RentalCover is an optional additional protection that complements the basic coverages offered by rental companies. Its main advantage is the reimbursement of the excess, which is the amount paid to the rental company when the insurance is activated in case of damage to the vehicle.
In practice, RentalCover works through reimbursement: the customer pays the amounts directly to the rental company and then requests reimbursement from RentalCover, according to the conditions of the purchased policy.
As a partner of Rentcars, RentalCover helps make your car rental experience smoother and more secure. Even after the booking, you can still add this protection up to 24 hours before vehicle pickup, via the website or customer service channels.
How does RentalCover work?
If an incident or accident occurs during the rental, the customer must pay the rental company directly for the damage to the vehicle, including the excess. At the time of vehicle return, the rental company will charge the amount to the customer’s credit card.
After this payment, the customer must request reimbursement from RentalCover for the amounts paid to the rental company, including the excess, provided that the incident is covered under the terms of the purchased policy.
For the reimbursement request to be reviewed, it is essential to submit all receipts and supporting documents related to the amounts paid to the rental company. Reimbursement by RentalCover is only made after all required documents have been submitted and the request has been approved.
Once the request is approved, the customer will receive a confirmation email. From that moment, the reimbursement will be processed within 3 to 5 business days after submitting the bank details.
What is covered by RentalCover?
RentalCover coverage varies depending on the product available for your reservation, your country of residence, and the rental destination. Therefore, the plan, coverage limit, and protected items may differ from one reservation to another.
RentalCover generally works on a reimbursement basis: you pay the rental company for amounts charged for a covered damage or incident and then request reimbursement from RentalCover, in accordance with the terms and limit of your policy.
What protection plans are available?
Depending on your reservation, you may find one of the plans below:
Extra Cover (Roadside Assistance)
Extra Cover (Roadside Assistance)
Coverage limit: US$2,800 or the equivalent in local currency.
Deductible: US$0.
Main coverages: vehicle damage, theft and vandalism, tires and glass, lost or replacement keys, towing and roadside assistance, as well as certain fees and expenses related to damage.
Availability: United States and Europe, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Hawaii.
Important: the US$2,800 limit is the maximum coverage amount provided for the plan. Check the policy to see the specific limits for each coverage.
Full Protection
Full Protection
Coverage limit: up to the total value of the vehicle.
Deductible: covers the deductible under the CDW/LDW protection, according to the terms of the policy.
Main coverages: vehicle damage and theft, tires and glass, keys, damage caused by natural events, towing and roadside assistance, as well as certain administrative fees and costs related to loss of use of the vehicle.
Availability: all countries except the United States and Canada.
Important: the rental company's basic protection (CDW) must be included in the rental agreement.
Excess Reduction
Excess Reduction
Coverage limit: CAD$7,500 or the equivalent in local currency.
Deductible: covers the deductible charged by the rental company, up to the policy limit.
Main coverages: damage, theft and larceny, tires and glass, lost or replacement keys, towing, and certain fees and expenses related to damage.
Availability: for customers residing in Canada, in eligible destinations.
CDW
CDW
Coverage limit: US$35,000 or the equivalent in local currency.
Deductible: US$0, according to the terms of the policy.
Main coverages: vehicle damage caused by collision, theft or vandalism, natural events, and certain expenses related to the incident, such as loss of use.
Availability: for customers residing in the United States, in eligible destinations.
What do you need to know about the coverage limit?
The coverage limit is the maximum amount that RentalCover may reimburse, according to the terms of the policy. Some items also have specific limits, even when the general protection limit is higher.
Therefore, the amount indicated above does not mean that all expenses will automatically be covered up to that limit. Reimbursement depends on the type of incident, the terms of the protection purchased, and the exclusions specified in the policy.
Coverage is not the same for all plans. To check the specific terms of the protection purchased, including coverage, limits, and exclusions, access the policy link available in your voucher. The policy is the document that sets out the terms applicable to your reservation.
Important: RentalCover is protection for the rental vehicle and does not replace third-party liability coverage. Check that your reservation includes the liability insurance required at the destination.
Which documents are required to file a claim?
To request a reimbursement from RentalCover, the customer must obtain the following documents from the rental company:
Rental agreement;
Invoices and receipts from the rental company;
Receipts confirming that repairs were completed;
Driver’s license of the renter or the driver involved in the incident;
All correspondence related to damages and repairs (if any);
Credit card statement showing the amount charged by the rental company.
