• By Raymond Momanyi

Hired Cars Over the Festive Season: When Parts Go Missing

Festive season energy is loud. Roads are busy. Temptations are everywhere.
And sometimes… car parts grow legs. 

Brian hired a Subaru Legacy from a reputable car hire company in Westlands.
Everything checked out: 

• Comprehensive insurance ✔
• No accident history ✔
• Tyres clean ✔
• Contract signed ✔

He drives upcountry to Western Kenya for 9 days.
On Day 8, reality taps him on the shoulder.
 
Missing parts:
Side mirrors. Rear spoiler. Spare tyre. Wheel caps.
Return date? Tomorrow.
 
Now the big questions hit. 

What Should Brian Do?

Short answer: Don’t panic. Don’t improvise. Don’t be clever.
 

❌ Buying parts quietly? Risky. 

• You might buy wrong or substandard parts
• The car hire company can still reject them
• You’ll pay twice: parts + penalties

❌ Returning the car “as is”? Worse. 

• The inspection report will catch everything
• You’ll be fully liable
• Deposits disappear very fast in such cases

✅ The smart move: 

1. Notify the car hire company immediately
2. Document everything (photos, location, dates)
3. Confirm how the loss occurred (theft, vandalism, unknown)
4. Ask how insurance applies before spending any money

Silence is expensive. Communication is protection.
  

So… What’s the Role of Insurance Here?

 
This is where many people get it twisted.
 

🚨 Comprehensive Insurance DOES NOT mean “everything is covered.”

 
Most motor policies exclude: 

• Missing parts without a clear accident or theft report
• Gradual or unexplained disappearance
• Negligence or poor custody

If the parts were stolen: 

• A police abstract is mandatory
• The insurer investigates circumstances
• Excess applies
• Some items (like wheel caps, accessories) may still be excluded

If there’s no accident and no police report, chances of claim approval are very slim.
  

Who Pays in the End?

 
Let’s be honest.
 
In most hire contracts: 

• The hirer is responsible for the car’s condition during the hire period
• Any uninsured loss is passed directly to Brian
• Security deposit is the first casualty
• Balance? Invoiced and enforced

Insurance only steps in if policy terms are met.
If not — it’s a cash conversation. 
 

The Festive Season Lesson (Hard but Necessary)

 
Hired cars are not “borrowed vibes.”
They are financial responsibility on wheels.
 
Before driving off: 

• Inspect EVERYTHING (even the spare tyre)
• Take photos and videos
• Understand exclusions
• Know your excess
• Ask: “What happens if parts go missing?”

Where Imana Comes In

 
At Imana Insurance, this is the stuff we break down before things go wrong.
 
We help clients understand: 

• Motor insurance exclusions
• Hire & lease liability gaps
• Excesses and uninsured risks
• Personal liability add-ons that actually save money

📍 Visit us: 4th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands
📞 Call/WhatsApp: +254 796 209 402
🌐 Website: www.imana.co.ke || www.mykava.co.ke


Because festive memories should be photos — not invoices.

Roads have stories.
Make sure yours doesn’t end with “please settle the balance.”