Do I need proof of insurance to rent a car from Enterprise?

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.

It costs $5 to $30 per day to add insurance to a rental car, in most cases, depending on the vehicle, rental company and location. The cost of adding insurance to a rental car can exceed the daily cost to rent the vehicle, but it could be worth it if you can’t afford to pay for any damages to the rental out of pocket.… read full answer

Car Rental Insurance Cost by Company

1. Hertz (from $9.99/day)
2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car (from $5/day)
3. Alamo Rent A Car ($10.99/day)
4. National Car Rental ($10.99/day)
5. Dollar Rent A Car (varies by state)

In addition to supplemental rental car insurance options, car rental companies offer collision damage waivers (CDW), also commonly known as loss damage waivers. A CDW technically isn’t an insurance policy, but rather a protection plan that covers most damage to the rental vehicle while it’s in your possession. Keep in mind, however, that CDW terms of service vary by car rental company.

If you have comprehensive/collision coverage on your personal auto insurance policy, or the credit card you use to reserve the rental includes rental car insurance, you may not need to add extra coverage to a rental car. However, the catch with relying on these coverage options, rather than buying extra rental car insurance, is that you may have to pay for damage up front and recover the costs by filing a claim afterward.

Yes, you can rent a car with your Chime Credit Card. Just keep in mind that you need to have enough available credit to cover the hold the rental agency will put on your card.

That's why secured cards aren't the best option for car rentals, considering their lower-than-average credit limits. Instead, you can use an unsecured credit card, or choose a … read full answerpayment method that doesn't involve a credit card.