To submit the request, it will also be necessary to provide the RentalCover reference number (ending in -INS) and the email address used to make the booking.
As soon as possible, the customer should gather all the documents above and start a claim at https://www.rentalcover.com/claim.
What are the steps to request a refund?
Submit the claim and the required documents through the link: www.rentalcover.com/claim.
RentalCover will send an email confirming receipt of the request, and the assessment will begin immediately.
If any documentation is missing or if additional information is required, an email will be sent to the customer with the appropriate instructions.
Once all information has been provided, the final review of the customer’s request will be completed.
After the refund is approved, an email will be sent requesting the bank details needed to process the payment.
From the moment of approval, the payment timeframe is 3 to 5 business days, depending on the recipient’s bank.
How to add RentalCover to your booking?
You can add the higher coverage in two ways:
When making your reservation: select RentalCover from the available protection and optional services before completing your reservation. In this case, the protection will already be included when the reservation is issued.
After your reservation has been issued: contact us by phone or chat to check whether the protection can be added to your reservation.
Phone numbers:
Major Brazilian state capitals: 4003-7368
Other cities in Brazil: 0800 604 7368
Outside Brazil (international calls): +55 (41) 4042-1479
For support via chat, access the website or app.
Important: RentalCover is only available for reservations with online payment (the “pay now” option). The protection is not available for reservations paid in full at the destination. If the protection or reservation is canceled, or in the event of a no-show, fees may apply according to the applicable policies.
Until when can I cancel the RentalCover protection?
You can cancel your RentalCover protection at any time before vehicle pickup, until 11:59 PM (local time at the pickup location).
Cancellation after this time will result in the full amount paid for RentalCover being retained. In other words, even if the pickup time has already passed, it is still possible to request cancellation until 11:59 PM on the same day.
In general, refunds are processed within up to 5 calendar days after the cancellation request is approved and are credited to the same account or payment method used during the booking.
Is the additional driver included in the RentalCover protection?
RentalCover does not provide an additional driver service; therefore, if you want to include another driver in the reservation, you must pay the corresponding fee directly to the rental company.
However, if the additional driver is included in the rental agreement, the RentalCover protection also applies to them at no extra cost, as long as the incident occurs during the rental period and while the vehicle is being driven by that authorized driver.
Frequently asked questions:
In this section, we clarify the main questions so you can pick up your car with full confidence and understand how your extended protection works.
1. Will the rental company accept RentalCover at the counter?
RentalCover is an independent protection from the rental company. Therefore, at the time of vehicle pickup, the rental company may offer or require you to purchase its own protection. This is because each company has its own policies and does not directly recognize external coverages.
2. Why is the rental company offering me another protection if I already purchased RentalCover?
The rental company’s protection and RentalCover work in different ways. At the time of vehicle pickup, the rental company offers its own protections because they are part of its business model and may reduce the excess and/or the security deposit, depending on the rental company’s policies.
RentalCover, on the other hand, is an independent protection that works on a reimbursement basis. This means that if there are charges such as the excess or other costs applied by the rental company, the payment is made at the time of the incident and reimbursement can be requested later from RentalCover, in accordance with the policy terms.
3. Does RentalCover replace the rental company’s protection?
RentalCover does not directly replace the rental company’s protection. It complements it by reimbursing costs you may pay, including the excess and other covered items.
4. Does “Full Protection” cover all types of damage?
“Full Protection” is a commercial term indicating broad coverage, including items not usually included in basic protections. However, like any insurance, it has conditions, limits, and exclusions. It is important to review the policy details to understand exactly what is included.
5. What happens if I do not purchase the rental company’s protection?
You can proceed with the rental normally as long as you meet the company’s requirements. However, a higher security deposit may be required on your credit card and, in case of damage, you will need to pay the costs directly before requesting reimbursement from RentalCover.
6. The rental company is forcing me to purchase another protection—what should I do?
Purchasing additional protections at the counter is not mandatory, except in specific situations required by local law.
At pickup, it is common for the rental company to offer extra coverage for items not usually included in the basic protection, such as tyres, windows, windscreen, key loss, interior damage, roof, underside of the vehicle, administrative fees, roadside assistance, among others.
However, if you already have RentalCover, these costs may be reimbursed later, as long as they fall within the policy conditions. The final decision is yours.