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It may be tempting to opt out of the rental car insurance offered when you rent a vehicle, but it’s important to make sure you have some sort of insurance coverage before hitting the road. Should you ever find yourself in a position where you have to file an insurance claim on a rental car, the coverage can be the difference between simply talking to your insurance company or being responsible for costly repairs.

Did you know that it is not necessary to get rental car insurance? In many cases if you already own a car, your personal car insurance policy can actually extend to rental cars. Additionally depending on your credit card, one of the benefits could include rental car insurance. That means you might be able to decline the expensive insurance offered at the counter and save some money.

Do I Need Rental Car Insurance?

Rental car companies typically offer insurance via a waiver. This type of insurance is important because it covers you in the event that your rental car is damaged in a collision, stolen or vandalized. With this waiver, the car rental company won’t pursue you for repairs and losses. However, this kind of rental car insurance is often, though not always, redundant if you have certain coverages on your regular insurance policies. 

If you’re like most people, you may already be covered under your everyday driver’s policy. Review your car insurance policy coverage types and limits to see if it includes any sort of loss damage or collision damage coverage for rental cars. 

Most standard policies have liability coverage, which is usually required by state law and helps pay for medical bills and property damage when you’re at fault in an accident. This liability insurance usually carries over when you’re driving a rental car.

Some personal car insurance policies may have supplemental liability coverage to cover any damage caused by you while you’re driving a rental car. Supplemental liability coverage may also pay for medical expenses of those hurt in an accident you caused. 

Less commonly, people can have comprehensive and collision coverage. This insures your car against incidents such as theft, fire, or vandalism.

No matter what kind of coverage you might have – it’s best to ask one of our agents at Friends Insurance Brokerage on whether rental car insurance is right for you.

Is it Worth It?

Renting a car can be a hassle sometimes – from high mileage, cost of renting and the simple fact that you don’t own the car, it’s smart to assess whether you need rental insurance for your rental. Whether you’re renting a car for travel or personal use, it’s best to be aware of what policies and coverage you’ll be getting with rental car insurance. 

Got any questions about rental car insurance? Contact us today! 

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