Full Coverage covers up to a certain limit. Who pays for the remaining damage cost?
When a rental car is damaged, the total cost is shared between the rental supplier’s insurance and your deductible (excess). In standard accidents, the supplier’s Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covers the portion of the damage above your deductible, while our Full Coverage reimburses the deductible you paid—up to the compensation limit listed on your voucher (maximum coverage limit is €5,000).
Step-by-Step Guide:
Let's say the car has €5,000 in damage, but your contract's deductible is €1,000.
The rental company's basic insurance (CDW) pays the remaining €4,000.
You are responsible for paying the actual repair cost up to the deductible of €1,000 to the rental supplier, according to the rental agreement, to cover damage costs. In some cases, the supplier may also apply extra charges related to the incident, such as:
- Administrative fees
- Loss of use (while the car is being repaired)
- Towing or roadside assistance
These charges are separate from the damage cost and may be applied in addition to the deductible charge.
After the supplier processes the charges, you can submit a claim to us.
Our Full Coverage reimburse:
- Damage charges up to the deductible (if the damage is covered by the policy)
- Additional incident-related fees such as administration, towing, or loss of use
- The maximum combined reimbursement is €5,000.
If you rent a high-end luxury car with a massive €7,000 deductible, but our Full Coverage limit is €5,000, you would pay the €7,000 to the supplier. We would reimburse a maximum of €5,000, and you would be responsible for the remaining €2,000 gap.
"Full Coverage means I never pay a single cent, no matter how expensive the car or the crash is."
Full Coverage reimburses costs up to the compensation limit on your voucher. While this limit is more than enough to cover the deductible for almost all standard cars, very expensive luxury vehicles or 4x4s might have deductibles that exceed our cap.
"Even if I break the rules, the CDW covers the bulk of the damage."
If the rental contract is breached (for example, drunk driving, off-road driving, or other forms of gross negligence), the supplier’s CDW coverage becomes void. In such cases, you may be held fully liable for the total value of the vehicle, and Full Coverage will not provide reimbursement.
"My limit is €5,000, so I am perfectly covered for a 5,000 USD charge."
Reimbursements are calculated based on the exchange rate at the time your claim is processed, not the date you booked. Minor currency fluctuations can slightly alter your final payout.
💡 Did You Know?
In standard situations, the only amount you are responsible for paying directly is the deductible (excess) and any damage-related fees. These costs can later be reimbursed through Full Coverage, within the policy limit. The remaining portion of the repair cost is typically handled through the supplier’s CDW insurance, provided the rental agreement has been followed.
If the repair cost is lower than the deductible, the supplier usually charges only the actual repair amount, not the full deductible. In some cases, the full deductible may be temporarily held, and any difference is refunded to your card once the final repair cost is confirmed.
What To Do Next:
Take a moment to review your DiscoverCars voucher or Rental Conditions to confirm your Full Coverage Compensation Limit and the vehicle's Excess/Deductible. As long as the Excess is lower than the Limit, you have no financial gap to worry about!
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