When going on vacation, whether it is for a few days or a few weeks, most people want to hire a car to get around. It gives more freedom and a greater opportunity to explore the surrounding areas. It may also be a necessity if you need to visit family or friends whilst away, especially if you have children in tow. If you do decide to hire or borrow a car, one of the issues you will face is the insurance for the vehicle whilst you are away. The insurance is vital in that it will cover any expensive repairs to the vehicle and will protect you from paying damages if you damage someone else’s property, vehicle or cause any bodily damage.
Most people are familiar with traditional insurance policies that are taken out on a yearly basis which is fine for a vehicle that you own but not suitable for the short term cover that is required. It would quickly work out expensive if you had to take out a yearly policy every time you needed to borrow or rent a vehicle. The solution was brought about in the form of a short term car insurance policy. This allows you to take out a policy from a few hours up to a few months, in some cases. As a result, the overall premium payable is lower than if you were to take out cover for a whole year.
Most car hire or rental firms have deals with or have their own insurance firms and will provide cover through these firms so you do not have to telephone round different companies trying to arrange cover. It may be worthwhile, however, discussing short term insurance with your current insurer as you may be able to find a cheaper policy.
One point to be aware of is the excess payable should you have an accident. This is the amount payable upfront should you be involved in an incident with the rest of the costs being paid from the insurance company. Sometimes this can be hidden in the small print and can come as a nasty surprise if you have an accident. Paying a slightly higher premium can often reduce this amount quite significantly. Also check the vehicle before you take it out, inspecting for any damage, which should be recorded with the hire company before leaving. Most firms are honest, but there are some unscrupulous ones that will try and charge you for previous damage if you don’t notice and record it beforehand.
Overall, short term auto insurance is an important and vital piece of cover that you should always take out no matter how short a time period you are using the car.
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