Quick Summary:
- Zero excess usually removes the deductible for covered damage or theft.
- Glass, tyres, wheels and underbody damage are often excluded.
- Admin, towing, loss of use and fines may still apply.
- Confirm whether cover is at-the-counter or reimbursed after a claim.
“Zero excess” sounds simple, but in United Estates car hire it can describe several different insurance and waiver setups. In the best case, it means you will not pay a damage excess (also called a deductible) if the car is damaged or stolen, as long as the incident is covered and you followed the rental agreement. In the more common real world case, it means the excess is reduced to zero for certain risks, but other parts of the vehicle or related costs are still excluded.
This guide breaks down what zero excess car hire in the United Estates typically includes, what is commonly excluded (glass, tyres, underbody and fees), and what to check before you collect the keys. If you are comparing providers and options, start with Hola Car Rentals’ United Estates pages such as car rental United States and car hire United States to see how different deals present excess and cover.
What “excess” means in US car hire
The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before cover contributes. If your excess is £800 and repairs cost £1,500, you pay £800 and the cover pays £700 (assuming the damage is covered). If the deal is “zero excess”, your share of that covered claim should be £0.
In the United Estates, you will see terms like CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) and LDW (Loss Damage Waiver). These are not always called “insurance”, but they act similarly by limiting your financial liability for damage and theft, subject to terms. “Zero excess” can be achieved in two main ways:
1) Excess waived at the counter, sometimes described as “zero deductible”. The rental company (or the package you purchased) sets the deductible to zero for covered losses.
2) Excess reimbursed after you pay, sometimes described as “excess refund” or “reimbursement cover”. You may still have to pay the rental company first (often via a deposit or charge), then claim it back from the policy provider.
Both can be marketed as zero excess, but they feel very different when something goes wrong. Always confirm which applies.
What zero excess usually includes
Coverage varies by supplier and product, but zero excess car hire in the United Estates commonly includes the core, big ticket risks:
Damage to the bodywork from a collision. If the car is damaged in an accident, a true zero excess product reduces your deductible for covered collision damage to £0, subject to exclusions and contract compliance.
Theft of the vehicle. If the car is stolen and you complied with security requirements (for example, locking the car, safeguarding keys), the deductible for theft may be reduced to £0.
Vandalism. Some waivers treat vandalism as damage and apply the same deductible logic. Others handle it differently, so this is a key check.
Damage from common driving incidents. Think scraping a pillar in a car park, a minor bump in traffic, or a low speed collision. These are the scenarios where the deductible otherwise bites hardest.
Even when the excess is zero, you will still have duties: reporting incidents, obtaining police reports for theft or vandalism where required, and not breaching the agreement (for example, no off-road driving). If those duties are not met, the waiver can be voided, bringing back full liability.
Common exclusions: what “zero excess” often does not cover
This is where many travellers get caught out. A deal can legitimately be “zero excess” for certain damage categories and still exclude other frequent and expensive items.
Glass, windscreens, mirrors and lights
Glass cover is frequently excluded or limited. Chips and cracks to the windscreen, broken side windows, damaged wing mirrors, and sometimes headlight or tail light damage may not fall under the same zero deductible terms.
Why it matters: motorway stone chips are common. If glass is excluded, you could pay the full replacement cost plus administration fees, even if the rest of the policy says zero excess.
Tyres, wheels, hubcaps and punctures
Tyres and wheels are another classic exclusion. Damage such as sidewall cuts, alloy scuffs, punctures, lost hubcaps, and valve damage may be excluded, or only covered if the tyre is damaged alongside other body damage in the same incident.
Why it matters: wheel and tyre repairs can be pricey, and rental companies often charge at fixed rates. If you are planning long drives, this is worth extra scrutiny. SUVs can be popular for road trips, but wheel and tyre exclusions still apply regardless of vehicle type. If you are comparing options, browse SUV hire United States while checking whether your protection covers tyres and wheels.
Underbody damage
Underbody damage is widely excluded. This can include damage to the sump, exhaust, catalytic converter, suspension components, and undercarriage panels. It often arises from kerbs, debris, steep driveways, potholes, or unpaved roads.
Why it matters: underbody inspections can be difficult at pick-up, and repairs can be substantial. Avoid driving on roads that are prohibited in the rental agreement, and treat parking kerbs and ramps cautiously.
Roof damage
Roof damage is commonly excluded or restricted. It may occur in parking garages with low clearances, drive-through structures, or from unsecured loads. If you plan to carry sports gear, check mounting rules carefully.
Interior damage and cleanliness charges
Spills, stains, burns, tears, odours (including smoke or vaping), and pet hair are typically excluded from collision and theft waivers. Even with zero excess, you can be charged cleaning fees or repair costs for interior issues.
