ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF UK CAR HIRERS FEEL PRESSURED INTO BUYING EXTRAS AT THE RENTAL DESK
- 31% say they’ve faced a “hard sell” when collecting a car
- 64% say they feel pressured to buy excess protection at the rental desk
- Independent excess reimbursement insurance could save travellers more than £200
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of UK car hirers say they feel pressured by rental desk staff to purchase extras when collecting their car, with almost one in three (31%) reporting they have faced a “hard sell”, according to new Opinium research commissioned by iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of car hire excess insurance.
Excess protection is commonly pushed, with 64% of hirers saying they have been urged to buy it. If a hire car is damaged or stolen, the driver can be liable for an excess of more than £1,500. Having cover is important, but the excess protection sold at the rental desk is often significantly more expensive than standalone insurance bought in advance.
A cost comparison study2 by iCarhireinsurance.com reveals that customers could save more than £200 by arranging standalone excess reimbursement cover in advance. Buying excess protection at the rental desk averages £2422 for a week’s hire of a medium compact car (e.g. VW Golf). By comparison, an independent provider such as iCarhireinsurance.com offers a week’s car hire excess reimbursement policy – covering damage, theft, tyres, and windscreens – for just £33.15³. Annual European policies start from £41.99³.
Ben Wooltorton of iCarhireinsurance said: “Dealing with the hard sell at the rental desk can be tough, particularly when you’re tired and just want to be on your way. But remember, the extras sold at the counter are often expensive. By arranging an excess reimbursement policy in advance with a standalone provider, you can save significant sums.”
He added: “If you don’t buy the rental company’s excess protection, you’ll need to allow them to hold the excess or deposit during your rental, even if you have a policy from another provider. This is the same with most hire car companies but be aware that many only accept a credit card, not debit or cash, so it’s worth carrying a spare credit card to avoid using up your holiday spending money.’’
Wooltorton also advises travellers to take simple steps to avoid unnecessary costs: “To keep costs down further bring your own child’s car seat (it can go in the aircraft’s hold), bring your own sat nav or use your phone and think carefully before adding an extra driver. Taking photos of the car at pick-up and drop-off is also a wise precaution to avoid being charged for damage you didn’t cause. A little preparation before you travel can save you hundreds of pounds.”
Sources
1 Opinium online survey with 1000 adults who have hired a car in the UK or abroad took place between 21 – 28 March 2025.
2iCarhireinsurance.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. iCarhireinsurance.com also looked at the excess price, and the cost of extras including excess protection, child car seat & sat nav.
3£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.
