Car Rental Insurance: Full Cover or Basic?
The most misleading subject in the car-rental process is the insurance options. CDW, SCDW, excess waiver, third-party liability... Signing without knowing what each means can be both costly and lead to paying for unnecessary cover. Here is a transparent guide to car-rental insurance.
Mandatory Insurance: Third Party Liability (TPL)
Third-party liability insurance is legally required to be included in the rental contract. Damage caused to the other party in a traffic accident (vehicle damage, injury) is within this policy. Damage to the rented vehicle itself, however, is outside this cover.
You can't rent a car without TPL; it's already included in all prices. You don't need to make any extra payment — when reading the contract, check that it says 'included'.
CDW: Collision Damage Waiver
CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) limits the amount the company can claim for collision-related damage to the rented vehicle. However, CDW is usually not a full waiver; when damage occurs you have to pay a certain amount called the 'excess'. This amount can vary between €500–3,000.
CDW either comes included in standard rentals or is bought as an extra. If it says 'CDW included', always ask how many euros of excess applies; if the excess is high, buying extra insurance may make sense.
SCDW and Excess Waiver: Full Protection
SCDW (Super CDW) or Excess Waiver reduces the excess amount in CDW to zero. Zero extra payment in the event of an accident. It's offered for an extra €5–15 a day; on long rentals that's a total extra cost of €50–150.
Situations where buying this extra insurance makes sense: if you're not used to heavy traffic, if you're driving on narrow European city streets or on the right-hand side for the first time, or if the rental period is 7+ days. Situations where you don't have to buy it: if your credit card or special travel insurance already covers vehicle damage — check your policy in advance.
Glass, Tyre and Theft Insurance
CDW usually doesn't cover the glass, tyres and undercarriage of the vehicle. Extra insurances covering these items (glass protection, tyre protection) are around €3–8 a day. If you'll be driving on coastal roads in Croatia or rocky terrain, glass and tyre insurance is worthwhile.
Theft Protection is also sometimes outside CDW; it's especially important if you'll park the vehicle in high-theft-risk areas. Before signing the contract, check item by item exactly what is included and what is excluded — don't give in to the pressure to accept in a hurry.
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