Within the framework of the Business Travel industry and its specific terminology, it is worth giving a special mention to the world of car rental. It is a sector that tends to use its own extremely specific terms, which may be fairly incomprehensible to a layman. This article gives you an overview of the basic vocabulary in relation to car rental!
- CDW (Collision Damage Waiver): Partial exemption for damage liability. It eliminates the customer’s financial liability for damage to the vehicle, with the exception of the excess.
- Damage check: A revision performed when returning the car: mileage, fuel level, condition of the body panels, undercarriage, paintwork, accessories, batteries, etc. to be able to settle the contract.
- Excess: The maximum amount that you would have to pay in the event of the car being stolen and/or damaged. For example, if you have an excess of 400 euros, you have an accident and the resulting costs amount to 700 euros, you will be liable for 400 euros, while the insurance company covers the remaining 300 euros.
Fully/Empty: The fuel policy of certain rental companies, particularly the low-cost providers, involves charging a supplement for filling the car with fuel when returning it with a full tank. Normally, this extra charge is not repaid even when the customer returns the car with the same amount of fuel as when they hired the car.- PAI (Personal Accident Insurance): Personal accident and luggage theft insurance with partial coverage. It eliminates the customer’s financial liability for theft of the vehicle, with the exception of the excess.
- SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver): Comprehensive insurance or, in other words, full exemption from liability for theft of the vehicle of damage.
- SPAI (Super Personal Accident Insurance): Personal accident and luggage theft insurance with full coverage.
- TP (Theft Protection): Partial exemption from liability in the event of the theft of the vehicle.
Discover the rest of the basic glossary for Business Travellers in parts I, II and III !
