should I purchase insurance when renting a car from the rental company. I have my own car insurance for my car.
24 Responses to “Should I Purchase Insurance When Renting a Car From the Rental Company?”
Leave a Reply
Fri, Nov 20, 2009
should I purchase insurance when renting a car from the rental company. I have my own car insurance for my car.
© 2009 Hassle Free Insurance.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:06 am
That depends. Just how bad of a driver are you?
November 20th, 2009 at 10:41 am
No it is a scam, your auto insurance probably already covers rentals. Call them and ask.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:55 am
yes, because you can treat it however you want, its better to pay the extra money than have to replace the car.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Ask your insurance agent. he will tell you if your plan covers rentals (mine does, my buddy chris’ doesn’t).
November 20th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
YES!
Always.
Your car insurance only covers YOUR car, notice it was the year make and model on your insurance card?
November 20th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
yes…it will be worth it just in case
November 20th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
if you pay the xtra fee then its on the rental agreement and regardless of what happens you are 100% covered without your co. having to get involved at all.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
YES! always get there insurance… you don’t wanna have to pay for their car trust me… remember if someone else hits you are you covered?
November 20th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
when i went on vacation last year i did not get it and flipped the car. worst decision i ever made.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Check of your personal insurence covers rentals. If not then you should get it because you dont know what could happen.
November 20th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
If you pay for the rental with American Express you are covered, otherwise I would suggest checking with your own insurance company or if you have AA check with them. The insurance they sell with rentals is very expensive and confusing.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
a few people gave good suggestions as to asking your insurance agent which would be best. That sounds like a good idea.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Is it good to have? yes. Do you need to pay for it? Maybe
Not only may your insurance cover it but if you use a visa card they will automatically cover the car in case of an accident.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Hi Gameboi,
that depends on the country you’re in.
Generally, insurance from car hire companies is vastly more expensive than what you can get elsewhere but there are legal loopholes which can void the insurance. That’s why I need to know your country to answer.
Blessed be
Karma Singh
November 20th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
You should check with your agent, and read your policy.
What does it say about you driving Non Owned Autos?
If you are not renting for a long time, and only for a day or 2, I would suggest getting the rental companies insurance. Otherwise, godforbid there be an accident, the claims could get pretty messy.
Your company could deny the claim as its an unscheduled vehicle, or your company could say the rental company is liable, but the rental company says no your company is, etc etc.
Hope this helps
November 20th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Definitely. I rented a U-haul a year ago and purchased the renter’s insurance along with it. I was rear-ended and didn’t to pay a dime, even the cop investigating the incident somehow determined it was my fault. If I hadn’t bought the insurance I would’ve had to pay for repairs. I think the grand total was like $2,500. You can save $20 and not get the insurance, or get the insurance and possibly save yourself thousands of dollars.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Generally no. See if your own auto policy has coverage on the rental car, if you have an auto policy with full coverage.
Otherwise, yes, buy the insurance, or you can be charged mercilessly in the event of an at fault accident.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I always do, I just want to know where to mail the towing receipts-has stood me in good stead twice, once in hawaii when the car was vandalized in secured parking and another time in DC when the rental was ‘lost’ at the hotel valet parking. Both times, I called the rental company, they sent out a new vehicle, I went on about my business, never heard a thing about it. ever.
November 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Yes, the WHOLE idea behind a rental car is to “Drive it like you stole it” that extra insurance will allow you to total their vehicle without it affecting your insurance on your vehicle. if you insurance policy (VERY Little of them do–they cover the vehicle they are purchased for) does cover rentals then if you total their rental YOUR rate goes up.
November 20th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I only get the loss damage waiver. Your insurance will cover liability for damage to other people’s cars or property should you have an accident.
The loss damage waiver covers any damage to the car, whether there was an accident or not. Any claims against it are not reported as an insurance claim. Things that have happened to me or friends with rental cars include:
Valet ran into security arm while parking or recovering the car. Valet tickets always have disclaimer saying they are not liable for any damage to your car.
A hail storm caused dents in the car.
A horse drawn carriage hit the car.
Parking lot dings.
Lost keys.
It’s worth it to just return the car and not worry about anything like that. It’s also worth it not to have an insurance claim that results in you premiums going up or being cancelled.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
That depends. My insurance doesn’t cover a rental. My liability coverage goes with me to any rented or borrowed vehicle in Canada or the US, but not physical damage coverage. However, I can buy a policy for a few dollars a day that covers all collision/upset and comprehensive losses, loss-of-use, and $5,000,000 liability.
For those that think rental car insurance is a scam, I have to tell you that some people have discovered, to their horror, after being in an accident with a rental that their credit card has been billed for the complete replacement value of the car because there wasn’t a policy in place to cover it.
Do not count upon your own policy unless you have thoroughly read the wordings and found clauses confirming coverage. It is a fools’ game.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
no
November 20th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
your insurance should cover rentals, call your agent and ask. if not, you can pay a lil extra for it, and if something does happen, its not on your record with your ins company.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
The truth, I suspect, is somewhere in between. The answer will vary based on the person’s own insurance policies and credit cards. The key is do your homework before you find yourself at the rental car counter initialing your life away.
First, check with your auto insurance carrier and ask lots of questions about deductibles, collision insurance, and whether you’re covered if the car is stolen. Also, as I alluded to before, check with the credit card company you use to rent the car. Often, they will provide a level of coverage, and it’s smart to find out the specifics. For example, are you covered if you’re traveling abroad? The Insurance Information Institute offers a nice checklist to work through.
The frustrating truth is that it all depends. Maybe you’re covered. Maybe you’re not. So, skip the surprises and check.