01
Third-party cover is compulsory, damage cover is not
Third-party liability (TPL) is compulsory in Spain and always included in the rental. It covers damage to others, but not damage to the rental car you are driving. For that you need collision cover.
02
CDW, LDW and SCDW
- CDW limits your liability for damage; an excess almost always remains.
- LDW is CDW plus cover for theft and vandalism.
- SCDW sharply reduces the excess or removes it altogether.
| Term | What it does | Excess? |
|---|---|---|
| TPL | Damage to others | Not applicable |
| CDW | Damage to the car | Yes, often €900 to €1,500 |
| LDW | CDW plus theft and vandalism | Yes |
| SCDW / Super Cover | Excess bought off | No, or greatly reduced |
03
Excess versus deposit
The excess is the amount you pay yourself in the event of damage or theft. The deposit is the amount the rental company temporarily blocks on your credit card as security. In Ibiza the deposit commonly ranges from €300 to €1,500.
04
What is not covered
Even with collision cover, exclusions usually remain. On the narrow and sometimes unsurfaced roads down to the calas, generous cover is worth having.
- Tyres and wheels
- Windows
- The underside and floor pan
- The roof
- Damage from the wrong fuel
- Loss of the key
05
Buying off the excess: at the desk or in advance
Buying off the excess at the desk is usually relatively expensive. A separate excess policy bought at home normally works on a reimbursement basis, so you pay first and claim later. The simplest route is a deal where the excess and the usual exclusions are already covered.
06
The pitfalls
- A low daily rate with a high excess and expensive cover sold at the desk
- A large deposit that ties up your credit card limit for weeks
- No-deposit deals that come with extra conditions
- Damage claims for pre-existing scratches: always photograph the car at pick-up and return
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