British hire car drivers visiting the USA are missing out on millions of pounds worth of savings.

Each year, a staggering £280m* is spent on insurance by UK drivers of rental vehicles in the States, according to research by iCarhireinsurance.com, the provider of low-cost, comprehensive hire car cover.

Car rental desks in the USA typically charge around £12.61** a day for Collision Damage Waiver and Supplemental Liability Insurance.

1.3 million Brits hired cars in the USA in 2009 for an average of 16 days, and most buy their insurance from the car rental company or as part of a fly-drive package. This means UK holidaymakers spent as much as £280million on hire car insurance.

But it needn’t be this way. Many rental companies give customers the choice of hiring a car in the USA inclusive, or exclusive of insurance, so it is important that customers take advantage of the opportunity to shop around, and discover if they can get a better deal elsewhere.

iCarhireinsurance.com’s daily US and Canada policy costs just £4.99 a day, and is fully comprehensive, saving customers more than £7.62 a day. This means that UK hire car drivers in the States could be £169m*** better off each year, if they simply bought their cover online from iCarhireinsurance.com in advance, rather than from the car rental desks or as part of a package.

The iCarhireinsurance.com USA & Canada policies are not only much better value than those available at most car rental desks, they offer even more security, with cover for Road Rage, Carjacking, Travel Expenses, Hotel Expenses, and Drop-off charges. Furthermore, annual policies offer 60 days’ continuous cover at no additional charge.

Those hiring a car in the USA for any more than 22 days a year would be better off purchasing an iCarhireinsurance.com annual policy at just £109.99.

Ernesto Suarez, founder and CEO of iCarhireinsurance.com said, “We are urging customers to buy before they fly. The USA is a great place to visit, but it can be very expensive for UK travellers at the moment. With just a little bit of planning, like buying your car hire insurance before you leave for the States, you could make significant savings. The amount of money spent by hire car drivers in the USA on insurance is extraordinary, but so much of it is unnecessary. Rental companies charge over the odds but holidaymakers do have a choice and they must use it.

“At iCarhireinsurance.com we’ve created a range of policies that are cheaper and more comprehensive than those offered at car rental desks. Furthermore, our website has been designed to cut through the insurance mumbo jumbo, making it easier for customers to find the cover they need and buy the right policy at the right price.”