Rent a car with absolutely no deductible

When searching for a rental car, you can select various options in our filter system. Two of these are “Deductible Coverage” and “No Deductible.” But what’s the difference between them, and which one should you choose? And what exactly is a deductible? We’ll explain it below.

Deductible When Renting a Car

The rental price for cars you book through us always includes three basic insurance policies: collision coverage, theft coverage, and liability insurance. At first glance, this provides peace of mind. However, in the event of damage to or theft of the rental car, an excess applies. This is the maximum amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket.

For example: the damage to the rental car amounts to 200 euros and the deductible is 400 euros. In that case, you’ll have to pay the full cost of the repairs yourself. With the same deductible and damage totaling 600 euros, you’ll “only” have to pay 400 euros; the rest is covered by the insurance.

The amounts mentioned above are on the lower end; the deductible depends, among other things, on the car class and the local rental company and can range from hundreds to thousands of euros. You can see exactly how high the deductible is for a specific rental car by clicking on the “Rental Terms and Conditions” link . You should always read these carefully before finalizing your rental reservation.

It’s very frustrating to have to pay extra money after a great vacation because your rental car was damaged. That’s why many people choose to buy out the deductible. But what’s the best way to do that?

Rental Car: The Difference Between “Excess Coverage” and “No Excess”

With“excess coverage,”you must first pay out of pocket for any costs charged to you for damage to the rental car. However, the costs are covered, so you can submit a claim to us, and we’ll reimburse you as soon as possible.

With “no deductible,” you never have to pay for costs covered by damage or theft insurance. So you don’t have to pay anything upfront either, because the local rental company has covered that deductible for you.

Well, you might think, then the choice is easy: “no deductible.” Yet most of our customers opt for “deductible coverage,” because the price for rental cars with no deductible is much higher. So, indirectly, you do end up paying something.

What kind of risk coverage should you choose when renting a car?

The choice is entirely up to you. On this website, you can easily compare the different options and prices. That’s why we have a comprehensive filter system—so you can find exactly the rental car that fits your preferences, travel plans, and budget.

Some other websites where you can compare rental cars don’t offer that freedom of choice. There, you’ll only find rental cars with or without a deductible. We believe that’s entirely up to you, and we don’t want to force anything on you. However, we do make it easy to choose a worry-free rental car with the Worry-Free option.

Renting a car without an excess = no deposit?

No, many people confuse the two terms, but “deductible” and “deposit” are two different things. The deductible applies to costs covered by damage and theft insurance. So you’ll never have to pay those out of pocket if you choose a rental car with no deductible.

However, the rental company wants some additional security for the expensive car they’re providing you. If only to ensure that you return the rental car with enough fuel. Even if you receive a traffic ticket during the rental period, the rental company will deduct that from the security deposit.

That said, the security deposit for a rental car with no deductible is much lower. This is appealing to some people because, in that case, your credit card spending limit is much less restricted.

So, is a rental car with no deductible “Worry-Free”?

We’re happy to offer you a worry-free car rental experience, which is why we’ve introduced the Worry-Free label. But cars with that label must meet additional requirements. In addition to having no deductible or a covered deductible, cars with the Worry-Free label have a favorable fuel policy, allow you to drive an unlimited number of kilometers, and always come from reputable companies with high customer satisfaction scores.

If you check the “No deductible” option, most of the rental cars you see will have the Worry-Free label, but not all of them. For example, a rental car with no deductible might have a limit on the number of kilometers you’re allowed to drive “for free.”

Should you choose Worry-Free or “No Deductible”?

One doesn’t rule out the other, but if you choose “No Deductible,” we think there’s a good chance you want to rent a car without worries, without extra costs, and without having to think about anything else. In that case, a rental car with the Worry-Free label is perfect for you! It’s our most popular filter combination:

• No Deductible / Deductible Coverage

• Unlimited mileage

• Favorable fuel policy

• Customer satisfaction 7+

To do this, check the box: “Show only: Worry-Free.” If you also want a rental car with no deductible, click that option as well. You’ll then see only rental cars that let you drive around completely worry-free.

If you’ve reserved a rental car with the Worry-Free label, you’ll be in a strong position at the local rental agency’s counter. Rental agency staff often try to sell you extras. But with the Worry-Free label, you know that everything is already taken care of and you don’t need anything extra. So you can confidently decline the local rental agency’s “offers.”