Car Rental Insurance Cover

Row of cars

Car Rental Ireland and Car Rental Excess insurance:

The term rental car insurance covers a range of mandatory insurances and optional waivers which are available to cover hire vehicles. However, the cover you will receive for car rental in Ireland is not different from what you receive in other European countries.


Collision Damage Waiver and Loss Damage Waiver

Collision Damage Waiver Cover / Collision Coverage effectively covers the value of the hire vehicle in the event it becomes damaged or stolen whilst in your possession. When hiring a car in from Car Rental Ireland, the rates are inclusive of CDW.

You may be able to use your credit card rental car insurance to waive CDW and Theft Protection in Ireland using your credit card issuer policy, please read the terms and conditions.


Car Rental Ireland: Car Hire Excess Insurance Cover

When collecting your hire vehicle, even when Collision Damage Waiver insurance is in place, you will normally be required to leave a deposit before the vehicle is handed over. Car rental excess cover is an optional insurance policy, which protects you against any excess charges you may incur should your hire car becomeS damaged or stolen. If the hire vehicle become damaged or stolen during your rental, you will be liable to pay the first portion of the damage or loss that is incurred. This is referred to as an excess charge or fee.


To put it simply, if you hire a car and it gets damaged or stolen, the ‘Excess’ (sometimes called the ‘Deductible’) is the amount of money you have to pay the rental company upon returning the vehicle.


Car Hire: What are my options waiving Excess Cover?

Car hire excess cover is an optional cover so you can choose not to purchase it if you are happy to take the risk. For peace of mind, it is recommended that you obtain an excess cover.

If you have chosen to waive our CDW cover, you must hold either a US issued World MasterCard or Canadian issued Gold/Platinum Visa and provide WRITTEN PROOF that the card has relevant coverage for the Republic of Ireland. If a relevant card and cover letter are not produced at the time of commencement of rental or you have chosen an exclusive rate, and do not hold a credit card that will cover you for CDW, you will be charged for CDW on arrival at the local daily rate.


*These cards will only be accepted for coverage for a MAXIMUM of 28 days in any one calendar year*


***Not applicable to customers transferring own Irish insurance policy - any customer wishing to do this must contact our reservations team on 01 8441944.


Car Hire Excess Insurance Requirements list

What you need to bring for Collision Damage Waiver or to waive CDW cover.

Car Rental Ireland with Super CDW

Super Damage Waiver (SCDW) is an optional extra cover which reduces your excess in case of damage to zero (except luxury vehicles).

This Super Collision Damage Waiver can be purchased at our desk on arrival.

This article is part of “Renting a Car in Ireland guide series.