Insurance On My Rental Car – What Should I Look For?
Renting a car can make business and personal travel much more convenient. In addition to making a decision about what type of car they want to rent, individuals will also need to decide whether or not to purchase rental car insurance. Here are some points car renters should consider when deciding if they should pay the extra money for insurance coverage.
Avoid Paying For Coverage Twice
First of all, renters should find out if they already have insurance coverage for when they rent and drive another vehicle. Some car insurance providers extend their policy holder’s coverage to include rental cars. If the policy holder gets in an accident while driving a car that is not their primary vehicle, the insurance company will still pay for the damages. Not all insurance providers offer this service, so individuals should contact their provider and find out exactly what their policy covers. Additionally, some credit card companies provide insurance coverage to their customers when they rent a car using their card. Again, consumers should find out what protections are offered by their credit card company before they rent a vehicle.
Watch Out For Extra Fees
Although credit card companies and insurance providers do offer some consumer protection to renters, they might not cover all the charges that rental companies levy after an accident. For example, an insurance company might charge penalties and fees in addition to the actual repair costs. Some credit card and insurance companies will pay for any damages the car suffers, but will refuse to pay other fees. Those fees, which can be costly, have to be paid by the renter. If an individual plans to rely on the protection offered by their car insurance or credit card company, they need to do research beforehand to find out what these companies will and will not cover. They should also ask the rental company about extra fees after an accident. If the car rental insurance company charges excessive fees in addition to vehicle damages, individuals should consider using another rental company or should purchase the insurance protection sold by the rental agency.
Double Check For Restrictions
If a renter decides to purchase insurance directly from the rental company; they should double check for restrictions. For example, some rental companies will only pay for damages if the individual who rented the car was driving at the time of the accident. Additionally, in some areas with unsafe roads, the renter will not be covered if they venture into dangerous neighborhoods or take hazardous routes.
