Deductible in Damage Protection (Selbstbehalt)
What a car rental deductible (excess) is: the most you pay if the car is damaged. How deductible tiers work and which three DRAIV offers.
A deductible (also called excess or self-participation) is the maximum amount a renter pays towards covered damage to a rental car. Anything above it is covered by the provider's damage protection.
How Deductibles Work in Car Rental
If the car is damaged during the rental, the deductible limits what you pay yourself:
- Worked example: Say a repair costs CHF 3,800 and your deductible is CHF 2,000. You pay at most CHF 2,000, and damage protection covers the remaining CHF 1,800.
- Tiers: Many providers offer several levels. A lower deductible usually costs a daily fee.
How It Works at DRAIV
DRAIV has three tiers:
- Comfort, CHF 2,000 deductible: Preselected at checkout.
- Premium, CHF 200 deductible: Available for a daily fee when you book.
- Basic, CHF 5,000 deductible: No extra charge, but not freely selectable. It requires your own comprehensive cover, whose policy you send to [email protected] beforehand for us to approve.
The tier you choose is also the ceiling for what we can charge you after the rental.
Deductible vs. Security Deposit
Renters often mix up the two:
- Deductible: The ceiling on what you pay if damage actually happens.
- Security deposit: An amount some rental companies block or charge on your card as security.
Exclusions
The cap usually does not protect against everything. Under DRAIV's terms and conditions, damage protection can be reduced or cancelled for gross negligence or wilful intent, or for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, among other cases.
Related Terms
Your deductible at DRAIV
CHF 2,000 comes preselected. For a daily fee you can lower it to CHF 200 while booking.
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