Car Rental Insurance Exclusions

Car hire insurance and damage waivers are designed to reduce certain risks during a rental, but they do not cover every situation, cost, or type of damage. This page explains the main exclusions that customers should understand before accepting a vehicle, especially for bookings made without a security deposit.

For bookings made without a security deposit, the exclusions below are not covered. The renter, approved driver, or contracting party may remain responsible for these losses, charges, fees, penalties, and costs.

EliteMotion does not require a security deposit by default. Customers who want a booking to include a security deposit must request it before the booking is confirmed or before the vehicle is released. Security deposits are only available for customers who pay for insurance for their rental period, because the deposit is intended to cover amounts that insurance does not cover, including excess amounts, excluded losses, charges, fees, and other customer liabilities. The security deposit is usually calculated as seven times the daily rental rate, unless a different deposit amount is stated in the booking confirmation, rental contract, invoice, or supplier-specific terms.

The security deposit is refundable after the vehicle is returned, subject to inspection and deduction of any unpaid rental charges, damage costs, fines, penalties, loss of use, missing items, fuel charges, or other amounts owed under the rental contract.

Insurance and waiver products do not remove all renter responsibility. The renter, approved driver, or contracting party may remain liable for losses, damage, costs, fees, penalties, excess amounts, loss of use, recovery charges, administrative charges, or third-party claims where the loss is excluded, caused by breach of contract, or otherwise not accepted by the insurer or supplier.

1. CDW Exclusions

Collision Damage Waiver, where provided or purchased, does not cover every part of the vehicle and does not operate as full protection against all losses.

Unless specifically stated in writing, CDW does not cover loss of or damage to tires, wheels, rims, wheel covers, windshields, windows, mirrors, glass, roof, undercarriage, suspension, interior trim, upholstery, dashboard, entertainment systems, accessories, roof racks, GPS devices, child seats, personal items, tools, keys, remotes, or any removable or fixed component of the vehicle.

CDW may also not cover damage caused by off-road use, water crossings, poor road conditions, reckless driving, negligence, misuse, breach of the rental agreement, unauthorized drivers, or use of the vehicle outside the permitted area.

2. Personal Injuries to the Driver

Medical expenses, hospital bills, treatment costs, loss of income, disability, death, pain and suffering, or any personal injury claim relating to the driver are not included unless a separate personal accident cover has been expressly confirmed in writing.

The renter and driver are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate medical insurance, travel insurance, personal accident cover, or any other protection they require.

3. Passenger Injuries

Medical expenses, hospital bills, treatment costs, loss of income, disability, death, pain and suffering, or any personal injury claim relating to passengers are not included unless expressly covered under a separate written insurance arrangement.

Passengers are responsible for their own personal medical, travel, and accident insurance unless the rental agreement expressly states otherwise.

4. Negligence, Reckless Driving, or Misuse

Insurance, CDW, or any waiver may be void where loss or damage results from negligence, reckless driving, careless driving, dangerous driving, intentional conduct, misuse of the vehicle, racing, towing another vehicle, overloading, carrying prohibited goods, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, ignoring warning lights, continuing to drive after a mechanical warning, or failing to take reasonable care of the vehicle.

Any damage caused by breach of road traffic laws, breach of the rental agreement, or failure to follow reasonable supplier instructions may remain the full responsibility of the renter.

5. Personal Belongings

Loss, theft, disappearance, or damage to personal belongings inside, on, or around the vehicle is not covered.

This includes luggage, phones, laptops, cameras, cash, cards, documents, jewellery, clothing, business equipment, travel items, and any other personal property belonging to the renter, driver, passengers, or third parties.

Customers should not leave valuables unattended in the vehicle.

6. Towing, Recovery, and Roadside Charges

Towing fees, recovery fees, roadside assistance charges, storage fees, call-out fees, rescue charges, police yard fees, impound fees, or transport costs may not be covered.

Where towing or recovery is required because of driver negligence, wrong fuel, accident, unsafe driving, flat battery caused by customer use, tire damage, key loss, running out of fuel, unauthorized route use, or breach of the rental agreement, the renter may be responsible for all related costs.

