Causeway Rental’s car insurance comes in three tiers as Standard, Premium and Platinum. The main difference is the level of cover and the excess you could be responsible for if covered damage occurs, ranging from RM5,000 on Standard to RM0 on Platinum, known as Causeway's zero-excess plan.
The refundable security deposit is separate from your insurance choice. Depending on the vehicle category, Causeway holds RM200 or RM500 as a pre-authorisation on your card rather than taking it as a payment.
This guide explains what each insurance tier covers, how the rental car excess works, what the security deposit means and which optional extras you can add to your booking.
Key Takeaways
- •Excess varies sharply by the CDW plan, from RM5,000 on Standard to RM0 on Platinum, Causeway's zero-excess plan and the standout option in the range.
- •Three insurance tiers: Standard (included), Premium (+RM40/day), Platinum (+RM80/day), each with a lower excess than the one before it.
- •Standard includes roadside assistance only, third-party liability and theft and fire cover start from Premium.
- •The security deposit is RM200 for a Sedan or SUV, RM500 for an MPV or EV, a pre-authorisation hold released back to you, not a charge.
- •Optional add-ons, an additional driver, a toll card, a child seat, windscreen and interior damage cover, are all priced separately from the insurance tiers.
What Does Car Rental Insurance Cover at Causeway?
Causeway's rental insurance options are structured in three tiers. Standard is included with the rental, while Premium and Platinum are optional upgrades at an additional daily cost.
As with any car rental in Malaysia, you can pay in full upfront or pay at pickup. The key difference is how much financial exposure you retain if something happens to the rental car.
Standard Insurance
Standard cover is included with the rental and comes with a RM5,000 excess.
It includes roadside assistance, while third-party liability, theft and fire cover and other additional protections are not included in this tier according to Causeway's current package structure.
Premium Insurance
Premium costs RM40 per day and reduces the excess to RM2,500.
It also adds third-party liability, theft and fire cover and flat battery assistance where the battery issue is the hirer's responsibility.
Platinum Zero-Excess Cover
Platinum costs RM80 per day and reduces the stated excess to RM0 for covered claims under the applicable rental terms.
It includes the protections available under Premium and adds tyre damage cover.
If limiting your potential out-of-pocket liability is a priority, Platinum is the most comprehensive of Causeway's three insurance options.
Causeway Rental Car Insurance Plans Compared
If you've been searching rental car insurance or cdw insurance for Malaysia generally, here's what Causeway actually provides, three named tiers rather than a single add-on:
| Benefit / Feature | Standard | Premium | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Included | +RM40/day | +RM80/day |
| Excess | RM5,000 | RM2,500 | RM0 |
| Roadside Assist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3rd Party Liability | No | Yes | Yes |
| Theft and Fire | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flat Battery Assist (hirer's fault) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tyre Damage | No | No | Yes |
| Zero Pay for Accident | No | No | Yes |
Excess is the amount you'd still have to pay out of pocket if the car is damaged, before your insurance tier covers the rest, a single figure per tier rather than a percentage of the damage. It's the single biggest thing that changes between Standard, Premium and Platinum, so it's worth understanding before comparing the daily add-on price.
Every vehicle on Malaysian roads carries the compulsory motor insurance required by law regardless of which tier you pick, that's not optional and isn't what this chart is about. What changes between tiers is your own personal liability and excess if something goes wrong during the rental, not whether the car itself is legally insured to be driven.
Causeway's Zero-Excess Platinum Plan
This is the one worth paying attention to. The excess is the amount you may be responsible for when a covered incident results in damage to the rental vehicle. Your potential liability depends on the insurance tier selected.
With Causeway:
For example, if an eligible incident results in RM8,000 of damage and your selected plan has a RM5,000 excess, your potential liability under that excess would be RM5,000, subject to the terms of the rental agreement.
Platinum reduces the stated excess to RM0, but that should not be interpreted as covering every possible type of loss or damage. Check the applicable rental terms and any exclusions before relying on zero-excess protection.
Can a Credit Card Cover Your Rental Car Excess?
Sometimes. But it depends entirely on the benefits attached to your particular credit card.
Some cards include rental vehicle damage or excess insurance as a cardholder benefit. Where applicable, you may have to pay the rental company's eligible excess first and then submit a claim to the card's insurer.
The process may involve:
Remember, the card itself doesn't pay the excess automatically, the benefit comes from an insurance policy attached to the card, and not every card has one. Many cards that do also attach conditions:
Check your own card's terms before assuming this applies, since coverage varies significantly between issuers.
What Optional Insurance and Rental Add-Ons Are Available?
Causeway Rental also offers several optional extras that are priced separately from the Standard, Premium and Platinum insurance tiers:
| Optional extra | Price |
|---|---|
| Additional driver | RM20/day |
| Touch 'n Go toll card | RM15/day |
| Child seat | RM20/day |
| Windscreen cover | RM15/day |
| Interior damage cover | RM20/day |
These charges are separate from the insurance upgrade price, so include them when working out your total rental cost.
How Much Is the Refundable Security Deposit?
At Causeway Car Rental, refundable security deposit varies by vehicle category:
| Vehicle Category | Security Deposit |
|---|---|
| Sedan | RM200 |
| SUV | RM200 |
| MPV | RM500 |
| EV | RM500 |
The deposit is separate from your insurance excess. Paying a higher insurance tier does not mean the security deposit is automatically removed.
Causeway also states that the deposit is waived for returning customers as a loyalty benefit.
For the full breakdown of what each vehicle category includes, see our guide to the best types of car to rent in Johor Bahru.
How Does the Pre-Authorisation Hold Work?
Causeway processes the deposit as a pre-authorisation hold on your debit or credit card, not an actual charge:
Because it's a hold and not a payment, some banks won't show it as a regular transaction on your statement, the hold is simply removed rather than reversed, though this varies from bank to bank. Many banking apps show it as a "pending" transaction rather than a completed one. If it's still showing well after the 7 to 10 working day window, that timing is set by your card issuer, so check with your bank first.
What Do You Need Before Collecting Your Rental Car?
Before collecting your vehicle, make sure you have the documents and payment method required for your booking.
Causeway's driver requirements apply to the person renting the vehicle, and the exact documents can depend on whether you are a Malaysian or foreign driver.
Bring these to collection, whichever of our car rental pickup locations you're using:
At collection, inspect the vehicle carefully with the Causeway team and make sure its condition is recorded before you leave. Photographing the exterior and interior at handover can also give both parties a clear record of the vehicle's condition.
During the rental, follow the agreed rental conditions, return the vehicle on time and at the required fuel level, and report any accident or damage promptly.
Causeway's terms separately address vehicle condition, financial responsibility, collection and delivery, traffic violations and roadside assistance, so the rental agreement should be your reference for the conditions that apply to your booking.
Choose the Right Insurance Cover for Your Causeway Rental
Every tier gets you on the road, the real difference is how much you'd owe if something went wrong, not just the daily add-on price.
Before collecting your car, make sure you understand both your insurance cover and refundable security deposit so there are no surprises during or after the rental. Reach out to the Causeway team with any questions on which tier suits your trip.
Already have a reservation? You can find your booking to review your rental details.