Car hire abroad: how the insurance covers you

When you hire a car, motorcycle, moped, scooter or motorhome while travelling abroad, neither your Travel Insurance nor your Danish Car Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance or Moped Insurance provides cover.

You must therefore take out insurance with the rental company.

Check your rental agreement

When you hire a vehicle abroad, you must ensure it includes liability, theft and comprehensive cover.

The insurance may also include roadside assistance if you break down, as well as cover for paintwork and glass damage.

Your rental agreement must clearly state which insurance you have purchased. Read it carefully and pay particular attention to the excess.

Always bring a copy of your insurance policy on your trip.

Extended Travel Insurance may cover your excess

If your hired vehicle suffers damage during your trip abroad, the rental company's insurance covers it.

However, the policy usually includes an excess. You can have the excess reimbursed if you have:

• Travel Insurance purchased after 1 June 2022 with Extended or Super cover, or
• Travel Insurance purchased before 1 June 2022 with Extended Travel Insurance.

To qualify for reimbursement, your comprehensive cover must cover the damage. It includes:

• Damage caused by a collision
• Parking damage
• Damage from a road traffic accident
• Damage caused by fire, theft or break-in

To qualify for reimbursement:

• The vehicle must have liability, theft and comprehensive cover
• You must hire the vehicle through a rental company
• The agreement must name you or your partner as the hirer
• You or your partner must be the driver
• You must be legally entitled to drive the vehicle in the country of hire and in any country you drive in. If you hire a car in one country and drive to another, you must ensure that you can drive in both countries.

If you purchased your Travel Insurance after 1 June 2022, it also covers excess for scratches and paint damage.

If you have Extended Travel Insurance purchased before 1 June 2022, it does not cover scratches, paint damage or roadside assistance (e.g. towing in the event of a puncture). Make sure your rental agreement includes this.

Check your car rental agreement

When you hire a car or another vehicle abroad, the vehicle must have liability, theft and comprehensive cover. The insurance may also include roadside assistance if you break down, as well as cover for paintwork and glass damage.

Your rental agreement must state which insurance you have added to the hire. Read it carefully and pay particular attention to the excess.

When you hire a car, you need the following types of insurance.

Here is a short guide to the most common terms:

• Liability insurance (LI)
   Usually included in the rental price.
• Comprehensive cover (CDW / LDW)
   Usually included. Often referred to as Collision Damage Waiver or Loss Damage Waiver, typically including theft cover.
• Additional comprehensive cover
   Check what the standard comprehensive cover includes. It may exclude items such as glass, lights, undercarriage or wheels. As these types of damage are common, you may want to add extra cover.
• Theft cover (TP)
   Usually included. Often referred to as Theft Protection or Theft Waiver.
• Excess waiver insurance (Super CDW)
   Usually not included in the rental price. This cover removes the excess if you cause damage to the car, motorcycle, scooter or moped.
   Check whether your Travel Insurance covers the excess on rental vehicles. If it does, you do not need this cover. See your policy on My Page.

Always bring a copy of your insurance policy with you in case you need it during your trip.

Remember your Travel Insurance and Home Contents Insurance

Your Home Contents Insurance covers theft of ordinary personal belongings from the vehicle, such as clothes and toiletries. It does not cover gold, jewellery, silver or cash. The cover applies only if there are clear signs of a break-in.

Read more about IDA's Home Contents Insurance.

Your Travel Insurance covers repatriation, medical treatment and hospital stays in the event of an accident.

Read more about IDA's Travel Insurance.

Your Accident Insurance covers permanent injury after an accident.

Read more about IDA's Accident Insurance (purchased before 1 June 2023)

Read more about IDA's Personal Insurance (purchased after 1 June 2023)

Good advice when hiring a vehicle abroad

• Choose a rental company you trust, for example, one recommended by your travel provider or a large international company such as AVIS, Hertz or Europcar.
• Check the vehicle when you collect it and take photos of any existing damage. This measure ensures you do not become liable for pre-existing damage when you return the vehicle.
• Return the vehicle during opening hours whenever possible to resolve any issues immediately.
• Take photos of any damage you cause and keep documentation and receipts.

Get a discount on car hire abroad with IDA

As an IDA member, you can get:

• 10% discount on car hire with AVIS in Denmark
• Up to 10% discount in Europe

Use your membership benefit to get a discount.