All French rental cars come with full insurance cover, however in the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle the hirer is liable for an initial amount which can be several thousand euros. You can reduce your exposure to this liability through several methods.
Take out excess insurance (Collision Damage Waiver) with the car rental company when you collect your vehicle. This is a daily fee payable to the rental company to eliminate or reduce the amount you are liable for.
Many travel insurance and Credit card organisations provide car hire excess cover. Check the detail on this to ensure it includes and covers incidents such as single vehicle accidents, windscreen or wheel damage. Ensure you retain all paperwork and take photos if possible to support your claim. In the event of a damaged vehicle the rental company will still charge you the excess amount and then refund any funds that are not required to pay for repairs. You are then required to submit a claim to your insurance or credit card company. The claim process can mean you are out of pocket for a period of time.
For those travelling with Australian driving licenses we offer pre-purchased rental vehicle insurance for France through our partner Hiccup Insurance who specialise in car rental insurance and whose rates are often cheaper than those offered by the rental companies. More information can be found on our rental insurance page.
Whichever option you choose, remember that in the event of an accident secure copies of all documentation, police reports and take photos.