Understanding Damage Cover Liability & Protection Plans
The Basics
Bay Islands Car Share vehicles are covered under Our motor fleet comprehensive insurance policy with an APRA-approved, Australian-licensed insurer.
Damage Cover Liability (DCL) is the amount a member is required to pay towards the cost of a claim if damage occurs during their booking.
This functions in a similar way to an “excess” on personal car insurance: it is the portion of costs that must be paid before the insurer covers the balance of the claim.
Two Types of DCL
Bay Islands Car Share uses two separate DCL amounts depending on the classification of damage:
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Single Vehicle Damage (SVD): This applies if a Bay Islands Car Share vehicle is damaged during your booking, whether you were at fault or not.
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Third Party Loss (TPL): This applies if you cause damage to someone else’s vehicle or property while driving a Bay Islands Car Share car, and you are found to be at fault.
Key point: Each DCL is a separate amount. Depending on the circumstances, a member may be liable for neither, either, or both.
Third Party Loss (TPL) is less common but usually more complex. When another person’s car or property is involved, costs are set by the third party or their insurer and can be significantly higher. Having a separate DCL for TPL reflects this higher potential exposure.
Importantly, the TPL DCL Payment Is Voluntary:
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If you want Bay Islands Car Share to indemnify you and manage the third-party claim, you pay the TPL DCL.
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If you’d prefer to deal with the third party yourself (or if no claim is made), you don’t have to pay- it’s entirely up to you.
Why Two Different DCLs?
Most incidents in car sharing involve single vehicle or not-at-fault accidents. When one of our cars is damaged, Bay Islands Car Share can directly control the repair process. That means we can make practical, cost-effective repair decisions — for example, repairing only what’s necessary to keep the vehicle safe and roadworthy, rather than replacing parts at full retail cost. This approach helps members avoid being charged for inflated or unnecessary repairs.
In short: Splitting SVD and TPL makes the cover clearer, lowers the typical member’s liability, and gives you the choice to balance peace of mind with affordability.
Protection Plan’s Explained
When you book a vehicle, you’ll be asked to select a Protection Plan. The plan you choose sets the maximum amount you would need to pay if damage occurs during your booking.
Bay Islands Car Share offers four Protection Plans:
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Basic
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Standard
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Extra
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Total
Each plan sets a different Damage Cover Liability (DCL) for:
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Single Vehicle Damage (SVD)
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Third Party Loss (TPL)
Your selected plan applies for the duration of your booking. If damage occurs, the DCL amounts from your plan will determine the maximum you can be charged for each class of damage.
Costs by Plan
The table below sets out the DCL amounts for each Protection Plan for Single Vehicle Damage and Third Party Loss events. Each liability applies separately, depending on the type of damage.
Fee Schedule
For a full list of applicable fees please refer to the Bay Islands Car Share Fee Schedule for more details. Where any information on this page differs from the Membership Agreement, the terms of the Membership Agreement will prevail.