Does My Personal Insurance Cover Rental Cars?

The Basics of Car Rental Insurance

When you rent a car, you’ll be asked whether you want to purchase car rental insurance. This type of insurance covers you for any damage to the vehicle or any injuries that occur while using it. It's important to remember that your personal auto insurance policy may already provide coverage for a rental car. Before you purchase insurance from the car rental company, you should contact your insurance provider to see what coverage you may already have.

Your personal auto insurance policy may cover some aspects of car rental insurance. Usually, your policy will cover liability insurance and collision coverage. Liability insurance may cover any medical expenses or property damage that you cause while driving the rental car. Collision coverage may cover any damage to the rental car. However, keep in mind that most personal auto insurance policies have a deductible that may apply when you rent a car.

When Does My Personal Insurance Not Cover a Rental?

Your personal auto insurance policy may not cover you in certain situations. For instance, if you are renting a car in a foreign country, your policy may not provide coverage. Additionally, your policy may not cover you if you are using the rental car for business. If you are using the rental car for business, you should purchase additional coverage from the rental car company.

What Other Coverage Should I Purchase with a Rental?

If your personal auto insurance policy does not provide coverage for the rental car, or if you are using the rental car for business, you may need to purchase additional coverage from the rental car company. The rental car company may offer liability coverage, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage. Liability coverage may cover any medical expenses or property damage that you cause while driving the rental car. Personal accident insurance may cover any medical expenses that you incur while driving the rental car. Personal effects coverage may cover any damage or loss of personal items that occur while you are driving the rental car.

What Should I Do Before Renting a Car?

Before you rent a car, you should contact your insurance provider to see what coverage you may already have. You should also review your rental agreement to make sure that you understand what type of coverage you need to purchase from the rental car company. Keep in mind that purchasing additional coverage from the rental car company can be expensive. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you only purchase the coverage that you need.

Conclusion

Your personal auto insurance policy may provide some coverage for a rental car. Before you rent a car, you should contact your insurance provider to see what coverage you may already have. If your personal auto insurance policy does not provide coverage for the rental car, or if you are using the rental car for business, you may need to purchase additional coverage from the rental car company. It is important to make sure that you only purchase the coverage that you need.