How does American Family rental reimbursement work?

Yes, your car insurance covers rental cars, in most cases. Standard auto insurance policies cover car rentals in the U.S., up to your normal policy limits and with your regular deductible, but it’s best to check the details of your car insurance policy to make sure you’re aware of any specific rental car restrictions.… read full answer

In addition, other policies, like health or home insurance, kick in for certain situations. Your health insurance will usually cover injuries resulting from a car crash, and home or renters policies cover items stolen from a car. Also, depending on the credit card you used to rent a car, you may be able to file a claim through it, too.

When Your Car Insurance Does Not Cover Rental Cars

Although every standard car insurance company has its own criteria for covering rental cars, a few situations are commonly excluded.

• Most insurers do not cover rental cars outside of the U.S., though you can buy specialty rental car or travel insurance to fulfill another country’s insurance requirements.
• If you get into an accident, the rental car company may charge you for things that your insurance won’t pay for, like loss-of-use or administrative fees.
• Many personal car insurance policies do not cover cars rented for business reasons
• Most companies have time limits, meaning that your insurance will cover a rental car for a few weeks or a month at most.
• If you carry full coverage, your insurance will only pay for the limits established by the value of your usual car, even if the rental car is worth more.

When to Buy Additional Rental Car Insurance

• You don’t have your own car insurance policy.
• You have a personal insurance policy but want additional coverage.
• You are renting a car for business purposes.
• You are renting a car outside of the U.S.

Keep in mind that not every state requires rental car companies to automatically provide the minimum mandated insurance coverage. In California, for example, you need to carry a personal car insurance policy with liability coverage or purchase the rental car company’s additional liability coverage in order to drive legally.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s full guide to rental car insurance.

Yes. American Family offers rental car insurance. American Family rental car insurance is usually included in a driver’s personal car insurance policy if the driver carries liability, comprehensive, or collision coverage and is driving in the U.S. Each policy is unique, though, and there may be certain exclusions based on your specific situation. It’s very important to confirm the details of your policy by calling customer service at 1 (800) 692-6326 before declining additional coverage at the rental counter.… read full answer

American Family also offers rental car reimbursement, which helps pay for the cost of a rental car while your personal vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim. If you add rental reimbursement to your policy, your insurance company will pay a fixed amount per day toward the cost of your rental, up to a maximum per-claim limit. You select specific rental car reimbursement limits when you purchase the add-on. For example, if you choose $30 per day/$900 per loss as your rental reimbursement limits, American Family will pay up to $30 per day, but no more than $900 per claim for your rental. Rental reimbursement coverage costs between $2 and $15 per month, on average, but you’ll need to call customer service to get a personalized quote and add this coverage to your policy.

American Family Rental Car Insurance Coverage Limits

The same American Family coverage limits that apply to your personal vehicle will also apply to a rental car. If you only carry liability insurance, American Family will pay for the other driver’s injuries and property damage after an at-fault accident—but not physical damage to the rental. You need a full-coverage policy to have damage to the rental car covered by your insurer.

If you rent a car similar in value to your personal vehicle, you probably have enough insurance. But if your personal vehicle is a 15-year-old sedan and you decide to rent a 2022 luxury car, you should look into extra coverage. That’s because the limits you’ve chosen for your personal policy may not be sufficient to cover damage to a more expensive rental car.

One option to make up for insufficient coverage when renting a car is to get a collision damage waiver (CDW) from the rental counter, which leaves the rental company responsible if the car is damaged, vandalized, or stolen. In addition to a CDW, rental car companies offer a few other types of insurance if you don’t have enough coverage with your American Family policy. These include supplemental liability protection, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage.

The insurance offered by the rental company often duplicates coverage drivers already have through health, life, and auto insurance. You may also have rental insurance from your credit card company, which is nullified if you purchase the rental company’s coverage.

No, you do not need insurance to rent a car because rental companies have their own insurance. Rental car companies usually provide minimum liability coverage only, so if you don’t have personal insurance, you’ll probably want to purchase extra rental car insurance through the rental company. If your personal car is insured and you pay for your rental with a credit card, you can probably skip the optional coverage offered at the rental counter.… read full answer

Coverage Offered by Rental Car Companies

• Collision Damage Waiver:

Covers: Damage to the rental car in an accident

Similar to: Collision and comprehensive

• Supplemental Liability

Covers: Damage and injuries to the other driver from an accident you cause

Similar to: Bodily injury and property damage liability

• Personal Accident

Covers: Medical costs for injuries to you and your passengers

Similar to: Personal injury protection, MedPay and health insurance

• Personal Effects

Covers: Personal items stolen out of the rental car

Similar to: Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance

You don’t have to purchase all of these coverage types to be protected while driving your rental. But minimum liability insurance carried by the rental car company isn’t enough protection if you get into an accident.

When You Don't Need The Rental Company's Insurance

Before you buy the rental company’s insurance, you should consider what coverage you may already have through your personal car insurance. The coverage limits and deductibles you have on your personal vehicle typically still apply to rentals, as long as you’re renting for personal use. Many major credit cards also offer coverage for rental cars if you pay with your card and decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company.