Figures from the car hire broker Sunny Cars, published on 24 August 2026, show the average mechanical damage claim by its Dutch customers rose from €165 in 2024 to €489 in 2026, an increase of 196%.
- Glass damage now averages €523 per case.
- The company links the rise to the technical complexity of modern cars.
- For renters it means a small knock is more likely to cost the full excess, so the excess amount and what your cover excludes matter more than before.
A scrape on a bumper used to mean some filler and paint. Now the same bumper may hold a parking sensor, and the bill looks very different. Figures from the car hire broker Sunny Cars show that the average mechanical damage claim by its Dutch customers rose from €165 in 2024 to €489 in 2026, an increase of 196%. Here is what the numbers say, what they leave out, and what they mean for the excess on your next rental.
What the figures show about rental car damage costs
Sunny Cars published the figures on 24 August 2026, based on damage claims from customers who booked through its Dutch website. They were reported by Verkeersbureaus.info, Autoblog and Aftersales Magazine. Mechanical damage showed the biggest jump. Glass damage now costs an average of €523 per case, 14% more than two years earlier and 6% more than last year. Tyre damage was 34% more expensive last year than the year before.
Small dents and scratches make up the largest share of damage paid out this year at 39%, followed by glass at 17% and tyres at 15%. So far this year, 51 Dutch customers lost a car key and towing costs were claimed on 253 bookings. Sunny Cars said it paid out just over €6 million in damage compensation last year, up from just over €5 million the year before, and €3.3 million so far in the current financial year.
Keep in mind where the numbers come from. They are one broker's own data, for its Dutch bookings, and the company sells all-inclusive cover. The reports do not mention any independent check. Read them as a clear signal of the direction, not as a market average.
Why repairs cost more now
Suzanne Al, co-managing director of Sunny Cars, was quoted by Verkeersbureaus.info as saying that the rise in mechanical damage costs comes mainly from the increasingly complex technology in modern cars. On many newer cars, sensors and cameras sit in the bumpers, mirrors and windscreen, so a part that used to be cheap to swap is now an electronic component, and replacing it can mean recalibrating the system as well. Autoblog put it in one line: these days a sensor wakes up first, and then a bill appears.
What rising repair costs mean for your excess
If your contract includes a damage waiver, you normally pay at most the excess for covered damage. Higher repair prices do not change that ceiling. They do change how often you hit it. When a scratch on a sensor-equipped bumper costs more than your excess, the rental company can charge the full excess for damage that once cost a fraction of it.
There is a second effect. Many contracts exclude glass, tyres, the underbody and the roof from the standard waiver, and those are exactly the parts where costs are climbing. Our article on windscreen, tyre and underbody damage explains why these are often left out and what you can do about it.
Rental companies also have their own way of pricing small damage. Europcar UK, for example, assesses light damage with a fixed price matrix plus an administration charge, and sends serious damage to independent engineers. When you receive a claim, ask how the amount was calculated. Our guide to estimates versus repair invoices shows what to ask for.
How to protect yourself on your next rental
Know your excess before you pick up the car, and check which parts the waiver leaves out. The excess calculator shows what you would pay in a few common situations, with and without extra cover. If you already have your own excess insurance, read how claiming your excess back works, because the rental company will usually charge you first.
The best protection against a claim you did not cause is still evidence. Sunny Cars said 34% of its renters now use its photo check at pick-up and return, and more than 41% did in July. You do not need a special app for that. Walk around the car, photograph every panel, the wheels, the glass and the dashboard, and do it again at return. Our pick-up checklist takes you through it, and CDW, excess and super cover explained helps you decide whether the extra cover at the desk is worth it for your trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much does rental car damage cost on average?
In Sunny Cars' figures for its Dutch customers, an average mechanical damage claim cost €489 in 2026, up from €165 in 2024. Glass damage averaged €523 per case, 14% more than two years earlier. These are one company's figures, not a market average.
Why is rental car damage getting more expensive?
Sunny Cars attributes the rise mainly to the growing technical complexity of modern cars. Sensors and cameras sit behind bumpers, mirrors and windscreens, so a repair that used to be simple can now involve parts that need replacing and recalibrating.
Does higher repair cost mean I pay more?
Not above your excess, as long as the damage is covered by your waiver. What changes is that small damage reaches the excess sooner, so a scratch or a chip is more likely to cost the full amount.
Is glass and tyre damage covered by a standard damage waiver?
Often not. Many rental contracts exclude windscreens, tyres, the underbody and the roof from the standard waiver. Check the terms, or buy cover that names these parts explicitly.
Sources
- verkeersbureaus.infoVerkeersbureaus.info: Schade aan huurauto op vakantie is fors duurder geworden (24 August 2026, Dutch)
- autoblog.nlAutoblog: Dit is waarom een huurauto steeds meer risico met zich meebrengt (24 August 2026, Dutch)
- aftersalesmagazine.nlAftersales Magazine: Schade aan huurauto flink duurder door complexere techniek (25 August 2026, Dutch)
- europcar.co.ukEuropcar UK: Damage Management Policy