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Choosing whether to take Excess Reduction can make or break a great holiday!

We’ve all heard the stories : you’re nearing the end of another amazing holiday on the Gold Coast ; kids are tired and happy from days spent at the theme parks, mum and dad have ticked off their to-do list and there’s just one more stop to make for last minute gifts at Pacific Fair.
But coming back to the rental car, your heart sinks. There’s a nasty looking scrape and dents all down the side of the vehicle that you just know weren’t there before! There’s no one around to ask, and of course, hardly anyone leaves notes on the windscreen anymore!
It’s an unfortunate, and often expensive situation far too many holiday makers find themselves in on a daily basis. But the good news is that all this angst can be avoided simply by asking your friendly OCR Car Rentals staff member about their Excess Reduction options.
Excess Reduction Cover is available on all rentals from OCR meaning you can holiday and enjoy all the great destinations South East Queensland and beyond have to offer, with complete peace of mind that any damage your rental vehicle may sustain, no matter the cause, is nearly all or completely, covered by one of the affordable options they offer.
A commonly heard phrase we hear in car rentals is “I’m a good driver, I haven’t had an accident all my life”. What can be overlooked are the situations we forget about, and can be largely out of our control. Hail or storm damage, not uncommon anywhere and anytime virtually anywhere in Australia. Or damage caused by other parties who may be uninsured, unable to pay or in the worst cases, simply “do a runner” and fail to leave contact details.
With a standard liability, or excess, applicable for damages up to $5000.00, these unexpected incidents can put a serious dent in anyones’ savings, and turn even a short trip away from a relaxing break into a financial nightmare in the blink of an eye.
By choosing OCR’s most affordable Excess Reduction package, this out-of-pocket liability reduces to a far more affordable amount, meaning more hard earned money to spend on holiday outings, dinner for two or whatever takes your fancy.
Even if travellers have purchased or hold rental car insurance or excess cover protection from their booking agent or credit card companies, many fail to realise how these third-party cover options work : all costs for repairs, including vehicle out-of use charges, possible third-party damage and even recovery and administration fees must first be paid in full by the renter. Only once all repairs and reparations are finalised – a process that can take weeks and even up to months – can the renter submit a claim to their insurer to reimburse these costs. Meaning even though they may be covered in the long run, they could be out of pocket by thousands of dollars, possibly accruing interest on the credit card, for far longer periods than envisaged.

This is why OCRs own Excess Reduction cover makes so much sense! For a minimal upfront charge, lengthy recovery times, submitting time consuming paperwork and the stress of waiting for an eventual refund can all be avoided, letting you carry on with life and planning your next getaway, rather than spendingtime chasing your own money and likely rueing an unfortunate turn of events
The simple question to ask yourself when considering Excess Reduction cover is, “can I afford to be without such a large sum of my own money, for something that may not even be my own fault ?”
Finally, for those who prefer to be 100% covered in all scenarios, OCR offer our ultimate Excess Reduction package : the zero excess option.
This means exactly as it sounds. A stone flicks up from the roadworks on the M1 and chips your windscreen ? That small chip may turn into a crack, or if located in the drivers field of vision, law dictates the whole screen must be replaced. With all the cameras and collision sensors now fitted to cars these days, most windscreens cost over a thousand dollars to replace. With our ultimate zero excess cover, you pay nothing!
You drive over a nail on the road near all the never ending construction in Surfers Paradise, and the tyre needs replacing – the low profile tyres fitted to modern SUVs often come with modern price tags, up to a thousand dollars each and beyond!. Again, with our zero excess cover, you pay nothing!
When you think about it, choosing one of the affordable options on offer from OCR to reduce your risk of a costly out-of-pocket expense just makes sense.
We can all make simple mistakes, especially when driving an unfamiliar vehicle in an unfamiliar location that can cost us dearly.
And even when not at fault, other factors can all combine to create unfortunate circumstances we’d all rather avoid but can’t. Weather related damage, road conditions, third party damage, often even while the car is parked and unattended – all can lead to a significant dent in our holiday budgets, not to mention the time and stress involved we simply won’t get back
So to surmise, OCR’s excess reduction cover works for you in numerous ways. It protects you from unexpected, sometimes costly expense. It can save you time and stress having to deal with bureaucratic third party excess insurance agents who can make you jump through hoops to submit a claim, while making you wait long periods for a resolution.
Lastly, it lets you enjoy your time on the Gold Coast and beyond with the piece of mind that comes from knowing all you have to do is relax, rewind, and enjoy exploring all of the fantastic destinations South East Queensland has to offer, without the worry of having to deal with any damage whatsoever to your late model quality rental from OCR!