When you hire a van, the insurance you pay is usually rolled into the rental charge. This is usually referred to as collision damage waiver, liability cover and so on.
And – like with most insurance – there's usually an excess to pay if you make a claim. This is the part of the claim that you agree to pay if the vehicle is damaged or stolen, for instance.
With van hire, if you have a collision while driving the vehicle, you'll need to pay the excess out of your own pocket. This means that having a prang can be costly... But it doens't need to be.
This is where van hire excess insurance comes in. This is an additional policy which protects you against excess charges if you need to make a claim. It's also referred to as excess waiver insurance, or super collision damage waiver.
The van hire company usually offer these policies and charge by the day. But it's worth knowing that you're not obliged to buy the van rental company's policy. As such, you can shop around for a better deal.
With this type of policy in place, you may still be charged the full excess amount if the van is damaged or stolen. But you should be able to claim this back on your van hire excess policy.
This type of insurance isn't compulsory. But it could offer you peace of mind if you hire a van, as it could shield you from any steep excess costs. Plus van hire excess insurance itself can be inexpensive, so it's definitely worth looking into.
If something happens to your hire van during the rental period, you may be required to pay an excess on the rental agreement. For example, this might be for:
The van hire company will inspect the van after you return it, and let you know of any excess you need to pay accordingly. At this point, you can make a claim on your van hire excess policy.
Be sure to keep hold of all documents supplied by the rental company, as you'll have to provide these when making a claim.
If you've bought a policy, you'll be given details of how to start the process of making a claim. This is done online via our trusted partners, Questor Insurance. You'll also be provided with useful contact details if you need to make any queries.
If you wish to get a quote through Confused.com, tap 'Get a quote'. We'll then ask you what type of policy you're looking for, the start and end date, and how many drivers you're covering. We'll give you a quote for van hire excess insurance via our partners Questor Insurance.
With van hire excess insurance, you can be reimbursed for the excess charged by the rental company if you make a claim. However, standard van rental agreements may exclude certain types of damage, leaving you liable for extra costs unless covered by your excess insurance. Check if your van hire excess policy covers the following for added peace of mind:
Towing fees following a collision
Always check your policy terms and conditions, but you may not be covered for:
If you take out van hire excess insurance with our partners, Questor Insurance, here’s what you could be covered for:
If you make a claim, Questor will reimburse up to £2,500 of the excess charged by the van rental company. Please note that a £200 policy excess applies, meaning you’ll need to cover the first £200 of any claim yourself.
This covers costs if the van is damaged or stolen, allowing you to be reimbursed for repair or replacement charges up to £2,500.
Covers towing costs if the van needs to be moved after an accident or mechanical failure.
Reimburses any additional admin fees charged by the rental company, such as costs for processing a damage claim.
Provides cover if you accidentally fill the van with the wrong fuel, helping with costs to drain and clean the fuel tank.
Covers the cost of replacing lost or damaged keys or locksmith fees if you’re locked out of the van.
**Based on Confused.com quote data for single-trip policies, December 2024
"A van hire excess insurance policy helps cover the cost of the excess you may need to pay in the event of an incident, such as windscreen cracks, tyre damage, or theft. Without such a policy, these expenses can add up to significant amounts, so having this cover can provide valuable peace of mind."
Legal expenses cover isn't a legal requirement. But as with many types of optional insurance, its purpose is peace of mind.
Motor legal protection can cover you for any legal costs you incur, which famously aren't cheap. So it could cover you for any claims made against you, such as personal injury compensation for instance. As well as lawyers' fees, this type of insurance may also include getting advice from a qualified legal professional, often 24/7. But check your policy details to be sure.
Yes. If you take out a van hire excess policy through our partners, this can cover up to 8 drivers on the rental agreement. Only the lead driver can hire the van in their name though. The first 5 added drivers are free, but thereafter you might incur an additional charge.
Bear in mind that all drivers must meet the conditions listed above. They must be at least 23, have an internationally recognised driving licence and so on. Also, you can only take out a policy if you've not already collected the rental van. As with all insurance, be sure to check the terms and conditions thoroughly before you buy.
Planning a group trip? You should be able to find cover for minibuses too. Our partner's van hire excess policies cover excess while hiring a minibus of up to 15 seats, including the driver.
Check the terms and conditions. But if you're hiring a minibus with 9 seats or fewer, you may be able to cover it with standard car hire excess insurance.
It depends on your policy. Some excess insurance policies will only cover you for driving the van in the UK. But others will offer cover for driving abroad.
As ever, be sure to check the policy T&Cs. With our partner's policies, you can either get cover for the UK only, or for trips to Ireland and Europe for up to 14 days.
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