When you need this
This is the part of the rental counter where people get nervous, because it's about money and rules. The agent checks your driver's license, maybe asks for an international driving permit, and then offers insurance. The words are new, and the agent talks fast because they say it fifty times a day.
Slow them down. "Sorry, what does that cover?" is a normal question here. The key word is "deductible": the amount you pay yourself if the car is damaged, before the insurance pays the rest. In Australia and the UK you'll hear "excess" for the same thing. A lower deductible costs more per day.
Phrases
the card that says you can drive; British spelling is licence
a paper translation of your license, needed in some countries
asks if the price already has insurance in it
asks what the insurance pays for
what you pay yourself before insurance pays
asks for better cover, usually for more money
insurance with a very low or zero deductible
some cards include rental insurance
says no to an offer politely
many companies have a minimum age, often twenty-five
an extra daily charge for drivers under twenty-five
asks to look for old damage before you leave
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Practice · 3 min
Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.