Getting into an accident can be terrible, let alone getting into an accident in a rental car abroad in an area you don’t know! But don’t panic! Get into a safe position, call the emergency services, and contact the car rental provider when things calm down… Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
Get into a safe position!
After getting into an accident, whether with another vehicle or alone, make sure that everyone involved is safe and uninjured. If possible, move the car/s onto the side of the road to ensure its safe and clear for other drivers.
If the accident caused injuries or a dangerous obstruction in the road, immediately contact the local emergency services and follow their advice.
Contact your car rental provider
If you get into an accident in a rental car, you will need to contact your car rental provider or the breakdown assistance number. Contact details can be found on your car rental quote. Your provider/breakdown assistance number will then talk you through the next procedures you’ll need to follow.
If you’ve got a booking with Zest and you can’t get a hold of your rental provider, contact us instead on our 24/7 emergency phoneline and we’ll be able to guide you through the next steps.
Obtain a police report
This is a crucial step in the process that will be needed to process your car rental insurance claim! Contact the relevant police department to obtain a police report that will officially document the incident.
Document the damage
Don’t forget to document the incident and gather the contact/insurance details of anyone involved in the accident to ensure the insurance claim is processed correctly. Take as many photos as you can of the damage.
Insurance follow ups
In the event of an accident, you will need go through an insurance claim process with your car rental provider/broker. Depending on how the accident occurred, for example due to negligence, you may be liable for the costs involved. However, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the car rental provider. As aforementioned, providing as much evidence as possible including a police report is the best way to ensure your claim is processed effectively.
With Zest, all bookings include a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with either No Excess or Excess Reimbursement. A CDW reduces your liability in the event of an accident. Without this, you could be liable for the full cost of the rental vehicle if it were to be damaged or written off. CDW means you won’t have to pay the full cost of any repairs as long as you’ve followed the T&C’s. However, the CDW won’t cover all parts of your rental car (such as tyres, wheels, glass, etc), you’ll need additional insurance for this.
Zest’s Top-up insurance
When taking out our additional industry-leading Top-up insurance you can stay protected with damages that aren’t covered under our standard CDW. For a small price, you can rent a car without the worry of spending a fortune if an accident occurs!
I’ve got into an accident in a rental car and it’s my fault?
Fear not, all Zest bookings include Third party liability and public liability. This covers you if a member of the public makes a compensation claim against you because they believe that you are responsible for their injury, or for their property being damaged. This is essentially the same as with standard car insurance!
Stay protected with Zest
For stress-free car rental that won’t cost you a fortune if things go wrong, choose Zest! As the Which? Recommended Car Hire Broker, we’re dedicated to providing a hassle-free service with no caveats. Furthermore, we have a 24/7 UK-based customer support team as well as all our bookings include excess protection as standard! Book with Zest today.
Zest Car Rental has you covered if you get into an emergency! Read our blogs on contacting emergency services abroad and what to do if your rental car breaks down.
