One of the questions we get asked most often at Rent Cars Kigali is: "Do I need my own travel insurance if your rental already includes insurance?"
It is a smart question. Here is the completely honest answer.
What Our Rental Insurance Covers
Every vehicle we rent includes comprehensive insurance as standard. This covers:
- Third-party liability — damage or injury to other people and their property in an accident you cause
- Collision damage waiver (CDW) — reduces your financial liability for damage to the rental vehicle itself
- Theft protection — covers vehicle theft if proper security was observed
- 24/7 roadside assistance — breakdown support anywhere in Rwanda
What Our Rental Insurance Does NOT Cover
This is the important part. Our vehicle insurance does not cover:
- Your personal medical expenses if you are injured in an accident
- Your personal belongings stolen from the vehicle
- Emergency medical evacuation (which in Rwanda can be very expensive)
- Trip cancellation or curtailment costs
- Damage caused while driving under the influence
When You Should Get Additional Travel Insurance
If any of the following apply to you, we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance on top of our rental coverage:
- You are doing gorilla trekking — a $1,500 permit is a serious financial exposure if your trip is disrupted
- You have any pre-existing medical conditions
- You are traveling for more than 7 days
- You are bringing expensive camera or technical equipment
- Your home health insurance does not cover international medical emergencies
Recommended Travel Insurance for Rwanda
For most visitors, we recommend checking World Nomads or SafetyWing — both cover Rwanda and include adventure activities like gorilla trekking and hiking at Volcanoes National Park.
Does Your Existing Credit Card Cover Rental Cars?
Some premium Visa and Mastercard products include rental car insurance. Check with your card provider before your trip — if your card covers collision damage, you may be able to reduce your excess liability on our rental agreement.
Questions about insurance and coverage? Talk to our team via WhatsApp before you book — we will explain exactly what is covered for your specific rental.
