Car hire excess ins...
 

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Car hire excess insurance claim conundrum

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So I'm sat in the airport after dropping off my holiday hire car €250 lighter because there was a tiny scratch to the underside of the front bumper - presumably I scraped a kerb very slightly.

It was an almost brand spanking new hire car, only having been taken out by two drivers previously. I can't recall hitting anything but I suppose it could have happened unbeknownst to me as it really is a tiny scrape right underneath the bumper.

Anyway, I have hire car excess insurance so I am wondering about claiming. 

I assume it won't affect the insurance of my own car (i.e.my NCD) as I'm not claiming in that policy, but will I have to declare this on purchasing future policies?

Any views on the likely effect on my insurance in the future if I claim?


 
Posted : 30/06/2025 6:17 pm
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Did you compare your pre-rent and post-use detailed photographs to see any damage?

I presume you have also checked the time stamp and geo location information of the picture? 

 

I did both once in Poland. The scam was to show a tiny scratch in an inaccessible place such as under bumper or side skirt and charge everyone £350. I was able to prove my images, with timestamp and geo location compared to thier photo which was clean of all such data... My credit card sided with me and said that they had dozens of such charges going on at Warsaw airport....


 
Posted : 30/06/2025 7:01 pm
el_boufador reacted
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That was my first thought and it *could* be them trying it on.

However it is right under the bumper and the photos I took pre hire don't show it.

I can't prove it though, and it could have been my fault.


 
Posted : 30/06/2025 7:12 pm
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I have claimed a couple of times on these things - both legit cases (both were when someone crashed into my car while it was parked!) - and both times they paid up without too much fuss. 

Didn't have to declare anything (i don't think!) but since that makes 2 claims out of the 3 times I've used this excess insurance place, i don't know if they'll want me back next year...


 
Posted : 30/06/2025 7:24 pm
el_boufador reacted

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