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Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions about car hire excess insurance, we are happy to help.
You can find answers to our most frequently asked questions below. It's often the fastest way to find help – including how to make changes to your policy, what's covered and how to make a claim. If you can't find the information you need below, please get in touch via email at info@chewinsurance.com.

Who is eligible to purchase CHEW Insurance?

To purchase a CHEW Insurance policy, you must be aged between 25 and 84 at the time of buying this policy and be resident in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man).

You must hold a full valid UK driving licence or a full valid internationally recognised licence to drive the hired vehicle in the country where you are driving.

You must be eligible to hire and drive the vehicle and be able to keep to the terms of the hire agreement.

You must not be driving against the advice of a medical practitioner, and you must not be on a current driving ban.

Is there a minimum age to purchase Car Hire Excess Waiver Insurance?

Yes, the minimum age is 25 and the maximum age is 84.

What vehicles can I cover?

The vehicle you are hiring must be:

  • Less than 10 years old.
  • Valued at no more than £70,000 at the start of the hire agreement.
  • Have no more than 9 seats.

Cover will not be provided for the rental of trailers, caravans, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, off-road vehicles, vans, motor homes or camper vans.

What is Car Hire Excess Insurance?

When you hire a car in the UK or abroad, your rental agreement usually includes an excess – the amount you must pay if the vehicle is damaged, stolen, or involved in an accident. Car Hire Excess Waiver Insurance reimburses this cost, protecting you from potentially large out-of-pocket expenses and giving you peace of mind throughout your trip.

What is an excess?

If your hire car is damaged or stolen, you’ll usually have to pay the first part of the repair or replacement cost yourself. This amount is called the excess and typically ranges from £500 to £2,000, depending on the car.

Where in the world will CHEW Insurance cover me?

Your policy schedule or certificate of insurance will show the area you have chosen, which is further defined in the policy wording.

Europe is defined as: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Balearics, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Isles, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Corfu, Corsica, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eire (Republic of Ireland), Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Holland (Netherlands), Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kos (Greek Island), Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Mediterranean Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Rhodes, Romania, San Marino, Sardinia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Vatican City.

Worldwide covers car rental agreements anywhere in the world, including the countries defined as Europe.

No cover will be provided under your policy if you are travelling to a country or an area where the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) advise against all or all but essential travel to. You should check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice before you travel.

Can I purchase your policy after hiring a car?

This policy must be purchased before the start time and date of your hire agreement.

Can I include additional drivers?

This policy covers up to 7 drivers, in addition to the lead driver named in the hire agreement. This policy does not cover an additional driver if they hire a vehicle independently to the lead driver, but they can drive the hired vehicle without the lead driver being present.

What do I do if I need to change anything on my policy?

The quickest way to make a change to your policy is to contact CHEW through our online web chat (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm) or by email at info@chewinsurance.com.

How do I cancel my policy?

If you change your mind or the terms and conditions of this policy don’t meet your needs, you can cancel your policy by contacting us at info@chewinsurance.com. Provided your hire agreement has not started, no claims have been made and no incidents have occurred which may give rise to a claim needing to be made, your policy will be cancelled and a full refund of your insurance premium will be made.

Your rights to cancel your policy after the start date shown on your certificate of insurance:

  • If you have arranged a Single Trip and the period of insurance has already started, no refund can be made.
  • If you have arranged an Annual policy and you cancel within 14 days of the start of the period of insurance, provided no claims have been made and no incidents have occurred which may give rise to a claim needing to be made, your policy will be cancelled and a full refund of your insurance premium will be made. If you cancel after 14 days of the start date of the period of insurance, no refund can be made.

How do I make a claim?

Policies issued from February 2026:

TBC

Policies issued between 01/07/2024 and 31/12/2025:

You can contact your insurer’s claims team: on 0345 040 5975 or email at claims@acastaeurope.co.uk

You will be required to provide some information and documentation to support your claim. This includes:

  • A copy of your hire agreement.
  • A copy of the local police report (if required).
  • The hire company’s accident damage report and photos of the damage.
  • Invoices, receipts, and other relevant documents.
  • Your bank details for reimbursement.

To make sure your claim is valid, you might be asked for additional information. Don’t worry, you’ll only be asked for what is absolutely necessary and the requests will be fair.

Will my policy cover lost keys?

TBC

Am I covered if I'm locked out of my vehicle?

TBC

Are my car contents covered?

TBC

Does the policy cover theft of a car?

TBC

Am I covered for mis-fuelling?

TBC

Am I covered for Volcanic ash?

TBC

What if I fall ill on my trip? I'm the only driver.

TBC

What insurance do I need when hiring a car?

TBC

Can I purchase Vehicle Hire Excess Insurance from my car hire company?

TBC

Still Have Questions?

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