In most instances, rental car insurance overlaps with your personal auto insurance policy and you won't need to pay for duplicate coverage. There may be situations where adding rental car insurance is worthwhile, so it's important to review your personal auto coverages. If you don't have a personal auto policy, you will need to purchase liability coverage through the rental car company.
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Rental car insurance refers to the coverage an agency may offer you when you rent a car. This coverage may include:
Important note: If your personal auto policy includes liability, comprehensive, collision, and medical payments/personal injury protection, then you may not need rental car insurance. If you have a homeowners, renters, or condo policy, any personal belongings you keep in a rental car should be covered too.
Rental car insurance is separate coverage offered by a rental car company, whereas rental car reimbursement coverage is an optional coverage you can add to your personal auto insurance policy to help pay for rental car costs while your vehicle is being repaired after an accident.
Here's a quick overview of how your personal auto policy applies to rental cars and what to do if you don't have the coverage you need:
Play Video Do You Need Rental Car Insurance? | Progressive Answers
In an animation, cars park outside an airport. Text: Do you need rental car insurance? The narrator reads onscreen text.
If you have your own car insurance policy, then you may have all the coverage you need to rent a car.
A car with a shield over it drives away.
Liability coverage applies when driving a rental car. Comprehensive and collision usually cover damage to the vehicle as well.
A tree falls on a vehicle. Two vehicles collide.
If you don't have comprehensive or collision, you have options.
A user holds a mobile phone.
You should consider purchasing a loss or collision damage waiver from the rental agency or your credit card.
This will help protect you on the road.
This protects you from theft, vandalism, damage to the rental. A thief creeps up to the car.
If you don't have your own car insurance, you can still rent a car, but you'll need to buy liability coverage from the rental agency.
People speak to an agent in a rental agency.
You'll also have the option to add additional coverages. Contact us today, and get the coverage you need when you're on the go.
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Your personal auto insurance will cover most rental cars with the same coverage limits and deductibles. For example, if you carry comprehensive and collision coverage on your auto policy, you'll be protected against physical damage to your rental car. Your liability coverage will also apply when you get behind the wheel of your rental.
You don't need a personal auto policy to rent a car. If you don't have a personal policy, you'll be required to buy liability coverage through the rental car company. You will also have the option to add additional coverages, including collision and tire damage.
Some credit card companies provide insurance coverage if you use your card to pay for the rental car. Check with your credit card company for specific coverage information, rules, and restrictions.
If you already have car insurance or rental car coverage through your credit card, then rental car insurance may not be worthwhile. There are a few instances, however, where adding rental car insurance could be beneficial and worth considering:
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Please note: The above is meant as general information to help you understand the different aspects of insurance. Read our editorial standards for Answers content. This information is not an insurance policy, does not refer to any specific insurance policy, and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions expressly stated in any insurance policy. Descriptions of all coverages and other features are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. Coverages and other features vary between insurers, vary by state, and are not available in all states. Whether an accident or other loss is covered is subject to the terms and conditions of the actual insurance policy or policies involved in the claim. References to average or typical premiums, amounts of losses, deductibles, costs of coverages/repair, etc., are illustrative and may not apply to your situation. We are not responsible for the content of any third-party sites linked from this page.
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