Get Car Hire Excess Insurance for France

When you hire a car in France, basic insurance (Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection) is usually included in the car hire price. However, this basic cover comes with an excess, meaning you’re still liable for the first hundreds of euros if the car is damaged or stolen. 

You are not legally required to buy extra insurance, but without it, you would have to pay that excess amount yourself in case of any incident. Rental agents will often try to sell you an additional policy, often called super CDW or excess waiver, to bring your liability down to zero. This extra insurance is highly recommended but you don’t have to buy it from the rental company at a higher cost. You can use a standalone Car Hire Excess Insurance like Gigasure’s to cover the excess for a fraction of the cost. 

Yes, but only if there’s damage, theft, or a loss involving the car. The “excess” (or deductible) is the portion of any claim that the renter must pay. When you sign the rental agreement, you agree that if something happens to the car, you will pay up to that excess amount. If you return the car undamaged and intact, no excess is charged (any hold on your credit card is released).  

However, if the car is scratched, dented, stolen, or otherwise harmed, the rental company will assess the damage and charge you accordingly, up to the maximum excess. This is why excess insurance is useful as it can reimburse you for that charge.  

The excess charge (also called the collision damage waiver) on French rental cars is the maximum amount you’d have to pay if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. The specific amount varies by rental company and car category. In many cases in France, it falls roughly between €800 and €1,800 (sometimes more than €2,000). Economy cars might have an excess of around €900–€1,200, while luxury models or vans could be €1,500 or more. You should find the exact excess amount listed in the car hire terms when you book (and it will be in your rental agreement). This is the amount the rental company will “hold” on your credit card. If an incident occurs, the charge (repair costs, etc.) will be deducted from this excess. If the repairs cost less than the excess, you pay only the actual cost of repairs (and get the rest of the hold released). Car Hire Excess Insurance for France from Gigasure will cover this amount, so if you are charged, you can claim it back with the Gigasure app. 

Adding an extra driver on a car hire in France usually incurs a fee, and Budget is no exception. Budget’s additional driver fee in France tends to be around €7–€11 per day, often with a cap for longer rentals. Some companies cap the fee per rental like Budget does, while others charge per day with no cap. It’s always a good idea to check the car hire terms.  

With Gigasure’s cover, remember that all named drivers on the rental agreement are covered by our excess policy, so you don’t pay us per driver. You are protected for up to 9 drivers on the rental agreement. But the car rental company will charge their fee per additional driver, so factor that into your rental budget. 

When travelling to France, it’s important to be fully prepared, especially if you're renting a car in France. While Car Hire Excess Insurance protects you from unexpected costs related to your rental car, it's equally wise to consider travel insurance, for additional peace of mind. Travel Insurance provides cover for medical emergencies, cancellations, lost luggage, and other unforeseen events, that may occur during the journey.