Should You Buy Rental Car Insurance

Should I Buy Personal Effects Coverage

Personal effects coverage insures your luggage and other personal belongings that you and your immediate family have brought with you on your trip. However, if you carry homeowners or renters insurance, your belongings are likely already covered, even in your rental vehicle. Because of this, most renters should decline PEC.

You should purchase PEC if:

• You do not have homeowners or renters insurance and plan on keeping valuable belongings, such as a laptop, in your rental vehicle.

It should be noted that some items are typically excluded from PEC. These may include:

• Cash
• Valuable certificates
• Guns

Note that the credit cards that do offer rental car benefits only provide collision coverage. You’ll still need to purchase liability insurance, as well as any additional desired coverage, separately. Also, some cards exclude coverage if your rental car is a commercial vehicle, such as a U-Haul, or if your rental is taking place on a business trip.

Does My Credit Card Offer Rental Car Insurance

Many credit card companies offer rental car insurance as one of the benefits for cardholders. However, rental car insurance provided by your credit card company is usually secondary insurance. That means if you get into an accident or the car gets stolen, your auto insurance company will get billed first. If that is the case, your deductible will apply to the claim.

There are some credit card companies that offer primary rental car insurance, although it is less common. Primary insurance does not go through your personal auto insurance, so you do not have to pay a deductible. You can call your credit card company to determine if your card offers rental car insurance and what type of insurance they offer.

Most major credit card companies, like Visa, MasterCard and American Express all offer some form of rental car insurance for their cardholders. To take advantage of the coverage, you usually have to pay for the rental car using the card and rent the car in your name.

International Travel Is Often Excluded From Personal Auto Insurance

If you are renting a car outside of the United States, you may or may not be able to count on your personal auto insurance and/or your credit card’s rental insurance for coverage. Many auto insurers specifically limit their coverage to driving in the States, and credit cards specifically exclude several countries from their rental insurance benefits.

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Do I Need To Buy Additional Insurance For The Rental Car

In most cases, the short answer here is no. Your own comprehensive and collision car insurance should cover the rental car just the same as it would if you were driving your own car. Of course, you should always confirm this coverage with your individual auto insurance policy.

Additionally, some credit cards offer additional coverage for rental cars, but only when using that card to pay for the rental car. Check with your credit card company to see what is and is not covered before you decide whether to decline the additional coverage.

Review Your Rental Coverage Options

Never sign anything or agree to coverage without reading the policy thoroughly, and know that insurance requirements and rules vary from state to state.

• Unless you have full auto insurance coverage, including liability, comprehensive, and collision, you may need to get some kind of insurance coverage from the rental organization. In place of collision or comprehensive, you may be able to obtain a rental car company loss damage waiver, or LDW, which can help cover damage-repair costs, administrative fees, and towing. However, a rental car company generally limits how and when the LDW can be used for example, if you were speeding, coverage may be negated.
• If you don’t have health or medical payments coverage on an existing policy, you may be able to purchase personal accident coverage.
• If you’re renting from a nontraditional car sharing company, review the agreement. While insurance is often included in the fee, there may be restrictions or extra costs, particularly if the car is stolen.

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Do I Need The Auto Coverage Offered By The Rental Agency

You’ll need to look at the types of coverage the rental car company is offering and requires. Is it coverage that your existing policy doesn’t provide, or does it overlap with your personal insurance in most areas?

Rental car agencies typically offer extra coverage for the following options:

Car rental companies also offer non-insurance products called waivers. Collision damage and loss damage waivers aim to waive certain fees and expenses if the rental car is stolen or in a collision. These waivers are only effective if you’re not violating any laws when the incident occurs.

Alternative #: Pay With Your Existing Car Insurance

In many cases, if your regular auto insurance covers collision damage to your insured car, it also covers damage to a short-term rental. But this coverage is generally limited to driving in the U.S. and maybe Canada, and wont cover car rentals in Mexico, Europe, or anywhere else. So, before you plan on using your own insurance, check its coverage. If it does cover rentals, you can place a claim on it. Still, you must typically pay your policys deductible, and any claims may cause your rates to go up.

