Germany Car Rental Insurance Coverage

You may be surprised to learn that third-party liability insurance is required by law when renting a car in Germany. But don’t worry; Auto Europe includes this required Germany car rental insurance coverage in the cost of all rentals. This liability insurance protects you from any liability which results from property damage, death, or injury should you be involved in an accident in your car rental. Auto Europe also includes fire insurance within your rental car rate for added peace of mind. While basic third-party liability insurance is included in Auto Europe’s rental car rates, we encourage our clients to purchase more comprehensive insurance for your Germany car rental for several reasons.

First, if you’re renting a car in Germany and your vehicle is damaged you are at risk of being charged €1000 EUR or more by the local car rental company. Second, even if you’re covered for damage to your rental car, you may still have to pay a significant deductible up front, which can cause financial strain or limit your options for the balance of your vacation.

Supplemental Car Rental Coverage Options in Germany

To help you reduce your risk when driving a rental car in Germany, Auto Europe provides several low-cost coverage options.

Zero Deductible: Car rental insurance in Germany is your best choice, as it reduces the out-of-pocket expense to zero should you be involved in an accident while driving your rental car in Germany.

Refundable Deductible: Rental car insurance in Germany is another popular choice. Retain your police report, rental car agreement and other relevant documentation, and you’ll be entitled to a full refund of any deductible you pay.

Auto Europe provides these options on most German car rentals booked in advance, which can save you considerable money when compared to adding car rental insurance in Germany at the pick-up counter:

*Auto Europe averages are based on CDW+TP insurance costs for a 3-day rental of an economy, compact, mid-size or full-size car class. The Germany car rental insurance rates listed here are estimates and are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date pricing information we encourage you to request a free online quote via our booking engine or invite you to call Auto Europe toll-free at 1-888-223-5555 to speak with a Germany car rental specialist.*

One final supplemental Germany car rental insurance coverage option you should consider adding locally is Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This inexpensive option which will usually cost between $6 and $12 CAD per day, is an inexpensive way to enjoy added peace of mind beyond the discounted supplemental coverage offered when you book your car online or over the phone (toll-free: 1-888-223-5555) with Auto Europe.

Can You Decline Rental Car Insurance in Germany?

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) rental car insurance and Theft Protection (TP) are not required when you rent a car in Germany, and some credit card companies will provide these extra insurance protections for you if you are a card member. If this is the case, and your credit card provides this coverage, you can certainly decline supplemental coverage. With that said, there are often restrictions with credit card car rental insurance coverage which you should be aware of. Many cards do not provide coverage for expensive vehicles like luxury cars or vans, and if you’re booking a long term car rental, your credit card insurance coverage may not apply to your rental car.

Auto Europe recommends that you call your credit card company to obtain a written verification of coverage, and if you have questions or concerns, please call us toll-free, 24/7 at 1-888-223-5555 and a member of our experienced team will be happy to answer your questions and assist you. When you book your rental car in Germany with Auto Europe your rental will include all legally required German car rental insurance, but we do recommend that you consider adding CDW and Theft Protection, and our zero-excess and refundable deductible options for added peace of mind during your trip.

To learn more, read our European car rental insurance guide, or review our European travel tips.