When you rent a car, the attendant will often ask you if you would like to purchase their additional insurance to cover the rental car. If you already have car insurance, then most of the time buying their insurance is not necessary, because your own car insurance will cover an accident in a rental car. Don’t take our word for it, this is a great time to double check your policy to be sure.
Check Your Auto Insurance Policy
You will want to find your insurance paperwork or open the app if you have it available. Using a mobile app ensures easy access to your policy information when you are on the go. Locate your insurance declaration page to view your coverage to see whether you are covered in a rental car.
If you have comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage, you probably don’t need the extra rental car coverage from the rental car company.
Read: Texas Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements
Credit Card Rental Protection
Certain credit cards offer car rental protection if you use the card to rent the car. However, the credit card rental protection is secondary insurance, meaning it only kicks in after your first policy pays. If you use a credit card to book your rental, check into the perks to see if it offers any additional coverage, but don’t rely on credit card rental coverage as your first line of defense.
When Should You Buy Rental Car Coverage
In some circumstances, like if you don’t have your own auto insurance policy, you should buy rental car insurance to make sure you’re covered in the event of an accident or theft. Buying rental car insurance makes sense for you if:
- You don’t have car insurance
- Your car insurance policy doesn’t cover rental cars
- You are renting your car for work – check with your company to see what type of coverage they have
- You are renting internationally – some auto insurance policies don’t cover international rentals
If You are Injured in a Wreck in a Rental Car, Call Carrollton Injury Law
Car accidents are stressful and scary without the added complication of a rental car. If you are injured in an accident in a rental car and the accident wasn’t your fault, call Carrollton Injury Law for a FREE injury claim evaluation. Personal injury claims are all we do – let us help you get the most money for your injury claim, even if it’s complicated. We can handle it. Call or text us today at 972-360-9898 and we will show you how we put Personal back into Personal Injury Law.
