What is a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)?
A Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is a great protection agreement that helps reduce your financial responsibility if the rental car's bodywork gets a few bumps or scrapes during your trip. Instead of worrying about the full value of the vehicle, CDW simply limits your out-of-pocket costs to a specific maximum amount.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Take a quick look at your voucher, or the "Rate Includes" section of your offer.
In Europe, CDW is usually standard and already included in your rental!
Even with CDW, there's a set maximum amount you'd be asked to pay, known as an Excess (or deductible). If any damage happens, you simply cover up to this amount, and the waiver happily takes care of the rest.
Basic CDW does a wonderful job protecting the car's main bodywork, but it usually skips over more vulnerable parts like tyres, glass, mirrors, and the undercarriage.
CDW specifically focuses on accidental damage. Theft Protection (TP) is a separate coverage for vehicle loss, though you'll often see them bundled together nicely as a "Loss Damage Waiver" (LDW).
"Since I have CDW, I don't have to pay anything for an accident."
CDW is fantastic for bringing your responsibility down to the specific Excess amount (like €1,000) rather than the full value of the car! To bring that out-of-pocket cost all the way to zero, you'd just look for additional "Zero Excess" protection.
"I'm renting in the USA, so CDW is automatically included."
In the US and the Americas, CDW is often an optional add-on, since many drivers prefer to use their own personal auto insurance or credit card coverage instead.
💡Did You Know?
CDW isn't technically an insurance policy, but rather a friendly waiver agreement! This just means the local supplier agrees to "waive" their right to charge you for the full cost of repairs beyond your set Excess amount.
What to do next:
Take a quick peek at your specific Rental Conditions to find your exact Excess amount.
If you'd like to protect that Excess and cover handy extras like tyres and glass, you can easily add our Full Coverage right through our website anytime before your scheduled pick-up!
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