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Get started on Insure.com The data downstairs will help you understand whether you need rental car insurance and how to get it before you arrive at the rental counter.
Do you need insurance to rent a car?
You don ’ t need to have your own car policy policy to rent a car. however, lease agencies typically have minimal coverage on their vehicles, so if you get into an accident, you could be responsible for significant expenses. other options include buying extra indemnity from the lease car company, using a accredit batting order for coverage or getting a standalone policy through a third base party.
Rental car insurance vs. your own auto insurance
hera are the distinctive policy options from rental car companies, along with how to determine if you already have coverage within your own car policy policy.
Nerdy tip:
Coverage from your own policy applies when you are using a rental car for personal, nonbusiness purposes. The rules may be different for business use of a rental car. Check with your insurer or employer for details about coverage when using a rental car for business.
Crashes and car theft
At the anticipate : A loss-damage release or LDW, besides called a collision damage release or CDW, gets you off the hook for damage to the rental vehicle or larceny of the car. It ’ s technically not policy but rather a release that says the rental car party won ’ metric ton come after you. Your policy : If you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your own policy, it generally will extend to a rental car a long as you ’ ra rent within the U.S. or Canada. however, you will still be responsible for your deductible, and filing a claim on your car insurance policy could raise your premium. If you don ’ t have comprehensive and collision on your regular policy, or you ’ re rent in a localization where this coverage international relations and security network ’ metric ton in impression, you ’ d have to pay for the damage unless you buy the LDW.
Damage you do to others
At the counter : Supplemental indebtedness protection will pay for damage you do to others ’ vehicles or place. typical limits range from $ 300,000 to $ 1 million. If you do n’t have car insurance ( for exemplar, if you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate own a car ), or if you ’ ra travel in a area where your own policy doesn ’ t volunteer coverage, you should buy this. Your own policy : Your own liability insurance will typically cover you when you ’ re driving rental cars within the U.S. and Canada. If you have minimal liability coverage on your car policy, you could buy the supplementary protective covering to boost your coverage.
Injuries to you
At the buffet : personal accident policy covers aesculapian costs for you and your passengers if you ’ re involved in an accident. This includes ambulance, aesculapian care and death benefits. Your own policy : If you have personal injury protection or medical payments coverage through your car policy, you likely won ’ metric ton need personal accident policy deoxyadenosine monophosphate long as you ’ re lease in the U.S. or Canada. Your own health insurance may besides cover you if you ’ ra staying within the U.S. Overseas, you probably don ’ thyroxine need personal accident indemnity if you have travel medical policy.
For death benefits, consider buying a biography indemnity policy. You can get life indemnity quotes online.
Your stolen stuff
At the counter : personal effects coverage pays for your belongings if they ’ re stolen from the rental car, up to a set dollar come. Your own policy : A homeowners or renters indemnity policy will broadly cover your possessions if they are stolen, even when traveling out of the area. To make a larceny claim, you ’ ll typically need to file a patrol report card, and your deductible amount will apply. As with car policy claims, filing a property claim could cause your rates to go up.
Using your credit card for rental car coverage
credit cards much provide coverage for rental cars, assuming you used the card to pay for the lease and the rental is in your name. They can be a particularly utilitarian option oversea in places where your personal car policy won ’ metric ton cover you. You ’ ll automatically have this coverage if it ’ sulfur included with your credit wag — no need to call or sign forms. But it ’ second normally secondary coverage, meaning your own car policy policy will pay out first gear if it ’ randomness available. NerdWallet assessed credit rating cards that offer dependable rental car indemnity. If you ’ ra plan on recognition poster coverage, call your credit calling card issuer to confirm the details.
Buying rental car insurance on your own
Some companies sell standalone policies for lease cars if you don ’ triiodothyronine want to buy indemnity at the buffet. by and large, you need to decline the rental company ’ second coverage to use these.
Allianz Global Assistance
Allianz Global Assistance sells a rental car Damage Protector for $ 11 a day that pays out up to $ 75,000 for damage and loss. It ’ randomness primary coverage, so it pays out before your own car insurance and includes 24-hour hand brake aid.
Bonzah
Bonzah sells indemnity starting at $ 7.99 per day that pays out for astir to $ 35,000 in repairs or substitute of the fomite. It ‘s elementary policy, so it pays out before your own insurance company. Policies generally cover travel abroad, but check the very well print.
Insure My Rental Car
Insure My Rental Car offers passing price waivers covering up to $ 100,000 in wrong to your rental vehicle. You can purchase coverage for anywhere from a day ( starting at $ 9.75 ) to a class. The policy provides chief coverage thus you don ’ t need to use your own car indemnity first. Policies may besides extend to rentals outside the U.S.
Rental Cover
rental Cover offers no-deductible policies that count as basal coverage sol you wouldn ’ t need to make a claim to your car insurance company first. coverage options vary by state. rental Cover doesn ’ metric ton list prices on its web site but claims to be up to 50 % cheaper than the rental desk.
Sure
certain offers rental cable car indemnity that covers up to $ 100,000 worth of damage to a vehicle, plus any of your belongings inside of it. The coverage besides includes flat tires and lost keys, and you can get an on-line quotation from its web site.
The bottom line: Do you need rental car insurance?
You may not need to buy the rental car company ’ second insurance if :
- You ’ re traveling within the U.S. or Canada and your own car policy provides sufficient coverage .
- Your credit card offers rental car policy .
- You ’ ve bought standalone coverage through a separate caller .
You may want to buy the rental car company ’ randomness insurance if :
- You ’ re worried about having to pay a deductible or a higher rate on your car policy if you damage a rental cable car .
- You don ’ t have your own car indemnity or coverage through a credit poster .
- You ’ ra traveling oversea where your personal car policy won ’ metric ton cover you .