Motorhome Insurance in Germany, France, Corsica, Ireland & Sardinia
 
General
The level of cover provided by our rental company partners is usually very high. However, the renter is always responsible for the excess in the first instance, regardless of who is at fault and the excess is required per incident. If you are involved - and not at fault, in a traffic accident you are initially required to pay the rental company the excess until the third-party pays the rental company for the damage. It is also important to mention - with respect to the latter, that while vehicle insurance is compulsory in most European countries, there are some EU states where drivers may drive without insurance or with very little cover.
 
An insurance contract is entered into between yourself and the rental company when you collect the vehicle. We recommend that you allow adequate time when you pick up your vehicle and ask the rental company's customer services staff about any aspects that you do not fully understand. Every rental company negotiates different insurance conditions with its insurer and then offers these to its customers when they collect their vehicles.
 
Companies providing a bodily injury element in their insurance normally have policies that cover the driver, any passengers in the rental vehicle as well as third parties where the driver of the rental vehicle is at fault.
 
Exceptions
Damage to tyres or to the underbody of the vehicle is not normally insured and damage to the vehicle that is caused by a breach of the contract, by dangerous driving or as a result of other illegal activities (e.g. drink driving) is not insured at all.
 
Germany
In Germany they use a slightly different system when classifying insurance categories in comparison to what is normal in the 'English-speaking' world. A clear distinction is made between 'third-party insurance', 'partial vehicle cover' and 'full vehicle cover'. All vehicle owners in Germany are required by law to take out third-party cover at the very least. Our motorhome rental company partners have taken out all three and include them in a one-off compulsory daily insurance fee. It is important to understand what cover each of these categories provides with respect to motorhome rental in Germany, especially because the level of the excess will vary between these components.
 
Third-party Insurance
This insures the renter for any bodily injury or damage to the property of a third party (including their vehicle) which is caused while driving a rental vehicle.
 
Partial Vehicle Cover
This component represents the bare minimum cover for the driver's vehicle itself.
 
In the event of an accident with another vehicle the damage inflicted on the rental vehicle is not covered by this policy. If a third-party is at fault he/she will be liable for the damage. Partial vehicle cover only insures the vehicle for 'freak' damage which is considered to be outside of the control of the driver.
 
This includes the following:
- stone chip damage to the windscreen
- damage resulting from a hail storm
- damage caused by deer or other wild animals running onto the road
- damage incurred as a result of a break-in
An excess applies for each incident of damage within this category.
 
Full Vehicle Cover
This is the insurance component that covers any damage to the driver's vehicle caused by him/herself. The excess for this category of damage is higher than that which applies with the partial vehicle cover element. Some rental companies allow you to reduce these excess amounts by paying a daily supplement.
 
France
Third-party insurance is included in the insurance provided by the rental company with an upper limit of € 760,000 for any damage caused by fire or explosion. Unlimited cover is provided in the event that a third-party is injured or their property damaged due to the actions of the renter.
 
Standard insurance for all vehicles is included in the price you pay. This insurance limits the renter's liability if there is an accident to € 1,800 per incident n the event of:
- third-party claims for damage to their property
- damage to the rental vehicle in an accident
- theft (see the respective 'Important rental info' for exceptions), break-in and fire
- damage to the roof or roof appendages
 
Ireland
Third-party insurance covering both bodily damage and damage to third-party property is included in the rental price by the rental companies with an excess of € 750 per incident.
 
Vehicle insurance is included in the price you pay. This insurance limits the renter's liability if there is an accident such in the event of:
- damage to the rental vehicle in an accident (regardless of how incurred)
- theft (see the respective 'Important rental info' for exceptions), break-in and fire
- damage to the windows, windscreen or mirrors
- damage to the tyres, underbody, roof or roof appendages
 
Sardinia
Our prices include third party vehicle insurance with cover for damage to third parties and their property as well as separate vehicle insurance for damage caused by the renter to the rental vehicle. The excess that applies to any vehicle damage (damaged caused to the vehicle by the renter) is limited to € 1,000.
 
For any damage resulting from hail, break-ins, accidents with animals, windscreen damage, etc (i.e. 'external influence' or 'freak' damage excluding damage caused by other people to the rental vehicle) the excess is also limited to € 1,000. Any damage to the tyres or the underbody of the vehicle is not insured and must be paid for by the renter.