A new survey by Opinium* for iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of car hire excess insurance, reveals that almost two in five hire car drivers (39%) have discovered damage on their rental vehicle at pick-up which is not marked on the check-out sheet.
Concerningly a third (33%) of drivers have been informed by rental companies that minor damage doesn’t need to be recorded, which could be risky especially when drivers can be charged for minor damage such as scuffs and scratches. Only 20% of car hirers trust rental companies to accurately note existing damage on their vehicles and when it comes to returning the vehicle, nearly half of drivers have returned a vehicle without it being checked by the rental company (40%).
Two in five (39%) say they have been concerned that a rental company would charge them for damage to a hire car that they hadn’t done. Almost a quarter (23%) of car hirers have had a dispute with a rental company, rising to over half (44%) of 18-34 year-olds, and one in ten have been unfairly charged for damage.
The good news is that there is a lot that can be done to prevent disputes. The majority (64%) of car hirers mark existing damage on the check-out sheet. Over half take photographs at pick-up (59%) and drop-off (54%), and a fifth (32%) take video evidence, increasing to 46% of 18-34 year olds. iCarhireinsurance.com’s free travel app for travellers, called ‘iCarhire,’ can be used to take date and time stamped photographs at pick up and drop off, which can then be used as evidence in the event of a dispute or claim.
Rental companies often sell two types of excess protection waivers —super damage waiver and tyre and windscreen cover—which protect drivers from excess liability. This summer, excess waiver cover, from the rental desk, costs on average £242** (£189 for super damage waiver and £53 for tyre and windscreen waiver cover). In contrast, specialist excess reimbursement policies, like iCarhireinsurance.com, starts from £33.15*** per week for European coverage. These stand-alone policies are not only cheaper, but they also usually provide more cover as standard, including cover for damage, theft, and tyre and windscreen cover. Annual policies start from £41.99***.
Ben Wooltorton of iCarhireinsurance.com said: “It’s really important to check the hire car thoroughly at pick-up and drop-off and ensure all damage is documented, even minor damage. When a scratch can cost over £1,000 to fix, it’s worth taking some photos to prove that it wasn’t there from the start, or that it wasn’t there when you returned the vehicle, ideally with time recorded photos or video.”
He continues, “To enjoy your holiday without worrying about additional costs, consider stand-alone excess reimbursement insurance from an independent provider like iCarhireinsurance.com. These policies can offer much better value than those from rental companies.”
* Opinium online survey with 1000 adults who have hired a car in the UK or abroad took place between 21 – 28 March 2025.
**iCarhireinsurance.com looked at car hire prices for a medium rental car, e.g., a VW Golf or Ford Focus, for a week from 26 July to 2 August 2025 in seven European destinations with six rental companies (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt) when booked in April 2025.
***£33.15 based on a 30-year-old UK resident buying an 8-day single-trip car hire excess policy from iCarhireinsurance.com for use in Europe. £41.99 annual price is based on a UK resident aged between 30-85 purchasing an excess Europe annual policy excluding in-country (UK) cover.
