How to check the excess and insurance before you sign

You've got the keys in hand, the contract in front of you, and a hire car waiting outside. But the insurance page is a blur of fine print, the excess column shows a number that could wreck your budget if something goes wrong, and you're not entirely sure what you're actually covered for. Before you sign, you need clarity—and you can get it.

The excess is the amount you'll pay out of pocket if the car is damaged or involved in an incident. Insurance excess can vary wildly between rental companies and between different policies, and a higher excess isn't always cheaper upfront. Your job is to understand exactly what your excess is, what triggers it, and whether you can reduce it before you commit.

Request the full insurance schedule in writing

Ask the rental company to provide their complete insurance policy and excess schedule before you book or sign anything. Don't accept verbal explanations alone—written documentation gives you something to refer back to and proves what was promised. Look for the following specifics: the standard excess amount, what damage or incidents activate it, whether there are higher excesses for certain damage types (windscreen, tyres, undercarriage), and whether there are additional costs if you're involved in a third-party claim.

Check whether they offer excess reduction or waiver products. Many local rental companies do, but the terms differ. Some reduce your excess to a set amount (often R500 to R1,000); others waive it entirely. Ask what these cost and whether they're optional or bundled into the daily rate. Also ask what happens if you decline their excess reduction—are you legally or contractually obligated to take it, or can you arrange your own cover?

Verify that you're comparing the same excess level across companies. One firm's R2,500 standard excess might come with a cheaper daily rate than another's R1,500, but the true cost depends on your risk tolerance and trip length. Write down the excess, the daily hire cost, and any optional insurance add-ons side by side so you can weigh the total.

Confirm what your personal or corporate cover includes

If you have personal car insurance or your employer has a corporate fleet policy, ask whether it covers hire vehicles and what the excess is under that policy. Some personal policies do cover rentals; others specifically exclude them. Your corporate policy may have a hire car clause, but it might have conditions—such as requiring you to rent from specific companies or limiting cover to certain regions.

Contact your insurer in writing (email or letter) and ask them to confirm in writing whether a rental car is covered, what the excess would be, and whether there are any exclusions. Keep that confirmation with your rental paperwork. If your personal or corporate excess is lower than the rental company's, you may choose to rely on your own cover rather than pay extra for the rental company's excess reduction. However, you'll still need to satisfy the rental company's contractual requirements—most will require you to take some form of cover, whether theirs or yours.

Don't assume a policy covers you just because you think it should. A written answer from your insurer protects you if a dispute arises after damage occurs.

Call and ask references about claims experience

Before you sign, ask the rental company for the contact details of two or three customers who have made a damage or excess claim in the past year. Most legitimate companies keep this information and can provide it. Phone those customers and ask directly: Did the company honour the excess terms? Was the claims process straightforward or adversarial? Did they try to charge you for damage you disputed? Would they rent from the company again?

References won't always be available or willing to speak, but those who do can give you real-world insight into how the company handles the moment when things go wrong. If the company refuses to provide any references or seems evasive about their excess process, that's a red flag.

Once you have clarity on excess, cover and terms, you're ready to sign confidently. When you're ready to book a verified rental company that you can trust on the insurance side, Strove's local car rental providers can walk you through their exact excess and insurance policy before you commit.