Peace of mind for drivers of Budget vehicle
Excess Reduction provides complete peace of mind. In the event of an accident it reduces your financial liability to a small, manageable amount.
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Overhead damage
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Water damage
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Underbody damage
Renter's current responsibility
From the time you (or your nominated driver in the rental agreement) take charge of a rental vehicle, you are financially responsible for any loss or damage to the vehicle or any loss or damage to third party property as a result of using the vehicle.
The renter's responsibility also includes damage caused by acts of nature such as hailstorms or falling trees.
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Now Budget Renters' financial liability is limited
Provided you comply with the terms of the Budget rental agreement your financial liability for loss and/or damage to either the Budget vehicle and/or third party property is limited to a pre-determined amount. There are only three exemption events for which the renter must take total financial responsibility. These events are detailed under the Exempted Events heading below.
The liability (called an excess) varies depending on the category of vehicle and the age of the driver. The standard excess is a substantial amount but is still a small proportion of the value of the Budget vehicle. Your standard excess amount will be advised to you at the time of rental and will be shown on your rental agreement.
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Excess Reduction package
Excess Reduction provides the most comprehensive rental protection package you will ever buy. Provided you comply with the terms of the Budget rental agreement. Excess Reduction ensures that for any particular loss or damage to the Budget vehicle or third party property you will not have a liability greater than the reduced excess even if the damage was caused by your mistake. This is genuine no fault protection.
There are only three exempted events which Excess Reduction will not cover and you must take total financial responsibility. These events are detailed under the Exempted Events heading below.
Unlike most excess reduction plans, Excess Reduction provides sensible law abiding drivers with complete protection. The table below illustrates the high level of protection coverage provided by Excess Reduction versus the limited coverage provided by most other rental companies.
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Are You Protected?
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What Is Your Maximum Liability?
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Type of Incident
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Excess Reduction™
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Other Rental Companies
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Excess Reduction™
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Other Rental Companies
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Single vehicle accident
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Yes
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No
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$330
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Total value of vehicle
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Windscreen damage
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Yes
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No
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Cost of replacement up to $330
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Full value of windscreen
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Driving on unsealed roads
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Yes
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No
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$330
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Value of vehicle & third party property
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Tyre damage
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Yes
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No
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Cost of replacement up to $330
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Unlimited
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Collision with animals
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Yes
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No
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$330
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Total value of vehicle
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Theft of vehicle
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Yes
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VARIES
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$330
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Up to $550
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Destruction of vehicle by fire |
Yes
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VARIES
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$330
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Up to $550
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Collision with other vehicle
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Yes
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VARIES
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$330
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Up to $550
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Note: Applies to cars (excluding 4WD or speciality - see table below) and people-movers with drivers 25+ years of age.
*Your liability is limited to the actual repair or replacement cost of the damaged item, normally for passenger vehicles this is substantially less than $250.
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Vehicle Category & Renter's Age
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Standard Excess
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Cost Metro/Country
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Cost Remote
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Maximum Liability
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Cars/Buses (up to 8 seater) driven with a standard car license
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Driver 25 years +
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$2,750
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Daily - $25.00 Weekly - $125.00
28 Days + $6.60 per day
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Daily - $27.00 Weekly - $135.00
28 Days + $8.80 per day
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$330
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Driver 21-24 years
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$2,750
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as per 25+
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as per 25+
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$330
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Light Trucks and Vans (including 12 seaters +) driven with a standard car license
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Driver 25 years +
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$2,750
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Daily - $27.00 Weekly - $135.00
28 Days + $9.90 per day
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Daily - $29.00 Weekly - $145.00
28 Days + $12.10 per day
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$550
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Driver 21-24 years
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$2,750
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as per 25+
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as per 25+
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$550
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Trucks/4WD's/Speciality
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Driver 25 years +
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$5,500
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Daily - $29.00 Weekly - $145.00
28 Days + $12.10 per day
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Daily - $31.00 Weekly - $155.00
28 Days + $14.30 per day
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$1,100
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Driver 21-24 years
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$5,500
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as per 25+
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as per 25+
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$1,100
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Above Excess Reduction including GST.
Excess Reduction is optional
Excess Reduction is not an insurance but optional coverage which for a small fee reduces your standard excess liability. Unlike most other excess reduction plans Excess Reduction is simple - almost fully comprehensive and real value for money.
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Longer term renters really benefit
For longer term renters, from a week to two months, Excess Reduction; is especially advantageous because the longer the rental period the lower the daily cost.
With lesser quality coverage plans the cost of reducing the excess can be prohibitive which unfairly exposes longer term renters. But not any more. Excess Reduction; becomes cheaper per day the longer you rent - up to 50% less per day for rentals over three weeks.
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Exempted Events - exclusions to coverage
There are three categories of damage and/or loss for which the renter must take full financial responsibility. Excess Reduction; does not cover these events and neither does the standard excess. For attentive, careful drivers using the Budget vehicle sensibly and legally these events are most unlikely to occur.
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1. Overhead damage
Overhead damage to the roof of a passenger vehicle or damage to the roof and/or sides of the van body or tray of a commercial vehicle. Inattention to overhead projections, bridges and similar are the main causes of this type of damage.
Boom gates in car parks and at hotels can seriously damage cars and drivers unused to the height of people-movers should take extra care.
2. Water damage
Budget vehicles are not to be driven through floods, creeks or rivers or used where water damage is likely to occur. Driving through any flood or water-course can be extremely dangerous to you personally and will almost always result in substantial damage to the vehicle. Convertibles should not be left with the top down.
3. Underbody damage
Underbody damage occurring to exhaust systems, suspension and body/chassis components can be caused by carelessly driving over gutters or kerbs or travelling along poor quality roads at excessive speed. No Budget vehicle may be driven on off-road areas such as paddocks, fields, tracks, trails or roads above the snowline.
Irrespective of how overhead, water or underbody damage or loss is caused, it is the renter's full financial responsibility.