You rented the appropriate vehicle to haul the family halfway around the country. Your trip is all planned out and everybody is anxious to begin a well-deserved vacation. The shuttle bus takes you to the rental car lot, you get to the counter and the paperwork is all ready. Then it comes to the optional insurance. The agent recounts the horrible experience one renter had who was foolish enough to decline the coverage. Is this just a sales pitch?
Most personal auto insurance policies also cover rental cars. That means you have the same coverage driving a rental that you do when operating your own vehicle. So your personal liability coverage is the same, as is your med-pay, uninsured motorist, etc. All coverages will transfer. Of course, that is the same for anything you may lack. If you have homeowners or renter’s insurance, any personal items stolen from the vehicle will be covered up to the policy terms.
Of course, the rental car company is primarily (or only) interested in your comprehensive and collision. That’s what covers the vehicle you are driving. If you damage the vehicle, you are still responsible for the deductible. If you are renting an exotic vehicle, and RV, or some other non-traditional vehicle, you will probably be required to purchase the rental company’s own insurance regardless of your own policy. You may also be liable for any loss-of-use. One other caveat: Many insurance companies do not offer coverage in foreign countries.
Credit cards can offer rental car protection as well. There may be some exclusions, such as driving on unpaved roads, damage to rims or tires, or rental of full-size SUVs, trucks, etc. Some companies have a maximum days covered, and you will likely not be covered for loss-of-use, either.
To save any anxiety right at the start of your trip, be sure meeting with your insurance professional is on your vacation planning list. They can go over your personal insurance and tell you whether you are sufficiently covered. After that, it’s time to hit the road!