Do you need Rental Car Insurance when you rent-a-car?
Whether you’re traveling on business or simply for recreation, the question of “Do I need rental car insurance?” is likely to arise. Or at least it should.
When you rent a car, you should always think about whether or not you need to purchase rental car insurance coverage.
It’s a common misconception that all auto insurance policies and packages include rental coverage. Although some insurance policies will cover rental car insurance, not all of them include it, at least not without a hefty addition to your premium. Even if some rental car coverage is included with your regular car insurance policy, the terms of your rental coverage aren’t as easy to grasp as your standard collision and comprehensive coverage terms.
Auto Coverage from Your Insurance Provider and the Rental Company
Any reputable car rental company will include insurance or they may offer the insurance for a nominal fee. If they require you to pay an additional fee for coverage and you’re trying to save money, you better be sure your insurance company has you covered.
A surefire way to find out if you have rental coverage is to give your car insurance provider a call and ask. In most cases you’re insurance company will provide you with the same coverage you have on your daily driver.
Say, for example, that your auto insurance includes collision coverage with a $500 deductible. If your rental vehicle were involved in a fender bender, the rental company would cover what was laid out in the terms of the rental. Then your car insurance provider would pick up the remainder minus your deductible.
Though if you don’t have comprehensive coverage on your daily driver, it unlikely you’ll have any comprehensive coverage on your rental car either.
Again, this varies from company to company, so to be absolutely sure it is best to give them a call personally, and find out exactly what rental car coverage your policy includes.
Car Rental Insurance From Your Credit Card Company
Often times if you use your credit card to rent a car, the credit card company will offer complimentary insurance. Renters should check with their credit card company to check whether it provides sufficient coverage without buying additional insurance. Many credit cards include some collision and theft protection. This protection, however, is usually very minimal and is secondary to personal auto insurance for insurance sold to you by the rental car company. Check with your credit card company before renting a car to see if you qualify.
Getting Rental Car Insurance
If it seems like you’re renting a car nearly as often as you travel, it makes a lot of sense to extend your coverage well beyond the basic features provided by the rental car company. If your current auto insurance provider won’t cover you regardless of which car you may be driving, in this case a rental car, it may be time to find one that does.
Luckily for you, finding an auto insurance policy that matches your unique needs is easier today than it’s ever been before. Scroll to the top of the page and enter your zip code in the provided field to begin. Within a couple minutes you’ll be shopping some of the best deals in auto insurance available today.
