What is Theft Protection in van rental?

Theft Protection is a type of cover used in van hire. Theft Protection covers part of the cost for replacing the hire van if it’s stolen while you have it. It also covers repairing the van if it’s damaged when someone tries to steal it.

What Theft Protection covers

Each van hire company has its own specific rules, but Theft Protection usually covers the cost of replacing the rental van if it’s stolen, and repairs to the van if it gets damaged when someone tries to steal it. Theft Protection does not cover anything inside the van, such as your luggage, phone or GPS.

Theft Protection works alongside your rental agreement. So, if you don’t stick to the terms of your rental agreement, Theft Protection won’t work at all. If, for example, you left the van unlocked and it was stolen, you would be liable for the whole cost of replacing the van.

How Theft Protection works with an excess

Theft Protection limits your financial loss if the van is stolen or someone tries to steal it.

The limit to how much you will pay if the van is stolen is your excess, sometimes known as the deductible. The excess is the first part of the cost of a repair or replacement van. It is the maximum amount that you have to pay if the van is stolen or damaged through an attempted theft.

How Theft Protection works with other types of cover

Theft Protection is one of the three basic types of cover every rental van will have. The other two are Collision Damage Waiver and Third Party Liability. Depending on which country you’re renting in, the three basic covers might be included when you book, they might come with your credit card, or you might have to buy them at the counter.

Collision Damage Waiver limits how much a van hire company can claim from you for repairs to certain parts of a rental van if it gets damaged while you have it.

Third Party Liability is the insurance that pays out on your behalf if you hurt anyone or damage someone else’s property with your hire van. It doesn’t cover your hire van or yourself.

You may also see Loss Damage Waiver from some van hire companies. Loss Damage Waiver combines Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection.

Extra theft cover you can buy at the rental counter

When you pick up your rental van, the counter staff will probably offer you some optional cover or insurance. This will cost extra, it won’t be legally required and will be on top of what the van comes with automatically.

This cover is likely to include things your standard Theft Protection doesn’t cover, such as items inside the van. It might also reduce your excess, and sometimes they even remove it entirely so you have a ‘zero excess’. This means that, if the van is stolen, you would not have to pay anything towards its replacement.

The counter staff selling these products are likely to earn some commission if you purchase them, so they will know a lot about them if you have questions. You can also ask them about what cover the van comes with automatically. The prices for optional cover vary depending on the van hire company, the length of your rental and the type of van you’re hiring.