Keys, locks and roadside callouts
Lost keys, broken keys, lockouts, and battery jump starts are often outside zero excess cover. Roadside assistance may be optional and can have callout charges. Towing is another grey area: towing after an accident might be included in some setups, but not all.
Administrative and consequential fees
Even when the damage excess is zero, fees may still apply. These can include:
Damage administration fees charged by the rental company for processing the incident.
Towing and storage fees if the car is immobilised.
Loss of use, the cost the rental company claims for the time the car is off the road.
Diminished value, an amount claimed because the repaired car may be worth less.
Appraisal fees or inspection costs.
Some third party excess refund products cover certain fees, others exclude them entirely. If a deal advertises “zero excess” but is silent on loss of use and admin fees, assume you may still be charged unless explicitly included.
Fines, tolls and traffic violations
These are not covered by zero excess. If you incur tolls, speeding tickets, parking fines, congestion charges, or red-light camera penalties, you will be responsible. Many rental companies also add an administration fee for processing each violation or toll notice.
Unapproved drivers, prohibited use and negligence
Zero excess only applies if you comply with the rental agreement. Typical invalidating scenarios include:
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Allowing an unauthorised driver to drive.
Using the vehicle off-road or on prohibited roads.
Racing, towing (if not permitted), or commercial use.
Leaving keys in the vehicle or failing to secure it.
If the waiver is voided, you can become liable for the full cost of damage and related losses, not just an excess.
How deposits and pre-authorisations work with zero excess
Even with zero excess, you may still see a deposit or pre-authorisation on your payment card at pick-up. This is normal. The amount can depend on vehicle class, local risk, fuel policy, and the supplier’s rules.
It is important to separate these concepts:
Deposit is a temporary hold or charge to ensure you can pay for fuel, fines, damage not covered, or incidentals.
Excess is your contractual contribution towards covered damage or theft claims.
With reimbursement style cover, the supplier may still take a higher pre-authorisation because from their perspective the deductible still exists. You would claim back later if needed.
At-the-counter waiver vs reimbursement cover: which “zero excess” are you looking at?
Many misunderstandings come from not knowing who pays first.
At-the-counter waiver means your financial exposure is reduced upfront for covered claims. If damage occurs, the supplier should not charge you an excess, although you may still need to cooperate with claims and pay excluded items or fees.
Reimbursement cover means you may be charged by the supplier, then you seek repayment. This can involve documentation, repair invoices, incident reports, and timelines. It can still be valuable, but it is not the same experience.
When comparing brands, you will often see differences in how optional protections are packaged. If you are browsing supplier pages such as Hertz car hire United States or Enterprise car rental United States, focus on the policy wording for excluded parts and fees, not just the headline “zero excess”.
A practical checklist before you pay for “zero excess”
Check what parts are covered. Look specifically for glass, mirrors, lights, tyres, wheels, roof and underbody. If they are excluded, decide whether you are comfortable with that risk.
Check what costs are covered. Look for admin fees, towing, loss of use and diminished value. These can be charged even when the excess is zero.
Confirm who pays first. If it is reimbursement, understand claim requirements and timescales. Keep evidence such as photos, incident reports, and any paperwork provided by the rental desk.
Verify driver and use rules. Add extra drivers properly, confirm permitted states and border rules (where relevant), and avoid prohibited roads.
Inspect and document the vehicle. Take time-stamped photos of bodywork, wheels, windscreen and interior at pick-up and drop-off. Zero excess reduces cost exposure, but it does not prevent disputes about what happened.
Why “zero excess” still matters, even with exclusions
Despite the exclusions, zero excess can still be a meaningful upgrade because the most expensive scenarios are often collision damage and theft. Reducing your deductible to zero for those events can remove a significant financial shock.
The key is to interpret “zero excess” as “zero excess for specified covered losses”, then confirm what those losses are. Once you treat it as a set of inclusions and exclusions rather than a blanket promise, the product becomes easier to compare.
FAQ
Does zero excess mean I pay nothing if anything happens? Not necessarily. It usually means no deductible for covered collision or theft, but exclusions like glass, tyres, underbody, interior damage, and admin fees may still apply.
Are windscreens and tyres normally included with zero excess car hire? Often they are excluded or limited. Many policies separate glass and wheel and tyre damage from the main collision waiver, so check the wording before assuming they are covered.
Will I still need a credit card deposit if I have zero excess? Yes, commonly. A pre-authorisation may still be taken for incidentals, fuel, fines, and damage types not covered by the zero excess terms.
What is “loss of use”, and is it covered by zero excess? Loss of use is a charge for the rental company’s lost income while the car is being repaired. It is frequently not included in basic zero excess offers unless explicitly stated.
How can I tell if my zero excess is reimbursement or waived at the desk? Look for terms like “refund”, “reimbursement”, or “claim back” versus “zero deductible” or “excess waived”. If the supplier still holds a large damage deposit, it may indicate reimbursement style cover.
