Save on Rental Car Insurance

Omega's Insurance Excess Waiver Rates (CDW) are the Cheapest in the Country!

Here's all the fine print you need to know...

Option 1

All our vehicles are covered by insurance, however an excess applies of NZ$2500.  We offer COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER (CDW) Insurance to drivers over 20 years of age, which reduces this excess to either $400 or NIL, depending on the option selected.  CDW rates are shown on the rental options page as you progress through the booking process. 

Note: Drivers under the age of 21 years or drivers on a Restricted/Australian red P1 licence may only hire Omega’s Deals, Economy, Budget or Premium Budget car categories

Option 2

STANDARD INSURANCE excess is NZD$2500.00.  If an accident occurs while the car is on hire you are liable for NZD$2500.00 or the cost of repair, whichever is the lesser amount.  The excess applies to damage to the vehicle or damage caused by the vehicle.  This covers damage to both the rental car and third party vehicles or property up to the value of NZD$1,000,000.00.

Conditions (apply to both Options 1 & 2)

The Hirer must be 18yrs or over. Credit card details are required to secure a booking and your card is validated, but no charge is made until you uplift your rental vehicle. Payment is taken in full upon collection.

Note: In all cases the credit card holder must be present upon the collection of the vehicle, be included on and sign the Rental Agreement. Alternately a bond of $2500.00 is required.

A Debit Card (such as Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard or Prepaid Travel Card) is accepted as security when hiring a vehicle, provided that Gold CDW is selected. If Silver or Bronze CDW is selected, a debit card bond is required which may be paid via debit card upon vehicle collection. The bond is NZ$400 where Omega’s Silver CDW has been selected, and NZ$2500 if Bronze is selected.

Please note:  You can pay for the rental and/or the bond using any card including an Eftpos card (we do not accept cash bonds).  However, an Eftpos card is not sufficient security on its own to rent a car from Omega. If you do not have an accepted credit card or a bank issued Visa or Mastercard debit card you will not be able to rent from Omega, even with a bond payment.  Any card presented should be embossed in the name of the person hiring the car, and should match the name of the drivers license being presented. Omega Rental Cars reserves the right to refuse any card.  If you are not sure if your credit/debit card can be used for payment, please email us on rent-car@omegarentals.com.  

Drivers under 21 / Restricted Licence

• HIRERS WHO ARE 18YRS AND OVER ON A RESTRICTED LICENCE (or Australian Red P1 driver's licence) - a NZ$2500.00 insurance excess applies and the hirer is not able to purchase Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW).  A NZ$2500.00 bond is required.

• HIRERS WHO ARE 18-20YRS OF AGE and on a FULL LICENCE (or Australian Green P2 licence) – you may purchase CDW for our Today’s Deal car category only (Gold CDW will reduce your excess to nil, and Silver CDW will reduce your excess to $400).  Hirers under 21 who have a credit card or debit card, renting the Today's Deal car and purchasing Omega's Gold CDW (nil excess), will not be required to leave a bond.  When hiring any other car category a NZ$2500.00 insurance excess applies, you will not be able to purchase Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW) and a NZ$2500.00 bond is required. 

Insurance Exclusions

The indemnities referred to above shall not apply where the damage, injury, or loss arises when:

(a) The driver of the vehicle is under the influence of alcohol or any drug that affects his or her ability to drive the vehicle ;

(b) The vehicle is in an unsafe or unroadworthy condition, which arises during the hire, of which the Hirer or driver is aware, or should be aware of, and which causes or contributes to further damage or loss.

(c) The vehicle is operated in any race, speed test, rally or contest;

(d) The vehicle is driven by any person not named in clause 3 of this agreement;

(e) The vehicle is driven by any person who, at the time when he or she drives the vehicle, is disqualified from holding, or has never held a drivers license appropriate for the vehicle;

(f) The vehicle is wilfully or recklessly damaged by the Hirer, any person named in clause 3 of this agreement or any other person driving the vehicle under the authority of the hirer;

(g) The vehicle is lost or stolen as a result of wilful or reckless behaviour of the Hirer or any such person;

(h) The vehicle is operated outside the term of the hire, or any agreed extension of the term;

(i) The vehicle is operated in breach of clause 18 of the rental agreement;

(j) In the event the driver is charged with an infringement/ offence as a result of an accident, the Hirer’s liability is increased to the replacement cost of the vehicle, or a minimum of $5000;

(k) The vehicle is operated on any beach or off-road including Ninety Mile Beach, Te Paki Stream Bed, Skippers Canyon, Macetown, beyond Glenorchy, Raspberry Creek, Ball Pass and Hawke Road South Canterbury;

(l) Any damage is caused during the fitting or use of snow chains & roof racks while the vehicle is on hire;

(m) In the event of a single vehicle accident the cost of towing and /or salvage of the vehicle will be at the Hirer’s expense;

(n) The vehicle including its accessories is damaged by an item transported inside or outside the vehicle such as skis, snow/surf boards or bicycles;

(o) It is agreed between the owner and the Hirer that section 11 of the Insurance Law Reform Act 1977 shall apply to the above as if this clause constituted a contract of Insurance.  The general effect of this provision is that an exclusion will not apply if the hirer proves on the balance of probability that the damage was not caused or contributed to by the matters to which the exclusion applies.

Download a Sample Contract  (PDF 950kb)

Download our Insurance Quick Reference Guide  (PDF 237kb) - NB: This is not a substitute for the rental contract but a quick guide to some of the key points.