If you rent a car often, or if you only rent a car once a year on vacation, you still need to be sure you are properly insured. Neglecting any concern over your auto insurance can cost you a lot of money in the long run. You may be covered by your personal policy, but you should be sure to understand how you are covered. For example, you may have liability insurance, but that will not cover damage to the actual rental vehicle. Be sure you understand how car rental insurance works.
Can you rent a car without insurance? Even if the auto rental company allows you to do this, it is a really bad idea. When you drive a rental vehicle, you will be responsible for two types of damage. You will be responsible for turning that car back in, and you will be responsible for damage to other people. I strongly advice you to be certain how your coverage will work before you sign the rental car agreement!
If you own a car, and you have auto insurance, you may be well covered. It is important to place one call to your agent or company to see how well covered you all. You need to find out if you are covered for damage to the vehicle, and for the required liability to damage to other people’s property or persons! If you are in the clear, you probably can just skip the daily rate policy at the counter. However, if you only carry auto liability insurance, you may only be covered for liability when you rent. You still have the problem of covering damage to the rental car!
Some people who do not own cars also have non-owner car insurance policies. Non owner auto insurance policies are good for people who frequently rent or borrow other people’s vehicles. However, they may only provide required liability protection. So you need to find out if they will cover damage to the car you are driving when you call to find out if they cover rental cars at all.
You may have a credit card that offers to cover any vehicles you charge on that card. That policy may be limited too. For example, it may only cover the rented vehicle and not liability for damage to other people. Assuming you are well covered can be a mistake that will cost you a lot of money.
Your final option is, of course, to take the auto policy at the counter. Of course, this may only cover damage to the rental car too. It is usually pretty expensive if you rent a lot because it costs several dollars every day you rent. Even though it may be an expensive way to get covered, it could work out much cheaper than going without insurance.
By now you may have gotten the idea that you may have to piece different policies together in order to be fully covered. For example, your auto liability policy may cover you for damage to other people. Then you may need to use a credit card or daily rate policy to cover the car you are renting.
