Everything You Must Know About Rental Car Insurance

You are protected by car insurance when renting a car directly from a company. You will be asked whether you want to add insurance to your rental car or whether you want to forego it when you rent a car.

Do I require rental car insurance coverage? It depends on the response. While you want to ensure you and your rental vehicle are protected, you also don't want to pay for extra coverage that could cause your rental to quadruple in cost.

Your rental vehicle within the United States will typically be covered if you have comprehensive and liability insurance on your car. In all, your auto insurance coverage will be sufficient for the rental if you are renting a car in the United States that is comparable in value to your vehicle.

Additionally, you should contact the credit card company for the card you'll be employing to rent a car. The credit card provider may offer supplemental coverage if your auto policy has any coverage gaps.

Most rental companies typically offer a condensed, dependable range of options for rental car insurance. Before going to the counter, familiarize yourself with the rental company's policy.

The following coverages are typically divided up under rental car insurance:

• Liability protection
• Insurance for personal injuries
• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• Individual Effects Insurance

Below are the types of coverages offered in rental car insurance:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Collision Damage Waiver will protect you from damages to the vehicle, as the name implies. Keep in mind that CDW only pays for bodywork damage. Additionally, driving while intoxicated or recklessly damaging the car is not covered.
• Theft Protection: You are not required to pay if your rented car is stolen or the vehicle is damaged due to the theft attempt.
• Third-Party Liability: While driving a rented car, third-party property and life damages will be covered by the third-party auto insurance policy.

Before you enter the rental car counter, be aware of the coverage provided by your credit card and personal insurance. However, if you are hurt in a car accident and aren’t at fault, you should have a skilled accident lawyer on your side.