Does my auto insurance cover a rental car?

[Bertha Venation]

Buying insurance when renting a car is expensive. But is it necessary?

[onehandle]

1. Depends on your coverage. First call your insurance company.

Your personal insurance is usually not enough.

When you buy car rental insurance, it moves the responsibility (somewhat) from you to that insurance carrier, and provides extra coverage.

Many credit cards either automatically cover the insurance, or will charge you a lesser fee for extended coverage.

I always use my American Express card. For $20, it covers all extra insurance, no matter how long you have the vehicle, as long as you rent with the card. But you have to sign up for the program, to get it to happen automatically. (It used to be free and totally automatic, but times have changed)

Call your insurance company. Call your credit card(s) company. Always pick the car rental options last. It is indeed expensive.

[Scuba]

2. +1

[littlewolf]

14. my insurance agent explained it like this...

we will cover the damage to the car ...
however the money the rental car company
loses because the car is damaged
we will not cover ... that is on you...
or if you buy the extended rental coverage
then you are covered ....

[HopeHoops]

3. Probably not. That's why the rental companies offer it. Do NOT go without coverage!!!

Also, do not leave the lot if you spot any damage on it. Go back inside, get a rep to witness it and mark it on the rental agreement, and snap a dated photo of the damage.

[Major Nikon]

8. For most major auto insurance companies it does

I've had several different carriers over the years and I rent cars a lot so I always make sure what my coverage is. Most auto insurers will apply whatever coverage you have to a rental car.

The reason why rental car companies push the insurance is because they make a shitload of money from it. They already have their own insurance AND when you sign the rental agreement, you agree to allow them to charge your credit card for any damage to the car (I found that out the hard way).

[HopeHoops]

10. Ah, but if you're on a business trip for a company you work for, personal insurance doesn't apply.

The company was paying for it anyway, so I always took the insurance. We were also required to get economy vehicles, but when I'd go to the counter I'd upgrade to luxury or sports. I never got called out on it. One time in Toronto, I got a Lincoln Town Car with 26 km on it. Damn was that a nice ride. I spent a lot of time in some really cool cars, and none of them were "furrin" types.

[Major Nikon]

11. Many of the people I work with do the same thing

I'm happy with a compact car unless several of us are sharing, and then I'll get a bigger one. I'm not used to driving bigger cars and in bigger cities it's just a hassle when you're trying to squeeze in a small parking spaces.

[HopeHoops]

13. I can park a land yacht in a space with 2' of extra space.

I took my driver's test in a '76 LeMans sedan - land yacht. That's what they used for most of the cop cars in "Smokey and the Bandit". I don't even need to jockey a spot, I just swing in. They still give you 26' to park a 14' car into and people STILL fail the test. It boggles the mind. It's all about whiskers. You either have them or you don't. I likes me some land yachts.

[d_r]

4. ours always does

but call your insurance to ask.

[blueknight]

5. my insurance agent

told me to NEVER buy the rental insurance. i guess because of my full coverage insurance

[Flaxbee]

6. Check with your agent. Geico does (our policy, anyway) but I ALWAYS get the damage waiver

just because I don't want to have to f*ck around with our deductible if there's damage to the car.

So, my "regular" insurance covers personal injury in accidents. The human damage is covered. Physical auto damage is also covered after the first $500. I don't want to have to deal with that, or pay up to $500 if there is a fender bender or someone dings my rental, so I buy the $18/ day (at Enterprise). But - I usually only rent for weekends or short periods of time where it makes sense to pay that $18/day.

[Kali]

7. usually it does

and some credit cards have coverage as well. never buy the insurance unless you have none of your own (or in the case of crossing international borders - yay enterprise Tucson - pardon my little endorsement but they have always been pretty good to me)

[elleng]

9. Not necessary;

coverage usually includes rental cars. I never buy rental car companies' own/extra coverage.

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. OK, here is the best explanation I can give you

Disclaimer: I am neither an insurance agent nor an attorney. You should consult with your insurance agent or carrier for the final word on this subject.

If the question is: Do I need to by insurance from the rental car company, the answer is generally no, but:

1) You are still responsible for paying your deductible, as with any accident on your policy.
2) You have the same like, kind, and quality insurance on your personal vehicle as your rental. If you only carry liability on your vehicle, you are responsible for 100% of the damage to the rental. If you carry comp, and you are at fault, then the rental vehicle is covered within the limits of the terms of your policy.
3) Your policy does not cover "loss of use." If you wreck a rental, the rental company may be entitled to recover what they could have made renting the vehicle while it is in the shop. This is commonly referred to as "loss-of-use" and it can be pretty steep.