Car rental, decoded
Excess reimbursement
Also known as: excess protection, excess insurance
A separate policy, often bought from a third party rather than the rental desk, that pays back the excess you would owe after damage or theft. You typically pay any charge first and claim it back, and exclusions apply.
Nifti note
For travelers: a standalone excess policy can be a lower price than the counter's excess-reduction product but understand that it's a different product and doesn't change the rental company's credit card authorization (deposit) policy or deductible. Check how the claim process and exclusions work when buying an excess or deductible reimbursement policy.