Lilah Butler, Car Insurance Writer
@lilah_c
Your insurance company, credit card or rental car company can be responsible for insurance on a rental car. Who is responsible mainly depends on the car insurance you carry, the payment method you used and if you did or didn’t purchase extra insurance from the rental car company.
Who is responsible?
Your car insurance coverage will generally extend to any vehicle you drive, including a rental car, however without comprehensive or collision coverage, you are still responsible for any damage to the rental car. Personal insurance can also step in if you've had personal effects stolen from a rental (homeowners or renters insurance) or if you were injured as a result of an accident (health insurance).
Credit card issuers will also generally provide some type of collision and personal effects coverage when you pay for your rental using your credit card. If you're not sure what benefits your credit card offers, you should contact your card issuer and ask before you rent a car, as certain terms and conditions might need to be met for your insurance to kick in.
The rental car company will also offer extra insurance when you rent a car. Your personal insurance and your credit card will usually be enough to cover you for various situations, however if you don't have personal insurance (or don't want to be responsible for your deductible) and you prefer to pay using your debit card or cash, then you should consider purchasing insurance from the rental car company.
People also ask
How long will insurance pay for a rental car after an accident?
Insurance will pay for a rental car for up to 30 days after an accident, in most cases, as long as a customer has rental reimbursement coverage. The 30 days of rental car payments that insurance companies typically cover are meant to give enough time for car repairs to be completed or for a customer to find a new car.
An exception to the general 30-day rule is if the accident was another driver’s fault. In...
read full answerIf my car breaks down, will insurance cover a rental?
No, if your car breaks down, insurance will not cover a rental car unless you have rental reimbursement coverage and the breakdown was the result of something covered by comprehensive or collision insurance. If the breakdown was the result of an underlying mechanical issue, your rental coverage will not apply.
Even if you don’t have rental reimbursement coverage with your car insurance company, you may be able to get it through an extended warranty. Extended warranties are service...
read full answerDoes insurance cover rental car reimbursement if I'm not at fault?
Yes, insurance covers rental car reimbursement if you’re not at fault in an accident and your vehicle is damaged. While your car is being repaired, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s property damage liability insurance or use your own rental car reimbursement coverage if fault is not immediately clear. If you rent the car through your policy, your insurance company will recoup the cost of the claim from the other insurer through subrogation.
If you’re...
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