Key points
- Every rental includes third-party insurance, a collision damage waiver, theft protection and breakdown assistance.
- The excess, from £1,250 to £2,000, is the most you pay if the vehicle is damaged or stolen, unless an exclusion applies.
- Optional Excess Reduction (£15 a day) lowers the excess to £250.
- Cover applies only to authorised drivers who follow the rental terms.
1. What's included
| Cover | What it does |
|---|---|
| Third-party liability insurance | Covers injury to other people and damage to their property, as required by the Road Traffic Act 1988. It applies to authorised drivers only. |
| Collision damage waiver (CDW) | Limits what you pay for damage to the rental vehicle to the excess. |
| Theft protection (TP) | Limits what you pay if the vehicle is stolen, or damaged in a theft or attempted theft, to the excess. You must return the keys and report the theft to the police. |
| Breakdown assistance | Use the roadside-assistance contact details supplied with your rental agreement. |
The collision damage waiver and theft protection are contractual waivers that we provide. They are not insurance policies. They limit what we can ask you to pay for loss of or damage to our vehicle.
2. Excess by vehicle category
| Category | Example vehicle | Daily rate from | Security deposit | Damage & theft excess | Excess with Excess Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Volkswagen Polo or similar | £39 | £250 | £1,250 | £250 |
| Compact Automatic | Toyota Corolla Hybrid or similar | £52 | £300 | £1,250 | £250 |
| Electric | MG4 EV or similar | £59 | £400 | £1,500 | £250 |
| Estate | Skoda Octavia Estate or similar | £58 | £300 | £1,500 | £250 |
| SUV | Nissan Qashqai or similar | £65 | £400 | £1,500 | £250 |
| Premium Saloon | BMW 3 Series or similar | £95 | £750 | £2,000 | £250 |
| 7-Seat People Carrier | Peugeot 5008 or similar | £85 | £500 | £2,000 | £250 |
| Medium Van | Ford Transit Custom or similar | £75 | £500 | £2,000 | £250 |
Only one excess applies per incident. If damage is caused by a third party who is identified and whose insurer pays the claim, we refund any excess you have paid.
3. Excess Reduction (optional)
For £15 a day, Excess Reduction lowers your excess to £250 for each incident covered by the collision damage waiver or theft protection. You can add it when you book or at pick-up, but not after the rental has started. The exclusions in section 4 still apply.
4. What is not covered
The collision damage waiver, theft protection and Excess Reduction do not apply, and you may have to pay the full cost of loss or damage, if:
- the vehicle was driven by someone who is not an authorised driver;
- the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or was convicted of dangerous or careless driving in relation to the incident;
- the damage was caused deliberately or by gross negligence, for example leaving the vehicle unlocked or the keys inside it;
- the vehicle was used in breach of the prohibited uses in our Rental Terms, for example off-road, for racing, for towing or outside the UK without permission;
- the wrong fuel was used (misfuelling);
- the damage was to the roof, undercarriage or interior, or was caused by driving under a low bridge or barrier;
- tyres or wheels were damaged by kerbing or by driving on a flat tyre;
- keys were lost or damaged, or the vehicle was stolen without the keys being returned;
- the accident or theft was not reported to us within 24 hours, or to the police where required.
We apply exclusions only to loss caused by, or directly connected with, the relevant excluded event. A late report or missing key does not automatically remove protection where you could not reasonably comply and this did not cause or increase our loss. We explain and evidence any exclusion relied on. Nothing in these contractual waivers limits compulsory third-party insurance rights.
Personal belongings in the vehicle are not covered by our insurance. We recommend you check your own travel or home insurance.
5. Your own insurance
Some credit cards, travel policies and standalone excess insurance products cover rental excess. If you have one of these, you can choose not to buy Excess Reduction. You will then pay any excess to us first and claim it back from your own provider. We will give you the documents you need for your claim.
6. If something happens
Follow the steps in section 10 of our Rental Terms. Use the assistance contact details supplied with your rental agreement, and report any accident or theft to us within 24 hours.
Questions about this policy? Email bookings@sixtrentcar.co.uk or call +44 7862 611228.