What happens if your hire car is written off?

In the unfortunate event of an accident that results in your hire car being written off, rest assured the car rental company has their own insurance for the car. If you damage the rental car during the hire period, you will be financially liable to pay for the assessed damage cost — up to the excess value specified in your rental agreement — with the car rental company only.

So for example, if the car rental company insures the hire car for $20,000, the rental vehicle excess component (capped amount) that you are liable for if you damage the car might be $4,000. This would mean that you would be liable to pay for the first $4,000 of car damage and the car rental company would pay costs above the rental vehicle excess value (up to $16,000 remaining).

How does the car rental company declare a vehicle to be a write-off?

After the accident, the car rental company representative will assess the severity of the damage of your vehicle. If the vehicle sustained severe damage that is either beyond repair or makes it not safe to go back on the road, then your rental car is considered a write-off. If the cost of repairs is also higher than the insured value of your rental car, then they will declare it a write-off as well.

Will my personal insurance cover a replacement rental car?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you need a replacement vehicle, you’ve come to the right place. With VroomVroomVroom, you can easily book a replacement car for as long as you need, allowing you to keep moving while your damaged vehicle is being assessed or repaired.

Many insurance companies will include options for substitute vehicles in the event yours is damaged and cannot be driven. However, this is a conversation you’ll need to have with your insurance company. If you aren’t covered for a replacement car, renting a vehicle in the interim is a simple and convenient alternative, and VroomVroomVroom makes it easy to compare rates on Australia’s major rental providers, including Avis, Budget, East Coast, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Thrifty.

How do I get a rental car after an accident?

Unless your insurance company is organising a vehicle for you, the process of getting a rental car is the same as if you were booking for a holiday. With VroomVroomVroom, you can search under your location for depots and vehicles in your area, then book your desired car for a duration that suits you. If you need help booking a rental vehicle following a car accident, feel free to contact us. Please note, however, that we cannot offer advice on insurance coverage regarding your personal vehicle.