Leif Olson, Car Insurance Writer
@leif_olson_1
Yes, comprehensive insurance does cover rental cars. If you have comprehensive coverage on your personal car insurance policy, it should apply to cars you rent, protecting you against things that are not related to crashing into another car, such as vandalism, hitting an animal, natural disasters, fire or theft.
On the other hand, your comprehensive insurance will not pay for the cost to get a rental car if your normal car is currently unusable. You'd need to have rental reimbursement coverage for that. Comprehensive also will not pay for collision damage that occurs in an accident with another vehicle or stationary object. That would be covered by your collision insurance if it's your fault and the other driver's liability insurance if not.
What Comprehensive Insurance Covers
| Covered | Not Covered |
| Theft and vandalism | Collision with another car or object |
| Flood, fire, or natural disaster damage | Damage caused by the road surface, like potholes |
| Animal damage | Roadside assistance, towing, and jump starts |
| Glass damage | Rental car expenses after an accident |
Comprehensive insurance is subject to a deductible, so it may not always be worth filing a claim. If repairs for the rental car would cost less than or a similar amount as your deductible, it may be better to just pay out of pocket. Additionally, you can consider getting a collision damage waiver from the rental car company to have extra protection in the event of an accident.
Does a Comprehensive Claim Raise Rates?
Even though a comprehensive claim may not affect your insurance rates as much as things like at-fault accidents, you still may see a slight change in your premium after a comprehensive claim. Some states, like California and Oklahoma, do not allow insurance companies to raise rates for comprehensive claims.
To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to comprehensive insurance.
People also ask
Do you need insurance to rent a car?
No, you don’t need insurance to rent a car. Rental companies must insure rental cars because they own and register the vehicles, but they usually carry only minimum liability coverage. If you don’t have personal insurance or credit card rental car insurance, you’ll probably want some of the extra coverage rental companies offer at the time of sale.
Before you buy the rental company’s insurance, you should consider what coverage you may already have through your personal car...
read full answer by Anamarie Waite, Car Insurance WriterIs it better to have comprehensive or collision?
It is better to have both comprehensive and collision insurance, as the combination is usually required for full coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers damage due to events beyond your control, while collision insurance covers crashing into another car or object.
Why You Should Get Both Comprehensive & Collision Coverage
If your car is leased or financed, your lender or lessor will likely require you to purchase comprehensive and collision insurance together. But even if you...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyDoes full coverage cover rental cars?
Yes, full coverage does cover rental cars. Rental cars are usually covered by any car insurance you have, including the main components of full coverage policies like comprehensive, collision, and liability insurance. It is always a good idea to double check your policy, though, to ensure there are no relevant restrictions.
On the other hand, full coverage insurance itself will not provide a rental car for you if your personal vehicle is out of commission....
read full answer by McKayla Girardin, Car Insurance WriterDid we answer your question?
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