About Waivers, Liabilities and Cover
Budget car rental rates South Africa include limited coverage of passenger liability and third party liability cover. Such cover being subject to the terms and conditions of the Budget policy and waivers as is customary in this country. Cover for loss by fire is also included together with cover for damage to the Budget car but may not include loss or damage through civil unrest.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
For your peace of mind, Budget offers a choice of 2 optional waivers for your protection in the event of accidental damage to the vehicle. These are known as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). Choosing limited waivers means that in the event of an accident, the renter is responsible for up to the specified amount as indicated on the rates table for repair to or replacement of the vehicle or part thereof (or the cost of damage repair, whichever is the lower). By choosing Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW), a lower, non-waivable liability will apply (refer table below for values).
Declining either of these options means you are liable for the full amount of damages incurred or the specified liability. Authorisation will be gained to secure the liability amount on your credit card for the duration of the rental.
NOTE: In the event of an accident occurring while the vehicle was not driven by the renter, or other authorised driver as nominated on the rental agreement, the renter will be responsible for the full damage to or loss of the vehicle, if the vehicle was driven on unsuitable roads, the renter was driving negligently or if no other car, animal or object was involved.
Theft Loss Waiver (TLW)
Budget offers 2 optional Theft Loss Waivers (TLW). Limited Waiver means that if the vehicle or any part of it is stolen while in your possession, you will be responsible for the replacement up to the specified amount reflected on the Rates Table. However, you could also choose to select Super Theft Loss Waiver (STLW) which means that a lower, non-waivable liability will apply due to theft of a vehicle whilst in your possession (unless breach of contract or negligence occurs).
Declining these options means that you are liable for the full amount of the damages of the total liability as reflected on the Rates Table. Authorisation will be gained to secure the amount of the liability for the duration of the rental on your credit card. Personal belongings in the car are not covered.
Minor Damage Waiver (MDW)
This product is available at the point of rental check-out. This cover includes any damage to the body of the vehicle up to the amount of R5 000 including but not limited to scratches, dents or minor collisions. Should MDW be accepted and the damage exceeds R5 000, the CDW liability will apply, depending on the waiver option chosen.
Hail Damage Waiver (HDW)
This product is available at the point of rental check-out. This cover includes the cost of repairs for all hail-related damages to the vehicle’s body or windscreen.
No liability charges apply when HDW is taken. However, if this is declined the Collision Damage Waiver will apply and it will be charged double in the event of hail damage, depending on the waiver option chosen
What does the Windscreen Tyre and Third Party Damage Waiver Cover?
WTTDW includes damage to the windscreen and tyres of a vehicle and third party incidents. These three items can be defined as follows:
Windscreen: Any window in the vehicle is covered under WDTTW. This includes door windows, rear window and windscreen.
Tyres: The vehicle's tyre, including the spare wheel. The metal rim, hubcaps and alloy mags wheels are also covered under WTTDW.
Loss of tyres, rims or hubcaps are not covered under WTTDW but will fall under the Theft Loss Waiver.
Third Party: Third Party: Renters are liable for the first R15,900.00 in the event of a third-party damage, by accepting WTTDW the liability is reduced to zero*.
Weekend Rentals
Payment of Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Loss Waiver covers 80% of the total liability on weekend rentals. Only direct family members will be permitted as an additional drivers on weekend rentals countrywide.
Please Note: For weekend rentals we take a credit card authorisation for the estimated cost of the rental plus an additional weekend authorisation* as follows:
Applicable to Western Cape only: R3,500 (on all car groups)
- During weekends, R3,500 is payable when producing a boarding pass, should no boarding pass be presented, then you are liable to pay R7,000 as an authorisation.
- During the week, R3,500 will be payable irrespective of a boarding pass being present as an authorisation..
*Airport Locations - The additional weekend authorisation will be waived upon presentation of a valid airline boarding pass. Excludes Kaiser Matanzima Airport.
Third Party Cover (TPC)
In the event of an accident Budget offers various vehicle damage and theft waivers to reduce your damage costs. Damage to third party property resulting from such an accident, will also be included subject to the following:
- The damage to third party property must have been caused by the rented vehicle while being driven or under the control of the renter or any other driver authorised in terms of the rental agreement;
- The damage to the third party property must have been proved to have been caused by the fault or negligence of the renter or any other driver authorised in terms of the rental agreement;
- The Renter or any other driver authorised in terms of the rental agreement must not have been in breach of the terms and conditions of the Budget rental agreement at the time of the damage; and
- The maximum amount payable by Budget will never exceed R6,000,000 (six million Rands).
Click here to read more about Budget's liability to Third Parties