehand can't be put down to you afterwards.

Find out the van's dimensions

Most damage in car parks happens because people don't know the vehicle's height. Remember the height and length of the van you're driving, and give underground car parks a wide berth. The specific dimensions for each model are in our fleet.

Treat loading as part of prevention

An unsecured load most often damages the van itself. A washing machine without straps slides across the load floor and dents the side; a tabletop scratches the panelling. Straps and an anti-slip mat are the cheapest insurance you can buy yourself, and you keep them for good.

Only the person named in the contract may drive

Letting a friend take the wheel is the quickest way to lose your cover. A second driver can be added, but this needs to be registered in advance. You'll find details about insurance and how the rental works in the FAQ section.