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Coverage From Credit Card Companies

Your credit card company may offer CDW coverage, provided you pay for your rental with that credit card and decline the CDW coverage the rental car company offers you. If you choose this option, be sure to read your credit card company’s terms and conditions before renting a car. Some credit card companies offer coverage only within the United States, while others exclude specific countries. Nearly all credit card companies exclude car rentals in Ireland, although American Express added Ireland to its list of covered countries in July 2017.

Does Rental Reimbursement Coverage Pay For Damages In A Rental

Rental reimbursement coverage is entirely different from rental insurance. Rental reimbursement refers to a type of car insurance that is optional. This coverage allows for reimbursement for the cost of renting a car only when your own car is in the shop due to damage from an accident.

Rental reimbursement coverage does not pay for damages resulting from an accident in a rental car.

When you are driving a rental car and you are in an accident, liability insurance can cover the costs of repairs to the car and property, and medical bills for injuries to the other cars occupants, with collision coverage paying for the cost of damages to the rental car. However, you need to ensure your current liability and collision coverages apply to rental cars. If they dont, your next step should be to check to see what your credit card covers .

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Getting A Rental Car After A Car Accident In Georgia

If you find yourself without transportation after a car accident, you may need to rent a car while yours is repaired or replaced. Weve provided this article to help answer some of the most common questions about getting a rental car in Georgia. For step-by-step guidance, try our Georgia Car Damage Manual.

How To Save Money On A Car Rental

If you’re looking for ways to save on your rental protection, here are some tips to help you save :

• Shop and compare : Browse different agencies and websites such as Kayak to compare prices.
• Loyalty program : Many rental car agencies have loyalty programs allow you to earn points and redeem them.
• Look for coupons : Check for coupons, discounts, or free days.
• Skip the airport : Avoid booking your rental at the airport – they usually have higher prices.
• Take the economy car : Economy cars will be the more affordable option for your trip.

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Do You Need Insurance To Rent A Car

You dont need to have your own auto insurance policy to rent a car. However, rental agencies typically have minimal coverage on their vehicles, so if you get into an accident, you could be responsible for significant expenses.

Other options include buying additional insurance from the rental car company, using a credit card for coverage or getting a standalone policy through a third party.

Does My Rental Car Insurance Cover International Travel

The answer to this question depends on the policy you decide to use: your existing auto policy, an independent coverage plan or your credit card benefits.

As mentioned above, your existing policy will specify whether or not your international rental is covered. If you arent sure, reach out to your provider for specifics. An independent coverage plan establishes your rental destination upfront, so your quote will automatically include international coverage.

Your credit cards rental car benefits are a little bit more complex. These perks usually apply to international rentals as well as domestic rentals, with some exceptions. For example, Visa offers many credit cards that include domestic and international rental car insurance as part of your cardholder benefits. But the fine print in Visas terms of services states that the issuer does not pay for theft or damage from rental reservations made in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

So before you rely too heavily on your credit card for international coverage, make sure you check the fine print for the credit card you plan to use to make sure your countries of travel are included.

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Using Your Credit Card For Rental Car Coverage

Youll automatically have this coverage if its included with your credit card no need to call or sign forms. But its usually secondary coverage, meaning your own auto insurance policy will pay out first if its available. NerdWallet assessed .

If youre planning on credit card coverage, call your credit card issuer to confirm the details.

How Will An Accident In A Rental Car Affect My Insurance

Getting into any accident will most likely affect your insurance premium, whether it is in your car or a rental car. This is especially true if you have rental car insurance through your auto insurance provider or a credit card company. Anytime you file a claim that is attached to your auto insurance policy, the company will know you had an accident and will likely increase your rate accordingly.

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Faq: Does Car Insurance Cover A Rental Car

How much is rental car coverage?

The cost of rental car coverage varies based on a number of factors, including your location, the amount of time youre renting the car for, your age, and how you intend to use your car. Basic coverage is typically pretty inexpensive.

What happens if I don’t have rental car insurance and I get into an accident?

You should be prepared for a significant financial setback if you don’t have rental car insurance and get into an accident. You will be legally obligated to pay for the repairs or replacement of a rental vehicle if you crash it. This is why rental car coverage is an important safety net.

