Hiring a car overseas as a senior: What travel insurance covers (and what it doesn’t)

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There’s nothing quite like the freedom of the open road. Picture yourself winding through places such as Tuscany’s rolling hills or along New Zealand’s breathtaking coastal roads, all at your own pace.

Canstar Award-winner Insure&Go Australia offers comprehensive travel insurance that covers thousands of senior Australian travellers annually. If you’re planning to hire a car overseas, understanding what’s included in your policy can help reduce costly surprises.

Why do seniors need travel insurance for car hire?

Hiring a car adds flexibility but can also add financial risk whilst travelling. If a rental vehicle is damaged or stolen, the excess charged by the rental company can be significant and can cost thousands of dollars. For seniors, this can be in addition to other potential challenges, such as trip delays or unexpected health issues during the trip.

Travel insurance can help manage this risk. Many providers, such as Insure&Go, offer a Rental Car Excess Waiver benefit, which can help reduce the excess cost charged by the rental company up to the policy limit. For full details of benefits, conditions, limits, and exclusions, refer to the Combined Financial Service Guide and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Rental car excess waiver - what’s included?

One of the travel insurance benefits for drivers is the Rental Car Excess Waiver. This benefit applies only if you meet the policy conditions. However, it does not replace the rental company’s insurance.

For example, some policies, such as those offered by Insure&Go, can help reduce this cost:

International One-Trip, Cruise, Annual Multi-Trip: Up to $4,000 on Silver and $8,000 on Gold plans.
Domestic Travel Insurance: Up to $4,000 on Silver and $7,500 on Gold plans.

Note: The Rental Car Excess Waiver is not available on Bronze plans across any Insure&Go policy type.

What conditions apply?

To be eligible for the Rental Car Excess Waiver, you’ll typically need to:

Hire the vehicle from a licensed rental company
Be an authorised driver listed on the rental agreement
Keep the rental period within the policy’s maximum duration
Rent a vehicle with no more than 9 seats
Not be driven off-road

What’s not covered?

Common exclusions include:

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Hiring commercial vehicles, buses, minibuses, trucks, full-size vans mounted on truck chassis, campers, motorhomes, trailers, motorbikes, motorcycles or mopeds and any other vehicle having fewer than four wheels, and limousines.
Drivers not listed on both the travel insurance policy and the rental agreement.

Other benefits for seniors

While the Rental Car Excess Waiver is one benefit of a comprehensive travel insurance policy, policies such as those from Insure&Go also include:

Unlimited overseas medical expenses
Unlimited cancellation cover on Gold International, Cruise & Gold Annual Multi-Trip policies
Baggage cover up to $8,000 on Gold Domestic policies and up to $15,000 on Gold International policies

Keep in mind, Insure&Go policies don’t cover medical expenses within Australia.

Final tips

Ask the rental company about roadside assistance and keep the number handy.
Snap the vehicle’s exterior and interior before leaving the lot.
Read the rental agreement and your travel insurance PDS so you understand what’s covered, any exclusions, and your responsibilities.
Check licence requirements, local road rules, and insurance conditions in your destination country.
Keep your insurance details, driver’s licence, and rental agreement handy.
Read Smartraveller advice and share your itinerary with family.

Hiring a car overseas can turn a great holiday into an unforgettable adventure. From scenic coastal drives to charming countryside detours, the open road is yours to explore beyond.

Seniors Card SA members can receive a 15% discount on Insure&Go policies using the code SENSA15 at Insure&Go Australia or by calling 1300 401 177.

^{This insurance is underwritten by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited (MSI), ABN 49 000 525 637, AFSL 240816. Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd, ACN 140 219 594, AFSL 552106, trading as InsureandGo and other brands, holds a binding authority from the insurer, MSI to issue contracts of insurance and to deal with or settle claims on MSI’s behalf and as MSI’s agent.}

^{For full details of the benefits, terms and conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions that may apply, please refer to the relevant Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Policy Wording and Financial Services Guide (PDS) available here and consider the PDS in light of your personal circumstances, prior to making any decision to acquire the product.}

^{*More information about our awards can be found here.}

^{Seniors Card South Australia has a referral arrangement with Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd. If you choose to purchase an insurance product using this referral, at no extra cost to you, we may receive a fee or commission from InsureandGo for each successful referral.}