What coverage should i get when renting a car

This option waives your responsibility to pay for a total loss, accident damage, environmental damage, theft and vandalism. These waivers basically act like comprehensive and collision policies for the rental. However, a loss damage waiver will not require you to pay a deductible, which is another thing to consider.

If you cause damage to your vehicle and it gets sent to the repair shop, the rental car company can charge you fees for each day the car is out of commission. The loss damage waiver will protect you from these fees, as will most full coverage insurance policies. Rental car companies also sell liability car insurance. This type of insurance covers medical bills for you and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault for an accident. If you already have either of these policies, you do not need personal accident insurance.

This option protects your personal items like electronics, luggage and clothing. If you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy, it will cover personal items stolen from a rental car as well. Besides options from the rental car company, you might be covered through your credit card company or travel insurance plan. Premium credit cards often include primary coverage for rental cars.

On the other hand, standard cards often include secondary coverage. This comes with lower limits and requires you to file a claim with your own insurance company first.

In either case, you have to book the rental with the credit card to qualify for coverage. Travel insurance programs can typically cover collision and loss of use cheaper than the rental car company as well. Rental car insurance costs vary depending on the vehicle and location. Below are a few average prices for coverage per day from popular rental car companies. Think about these prices for a minute. In many cases, it would be cheaper to increase your own insurance limits for a year than to buy rental car insurance for a two-week vacation.

To find coverage that works for you, we recommend comparing car insurance quotes from multiple providers. Geico offers a wide range of coverage options with a number of extras like roadside assistance and classic car insurance.

After comparing every major provider, we rated Geico at 9. This estimate applies to year-old drivers with good credit and good driving records. Compared to other national providers, Geico is one of the top three companies for affordability. 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. The company scored out of 1, points in the J. No card issuer provides coverage for more than 30 days in a row. In some countries, rental cars don't qualify for credit card insurance.

Examples of these countries include:. Do you know that it may not be necessary to purchase insurance from a rental car company? If you own a car, your personal auto insurance policy may include coverage for rental cars. Also, depending on the type of credit card you have, you may be eligible for free rental car coverage. This means you may be able to decline the costly insurance from your rental car company and save some money.

Typically, rental car companies offer insurance in the form of a loss damage waiver LDW or collision damage waiver CDW.

Such insurance is beneficial because it provides protection if your rental car is damaged following a collision, vandalized, or stolen. It ensures that your rental car company won't ask you to pay for repairs and losses. If you're unsure whether you should get rental car insurance, you should find out if you already have coverage from the following sources:. There are certain situations where buying auto insurance from a rental car company may be a wise decision. These situations include:.

The right answer to the question "should I get rental car insurance? By properly evaluating your unique situation, you can avoid unnecessary costs while ensuring you're adequately covered. For any feedback or correction requests please contact us at research caranddriver. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Check your policy to find out. Liability coverage is intended to help protect you if you injure someone or damage their property while driving.

If you have sufficient liability coverage through your own auto insurance, you may not need to buy extra rental car liability insurance coverage from the agency. Your insurance agent can help you review your coverage, so you can set the liability limit that's right for you.

If you damage the rental car, this waiver may help cover the cost of repairing it. The waiver typically does not cover damage from speeding or driving on unpaved roads. A collision damage waiver may duplicate your existing coverage if you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your own car. However, if you've dropped collision or comprehensive coverage from your policy, and you don't purchase the waiver, you would likely have to pay out of pocket for damage you cause to the rental car.

Additionally, a rental agency could charge you for "loss of use" of the car lost rental income while the car is in the shop being repaired.

Your own auto policy typically won't reimburse you for that. Be sure to read your car rental agreement carefully to clarify what kinds of charges you could incur if you were to damage the vehicle. Personal effects coverage may help cover your personal belongings, such as your laptop or clothing, if they're stolen from the rental car. If you have renters or homeowners insurance, the personal property coverage on that policy typically helps cover your personal items through what's known as "off-premises coverage.

Off-premise items are usually only covered up to a certain percentage of your personal property coverage. The deductible on your homeowners or renters insurance will apply.

Check with your agent about the limits of your coverage. Personal accident insurance helps pay your and your passengers' medical bills, if you're injured in a rental car accident. The III says if you have health insurance, medical payments coverage or personal injury protection on your car insurance policy, you may already have coverage comparable to what the rental company offers.

Medical payments coverage and personal injury protection not available in all states may help pay for medical bills due to a covered car accident. Before you rent a car, take a few minutes to find out whether you have coverage through existing channels, such as your credit card company, health insurance plan or renters or homeowners policy. And, be sure to check your personal car insurance coverage.

Buying extra rental car insurance may not make financial sense if your auto policy already provides the coverage you need. Don't hesitate to reach out to your local agent about your car insurance policy before you rent a vehicle. He or she can help you make an informed decision when you're at the rental counter.

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