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?
The coverage offered by RentalCover is comprehensive and protects parts of the vehicle that are often not covered by the basic insurance offered by rental companies. In addition, RentalCover also provides reimbursement of the excess and additional fees charged in the event of incidents.
Here are some examples of items and events covered by RentalCover:
Vehicle damage: windshield, tires, mirrors, roof, headlights, windows, bodywork, and even the underside of the vehicle (chassis). Items that are rarely covered by standard insurance.
Specific situations: vandalism, damage caused by natural disasters, theft or loss of the vehicle.
Additional rental company costs: reimbursement for towing, roadside assistance, loss/replacement of keys, and coverage for "Loss of Use" fees (days charged while the vehicle is being repaired) and administrative fees.
Excess (deductible): reimbursement of the excess amount paid to the rental company, up to the maximum coverage limit of your policy.
Important: RentalCover focuses on coverage for the rented vehicle and does not cover third-party damages. For this protection, check whether your booking includes TPL/LIA insurance (liability coverage).
Do not forget to read the full policy when purchasing the protection. It contains all the details about covered items, providing greater security and transparency in the agreed terms between both parties.
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 RentalCover during the booking process, when selecting protections and optional extras.
In this case, the booking will be issued with the protection already included. If you already have a booking, you can also add RentalCover later by accessing the “My Bookings” section and checking the available options to add protections.
Important: RentalCover is only available for bookings with online payment (the “pay now” option). In case of cancellation of the protection, the booking, or a no-show, fees may apply according to the current policie
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.