7. Unauthorized Drivers

Any person who is not named, approved, or included in the rental contract is not covered.

If an unauthorized person drives the vehicle, all insurance, CDW, waivers, and supplier protections may be void. The renter may be fully responsible for any loss, damage, injury, claim, fine, penalty, recovery cost, loss of use, or third-party liability arising during or after unauthorized use.

8. Fuel Negligence

Costs resulting from wrong fuel, contaminated fuel, poor-quality fuel, fuel system damage, running out of fuel, fuel mismanagement, or roadside assistance connected to fuel issues are not covered.

The renter is responsible for using the correct fuel type, checking fuel levels, returning the vehicle with the agreed fuel level, and immediately stopping the vehicle if a fuel mistake is suspected.

9. Unauthorized Cross-Border Use

Insurance and CDW may be void if the vehicle is taken outside Kenya or across any border without prior written approval and the required cross-border permit.

Unauthorized cross-border use may make the renter fully liable for loss, damage, theft, recovery, repatriation, fines, border charges, customs issues, third-party claims, and any other costs arising from use outside the permitted territory.

10. Traffic Fines, Penalties, and Offences

Traffic fines, parking tickets, speeding penalties, toll violations, impound charges, court fines, police penalties, administrative penalties, or any other offence-related charges are not covered by insurance, CDW, or any waiver.

The renter, driver, or contracting party remains responsible for fines, penalties, legal costs, administrative fees, and related charges arising during the rental period or connected to their use, possession, parking, routing, or operation of the vehicle.

11. Loss of Use

Where the vehicle is damaged, stolen, impounded, detained, or otherwise unavailable because of an accident, misuse, negligence, breach of contract, or excluded event, the supplier may charge loss of use.

Loss of use may be charged at the applicable daily rental rate for the reasonable period required to assess, recover, repair, replace, or return the vehicle to service. This may apply in addition to repair costs, excess amounts, towing, storage, administrative charges, and other related expenses.

12. Keys, Tools, Accessories, and Vehicle Components

Loss of, theft of, or damage to keys, remote controls, alarms, aerials, jack, wheel spanner, spare wheel, safety triangles, reflective vests, windscreen wipers, petrol cap, luggage covers, number plates, documents, manuals, tracking devices, accessories, or any other fixed or mobile component of the vehicle is not covered unless expressly confirmed in writing.

The renter may be charged for replacement, repair, reprogramming, delivery, locksmith services, vehicle immobilization, administrative costs, and any loss of use connected to missing or damaged items.

13. Small Scratches, Minor Damage, and Wear Outside Normal Use

Small scratches, dents, chips, scuffs, stains, burns, tears, rim damage, tire cuts, interior damage, missing accessories, or other minor damage may not be covered.

Normal wear and tear does not include damage caused by careless use, poor parking, contact with branches, stones, curbs, luggage, animals, smoking, food spills, sharp objects, off-road use, or failure to report damage promptly.

The renter may be charged for minor damage identified during return inspection where the damage was not recorded on the vehicle handover form before the rental began.

Important Contract Note

This page is only a general guide. It is provided to help customers understand common insurance exclusions and situations where cover may not apply. It is not the final rental contract, insurance policy, or legal agreement.

This page does not replace the actual rental contract, insurance policy, supplier agreement, handover form, inspection report, invoice, booking confirmation, or any supplier-specific terms that apply to your rental.

Coverage, exclusions, excess amounts, claim procedures, and customer liability may vary depending on the vehicle, supplier, insurer, rental period, route, driver profile, and agreed rental terms.

Customers must carefully read the actual rental contract, insurance terms, booking confirmation, handover form, inspection report, and any supplier-specific terms before signing or accepting the vehicle. The signed rental contract and applicable supplier or insurer terms are the documents that control your rental.

By signing the rental agreement, paying for the booking, accepting the vehicle, or allowing the rental to proceed, the renter confirms that they understand insurance may not cover every loss and that exclusions may apply.

Read the full Terms and Conditions.