When you hire a car, your rental agreement will usually include some insurance cover but the person renting the vehicle is nearly always liable for the first portion of the loss, called the “excess”. The amount of the excess varies from one car hire company to the other and can often be far more than the cost of renting the car in the first place. You can protect yourself by purchasing excess waiver prior to travel and these policies will often include cover for other items such as loss of keys or windscreen damage. There are plenty of insurance providers available online, or speak with an insurance broker, but please make sure that you check any policies carefully and ensure that you purchase adequate cover for your rental.