Car insurance needed for hire cars

Britons have been told to check their car insurance policies before hiring a vehicle in the coming months.

Neil Greig, director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, explains that minor bumps can be costly when covered by policies with large excesses.

He says: "The collision damage waiver and the insurance are the key issues.

"In the hopefully unlikely event of an accident you want to be sure that you are not ending up with a huge bill."

Meanwhile, he adds that some features which may not be considered essential in the UK could prove more important overseas.

One such example is air conditioning, which he advises is not a luxury in the Mediterranean region.

But he continues to point out that any change in the vehicles condition at the time it is returned could be liable for a hefty charge.

This could come down to something as specific as the car not having a full tank when handed back to the hire company.