Do I Really Need Extra Rental Car Insurance

Another big consideration should be how long you’ll have the car for and where you’ll be taking it. Just need the vehicle for a few hours’ trip to and from the airport? Driving it cross-country for a two-week trip? Consider the situation for which youre renting the car and weigh the circumstances to come to a decision on buying rental car insurance.

You also may want to check the limits on your personal insurance policy. Some only extend to rental vehicles for a certain amount of time. If you’ll have the car longer than that, supplemental coverage may be necessary.

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Usaa: Low Rates For Military Families

If USAA insurance was available to all drivers, we would have ranked it in first place. Drivers consistently find cheap car insurance and great service from the company. So, if you are a military member or if youre a member of a military family, it can be a good idea to get a car insurance quote from USAA. The company scored 890 out of 1,000 points in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM for customer satisfaction during the claims process. USAA also has an A++ rating from AM Best and an A+ rating from the BBB.

In our rate estimate analysis, we found that full coverage policies from USAA cost about $1,013 per year, on average. This was the lowest cost out of any leading provider we researched.

What Does Rental Car Insurance Cover

Though it is temporary, rental car insurance works like standard car insurance. There are a few types of coverage you can select, and most come with a deductible. Your deductible refers to how much youll pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in.

Depending on the rental car company you approach, you may be offered the following rental car insurance products:

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Should You Buy Rental Car Insurance

We all know that traveling can be stressful and frustrating, especially when unplanned expenses start adding up. If you have family travel plans, or you’re just going on a weekend excursion, one of those extra costs you didn’t plan on might be rental car insurance. But do you really need to shell out the extra $20 each day to be fully protected? Before you answer that question, see how you respond to the following statements:

• My auto insurance plan covers any and all damages to rental cars.
• I have to pay my deductible if I damage a rental car under my insurance plan.
• My insurance rates won’t go up if I make a claim on a rental car.
• My insurance company covers the loss of revenue for a rental car while it’s being repaired.

Even if you do know your auto insurance plan covers your use of rental cars, it’s likely you don’t know the details of that coverage, how long the coverage lasts or how well you’re actually protected. One thing you probably haven’t considered is the additional costs you can be held accountable for if the rental car is damaged and has to sit in a repair shop. Although your insurance company may cover the damages, you may be personally responsible for the loss of revenue for the rental car while it’s being serviced. In addition to that, rental car companies may charge you for devaluing the resale value of the vehicle as well.

For more information about rental car insurance, follow the links on the next page.

Should I Purchase Insurance From The Rental Car Company

Its one of the most commonly asked questions in insurance. Many will tell you that if you have auto insurance, buying coverage from the rental company is redundant and a waste of money.

And, its a lot of money. Consider that the basic insurance averages up to $19 per day1, not including upsells. In some cases, you are looking at almost doubling the cost of your rental.

Is it worth it? The real answer isnt that simple, but a real solution is: before you rent, talk to your insurance agent or insurance company to review your auto policy.

For some context, though, heres a quick check list.

Keep in mind, though, that many leading insurance carriers offer optional coverage upgrades for costs such as these. For instance, The Hanover offers coverage for reasonable expenses related to an accident as part of our TravelRight, Platinum Auto Elite and Prestige Global Rental packages. This includes coverage for loss of use and loss of value, which is especially valuable for frequent renters, and renters of nicer vehicles.You may already have such coverage already. If so, you can probably skip the rental car insurance. Otherwise, if you are concerned about the potential cost, purchase rental car insurance.

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Liability Coverage Only Covers The Driver And Not Others In The Car

One of the main reasons to buy rental car insurance is that liability coverage only covers the driver and not anyone else in the vehicle. That means if you get into an accident, your rates wont go up for being at fault.

If you hit someone with your rented car, their medical expenses will not be covered by your rented cars liability insurance. If there are no injuries, this can save you a big headache of dealing with costly medical bills. But if they do have injuries and you dont have any coverage, it could cost you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

Insurance companies offer additional options like collision damage waiver and theft protection where you pay a fee upfront and then some more for reimbursement if something happens to the vehicle. This protects against damage to the vehicle and stolen rental cars respectively.