More than a third (36%) of hire car drivers have discovered damage on a rental vehicle that was not marked on the check-out sheet, according to new research2 from iCarhireinsurance.com.
This is concerning because drivers are liable for the excess if a hire car is damaged or stolen, even if the incident is not their fault. Excess charges can exceed £1,5003.
The Opinium survey1 of 1,000 UK adults who have hired a car in the UK or abroad, also found that more than a quarter (28%) had been told by rental companies that minor damage did not need to be recorded, despite drivers potentially being charged for scratches, dents or scuffs.
Consumer concern around damage disputes appears widespread. Almost half (45%) said they worried a rental company could charge them for damage they had not caused, while nearly one in ten (9%) said they had already been unfairly charged for damage.
Only 15% of drivers said they trusted rental companies to accurately record existing damage. Meanwhile, more than a third (35%) said they had returned a vehicle without it being inspected by staff.
Many drivers are already taking steps to protect themselves. More than two-thirds (69%) said they mark existing damage on the check-out form, while 62% take photographs at pick-up and 60% take photos again when returning the vehicle. A third (34%) also record video evidence.
Purchasing excess protection from the rental company3 costs on average £208 for a week’s standard excess cover and £38 for tyre and windscreen excess cover, bringing the total to £246.
By comparison, buying a standalone excess reimbursement policy from a specialist provider like iCarhireinsurance.com costs from just £33.154 or £41.994 for an annual European policy. Standalone policies from specialist providers can also cover theft, tyres and windscreens as standard, which often aren’t included in rental desk waivers.
Ben Wooltorton of iCarhireinsurance.com said: “When a scratch on a car can cost £600 to fix, taking a few minutes to photograph your hire car could save a huge amount of stress and expense later. Drivers should always inspect vehicles carefully and take time-stamped photos or video footage before leaving the rental depot and again when returning the vehicle.
“It’s also worth checking exactly what excess you would have to pay if the car is damaged or stolen. Many travellers don’t realise they can often reduce those costs significantly by arranging standalone excess cover before they travel rather than buying protection products at the rental desk.”
Sources
2 Opinium online survey with 1,000 adults who have hired a car in the UK or abroad took place between 16 - 23 March 2026.
3 iCarhireinsurance.com surveyed the costs for a week’s car hire and extras (such as excess protection, car seats, sat navs and extra drivers) from 25 July to 1 August 2026 in 12 countries ( Australia, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA). Prices were checked across six major rental companies - Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.
It found that rental companies charge on average £242 per week for excess cover (£208 for super damage waiver and £34 for tyre and windscreen waiver cover).
4 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.
