Rental car insurance should be a requirement when you rent a vehicle. The risk of liability and potential lawsuits can be tremendous if an accident occurs with your rental car and someone else’s property. When renting a car, make sure that you ask for and purchase the appropriate coverage at the counter to protect yourself from any accidents that might happen on your trip. In this article, we will discuss why you must have car rental insurance.
Let’s get started.
Does Your Car Insurance Apply For Your Rented Car?
Liability coverage is included in a personal automobile insurance policy and any extra coverage you’ve chosen, like comprehensive or collision. For longer as you travel it for personal purposes, that coverage might continue to your rented automobile. Your own policy’s coverage limitations and penalties pertain to your rental automobile use as well.
Liability coverage
Liability coverage is what you need to have if your rented car injures somebody or damages their property. In most states, it’s mandatory for any vehicle on the road. Without enough liability coverage, you might not be able to drive legally and could face a fine every time law enforcement officials pull you over. Suppose someone ended up being injured while riding in your rental automobile though you had no fault whatsoever with their injuries. In that case, they can sue you personally instead of just looking at the insurance covering your rental auto.
Collision Coverage
Rental companies offer collision coverage for older cars. This coverage takes care of damage to your rental car that occurs due to an accident with another vehicle or object. Still, you should always carry additional insurance to cover the full value of your rental because these policies usually have caps on how much they will payout.
Comprehensive Coverage
The comprehensive coverage provided by the rental car insurance is very important. It will cover any damages to your vehicle that are not based on collision or accidental damage, such as vandalism or theft. This additional coverage can save you money in many cases compared with using your auto policy if it also covers rentals.
When is Coverage for Rental Cars a Great Decision?
If you don’t have insurance already, you’ll need to get liability insurance from the rental business before hitting the road. Since liability insurance for all drivers is legally mandated in most states, this is the case. If any of the following requirements apply, rental insurance’s added coverage is worth considering:
- Comprehensive as well as collision coverage is not included in your existing insurance.
- Just commercial auto insurance coverage covers you.
- You would not want to take the chance of having to pay a large deductible.
What are The Several Rental Car Insurance Options?
Rental car insurance is often divided into four areas by rental car firms,
- Personal effects coverage
If your private goods, including your notebook or clothing, are stolen from car rental, personal belongings coverage could be useful.
- Personal accident coverage
If you and your friends are harmed in a rental vehicle accident, personal accident insurance can assist in covering your medical fees.
- Liability insurance
Liability safeguards you in case that you harm someone or cause damage to their business while driving.
- Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
A collision/loss damage waiver is not insurance. This waiver could assist cover the price of repairs if you harm the rental automobile.
We hope this article helps you understand what rental car insurance can offer you and why you must have it to protect yourself.
