Reasons You Need Car Rental Insurance When Traveling

Car rental insurance is an often overlooked necessity when traveling. If you plan to rent a car at your destination, you must have the proper coverage in place before getting behind the wheel. Here are reasons why you need car rental insurance.

Damage to the Rental Car

If you are involved in a car accident while driving your rental, then it's likely that the insurance company will look for ways to place blame on you. If there is no third-party coverage or collision damage waiver available from their insurer, then they may not cover any damages done by an at-fault driver. This is where the car rental company's insurance can step in to provide coverage for their vehicle.

In addition, if you do not have insurance of your own, then the car rental company's liability coverage can step in to help pay for damages. If this is the case, it may be worth looking into getting additional personal auto insurance that will provide more protection on top of their policy.

Personal Injury Protection

If you are in an accident while driving your rental car, then personal injury protection can help cover the costs of any medical bills that may arise. This coverage can also help pay for lost wages if you cannot work due to your injuries. It's important to note that this coverage is not available in all states. You can check with your own state's insurance regulator to find out what kind of car rental coverage is available in the area you plan to be driving.

In addition, you will want to make sure that the rental company's policy does not have any exclusions for driver injuries. Some companies may expressly exclude coverage of your injuries because they are at fault, even if you purchase their liability insurance.

Towing and Labor

If your rental car breaks down while you are on vacation, the towing and labor coverage can help pay for the costs of getting it towed to a nearby mechanical garage. Insurance for rental cars can also help pay for the cost of any repairs that may be needed. Make sure to check with the rental company's policy to see exactly what they cover in these situations.

You may be able to purchase additional towing and labor coverage through your insurer. Still, you must understand exactly which services are covered by their policy before driving off the lot. Car rental companies have different policies when it comes to providing both liability coverage as well as any optional extras like this one.

Loss of Use

If your rental car is damaged or needs to be repaired, the loss of use coverage can help pay for the cost of a replacement vehicle. This coverage can also help pay for any transportation costs that you may incur while your rental is being repaired. Make sure to ask your insurer about this coverage before you head out on your trip since not all policies will include it.

You may also want to ask the car rental company if they offer any loss of use coverage for their vehicles. If you are driving a model in high demand when you rent one at your destination, this can help reduce the cost of renting an alternative vehicle while yours is being repaired.

Personal Property Protection

If you are involved in an accident, and another car hits your rental, then it's possible that their policy will not cover any damages done to your personal belongings. This is why personal property protection coverage can step in to help provide reimbursement for lost or damaged items inside of the vehicle. While this type of insurance may be included in your policy, it's important to check before you leave.

Make sure to keep a record of all of the belongings inside your rental car, just in case they are damaged or lost during an accident. This can help speed up the claims process and make it easier to get reimbursed for any damages done.

Glass and Windshield Protection

If you are driving in a location where there is a lot of sand or gravel, it's possible that your rental car's windshield could get damaged. Glass and windshield protection can help pay for the cost of repairing or replacing the windshield if it does get broken while you're on vacation.

This coverage is usually included in most car rental policies, but it's important to double-check before you leave. If the windshield does get damaged while you're on vacation, this coverage can help cover the costs of getting it repaired or replaced.

Roadside Assistance

If your rental car breaks down while you're on vacation, the roadside assistance coverage can help pay for the cost of getting it towed to a nearby mechanical garage. This coverage can also help pay for the cost of any repairs that may be needed. Make sure to check with the rental company's policy to see exactly what they cover in these situations.

You may be able to purchase additional roadside assistance coverage through your insurer. Still, you must understand exactly which services are covered by their policy before driving off the lot. Car rental companies have different policies when it comes to providing both liability coverage as well as any optional extras like this one.

Rental Company Deductible

Even though most policies will include a deductible for damage to the rental car, if you are using your own insurer's policy, then this may not apply. If you have an accident while driving through an area with gravel roads or in heavy rain, it may be more difficult to get reimbursed by the insurance company.

Most car rental companies will have a deductible that applies to any damage done to the vehicle. This can help reduce costs for their customers, but it's important to be aware of this policy before leaving on vacation. If you're driving through an area where gravel roads are common or during heavy rainfall seasons, your insurer may not cover damages made due to this.

Car rental insurance is an important thing to have when traveling. Make sure to check with your insurer to see what kind of coverage they offer for rental cars, and ask the rental company about their policies as well. By doing this, you can be sure that you are fully protected in case of accidents or damage while on vacation. Doing this leaves you with peace of mind, knowing you, your family, and your belongings are well protected in the case of an unfortunate event, leaving you to fully enjoy your time on the road, visiting new and familiar places.