Zero Excess Albania Car Hire

No Excess Car Hire in Albania - Your protection package

You may have already heard the term ‘zero excess’ floating around when booking car rentals, especially if you frequently rent cars. But, if you’re a first time car renter and are heading on a trip to Albania, you may be wondering what zero excess means and how to find it. Zero excess is usually an automatic option for most rental cars, or you can select ‘zero excess’ on the car rental page if booking online. But, what exactly is zero excess? Find out here plus more helpful information regarding all things zero excess in this useful guide.

Zero Excess in Albania– What It Is and Why You Should Choose It

Zero Excess simply means that you can avoid any extra charges and will not be liable to pay for any damages or repairs should your hire car sustain any damages. Zero excess can sometimes appear as ‘Collision Damage Waiver’, which can be purchased alongside your rental car for extra protection, insurance, and peace of mind. Bear in mind that the Collision Damage Waiver may only cover certain parts or areas of the car.

This means that if you’re planning a road trip across Albania, you can have total peace of mind in the event of a crash or damage to your car, leaving you free to explore the country with the assurance that you won’t have to fork out any extra cash to cover repair costs. Albania is rife with mountainous terrain, hills, and winding roads, especially outside of large cities, making it somewhat challenging to explore and drive through if you’re not a very experienced driver. Purchasing zero excess can leave you worry-free and safe to enjoy your trip away.

The Main Zero Excess Car Hire Providers in Albania

Some of the main car hire suppliers from downtown Tirana that offer reduced excess include Alamo, Europcar, and AutoUnion. Reduced Excess can still give you peace of mind, and you can also select additional insurance if you want to ensure that areas of the car that may not be included in the Collision Damage Waiver are covered.

Standard Car Insurance normally includes some level of protection from damages and thefts, but you may still be liable for paying repairs or damages, from varying starting rates. Choosing additional coverage or top-up insurance can give you extra assurance that you won’t be liable to pay anything extra than what you expect to pay for, such as a deposit and cost per day of renting.

Save Money on Zero Excess Car Hire in Albania

It’s no secret or surprise that zero excess is one of the best ways to ensure a hassle-free journey from the moment you book to the moment you drop off your car. Not only does it give you complete peace of mind and assurance that you won’t lose any money, but it also helps save you from the stresses of endless paperwork or long processes. Simply select zero or reduced excess and additional coverage, and begin your journey across Albania or the city you’re staying in.

Booking online can also help save you a lot of time and money, as in-person bookings may take a lot longer due to more demand and larger queues, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll secure the car and any added extras when you need it. If you’re new to car renting, being able to ensure and see that you’ve selected zero excess or additional insurance when booking can also help with peace of mind, as you may not know about zero excess or forget to ensure that your supplier offers it if booking at a car rental desk.

How Does Zero Excess Work?

When booking online, the booking page will show all the vehicles available on your inputted date, and any extras such as mileage, transmission, or pricing included. For certain places, there may be a ‘zero excess’ filter option, which you can select to see which vehicles and suppliers offer zero excess vehicle hire. If this is unavailable, check for any information about theft and damage cover, or Collision Damage Waivers. You may be able to purchase additional coverage for areas of the car that aren’t included in the insurance.

What to Consider When Hiring a Vehicle in Albania

There are certain things you need to consider before you hire your car, for example, the reputability of the supplier you’re hiring from, their reviews, and the quality of the vehicle you’re looking to hire. Fortunately, the majority of car hire companies in Albania are reputable, reliable, and safe, and have great reviews for ease of booking, customer service, and overall vehicle quality and maintenance.

If you’re worried, try to opt for a renowned car hire company that is well known across Europe, e.g., Hertz, Enterprise, or Europcar. Bigger and more well-known companies tend to be the most trustworthy and offer the best extras and add-ons to your car hire, like zero excess or additional insurance.

Enjoy Your Trip Around Albania with Zero Excess

While there are some downsides to zero excess car hire, it’s generally recommended that you purchase it, as road accidents can catch you off guard, and you don’t want to end up potentially paying thousands in damage repairs. With zero excess, you can ensure a stress-free and hassle-free trip.

You don’t want to spend your trip to Albania worrying about costs or vehicle repairs, which is why zero excess is a good idea–in short, it saves you time, money, and helps your trip run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Why not head to Durres for a beachside excursion, or stroll around Tirana for an insight into the best of Albanian culture, gastronomy, and entertainment?

How to Get Around Safely and Responsibly in Albania

It’s easy to drive around Albania when you respect the rules of the road. Stick to the designated speed limit as you would in your own country, avoid dangerous or unfamiliar roads that have little signage, and be respectful of other drivers. Ensure you’re aware of Albania’s roadways and rules before driving—unlike the UK, you drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left in Albania.

Another thing to be aware of is pedestrianized areas or roads that are in built-up inner-city areas. While the speed limit may be higher on country roads, it’s usually a lot lower in inner-city areas to avoid collisions. While zero excess covers damages to your car, it’s still not a good idea to go zooming around at max speed when there are people and other cars around, is what we’re getting at.

What to Do in an Emergency or Road Accident in Albania

In the unfortunate event of a car accident, collision, or breakdown, here’s what you should do to minimize further damage to your car or injury to yourself or others. In the event of an emergency, you should call 112, and you’ll be transferred to the appropriate services. If your car has stalled or broken down, turn on the hazard lights and call the nearest breakdown services—your rental car should usually have breakdown cover already.

If your car is running low on petrol and you’re not close to a service or garage, move your car safely off the road and call for help. You shouldn’t need to know any Albanian to get around or be understood as English is widely spoken in most large cities, but if you’re in the middle of nowhere it may give you peace of mind to learn some basic phrases—‘help’ in Albanian is ‘ndihmë’, and thank you is ‘faleminderit.’

How to Avoid Extra Charges When Driving in Albania

Zero excess or CDWs usually cover the main fees, but some areas of the car may not be included in the cover, such as the undercarriage, wheels, or windshield. If these aren’t included, you should avoid any activity or road conditions that may cause these areas to become damaged, making you liable to pay for repairs.

Albania’s roads are easy to drive across, but some country roads or mountainous roads can be difficult to navigate and drive across, so be careful when driving on these types of roads to avoid any unwanted damages and charges.

Ensure that you return your car to the designated and agreed location on the date and time that was planned. Returning your car late or not showing up can make you be charged extra. It’s a good idea to ensure that you read up on all the details of your car hire before booking, so you’re aware of what is and isn’t included. This can save money, time, and stress.