POD’s car insurance policy
We worked very hard to get the cheapest and most ethical insurance policy we could. It covers you in much the same way as personal car insurance would on your own car, i.e. you must be driving legally and in accordance with the terms and conditions.
If you would like to read the actual policy document, it is here.
What is the excess?
Almost all car insurance has an “excess” which is the amount you contribute if a claim must be made.
Unlike many hire companies, POD won’t make an insurance claim for minor blemishes on the car that we can sort out ourselves.
But if there is a serious incident such as a collision, the excess we have been able to negotiate is £1000. (i.e. that is the maximum you would ever be charged.) We know this sounds quite a high number; actually it’s a fairly typical amount for hired cars.
Ways to get a lower excess
From the beginning, POD has offered an additional subscription option which brings the excess payable by the user down from £1000 to £100. This is an additional £12.50 per month alongside your normal subscription rate.
However, we want you to know that there are other options. The £12.50 was an early POD offering, and is intended so we can offer a direct solution for people who really want a “one stop shop”. But it is a risk for POD because it is us, the community scheme, who would pay the difference.
An alternative a separate product from external insurance companies, called “Excess protection insurance“.
This can potentially cover you for hires from commercial hirers as well, for example when away on holiday. You can get it for UK, Europe, or worldwide.
It is much cheaper than paying to reduce the excess each time you hire commercially (which can typically cost over £20 per day!)
The cost varies based on the personal details you give when getting a quote, but is typically around £6 for a day or £60 for a whole year.
There’s just one thing it’s very important to note, which is that “car clubs” — that’s us — are often considered an “optional extra” so you MUST ensure you tick that box or otherwise ask for that when purchasing.
We do not have a relationship with any commercial provider, and do not receive commission.
With that in mind, we don’t recommend any one (and we cannot give financial advice), but we suggest that you perform an internet search, reading reviews about the various companies who offer these products.