One of the most common questions I receive from my clients is – will my insurance cover me if I go rent a car? The answer – in most cases, yes, but there are some things we want to make you aware of.
It’s the Holiday Season, you and the family (don’t forget the pooch) are supposed to celebrate the holidays with your in-laws in Tennessee. You have the kids, gifts, suitcases (and don’t forget Milo) – you should probably rent a larger vehicle so the family can travel in comfort. Just as you’re about to drive the van off the lot, the clerk asks you – would you be interested in purchasing our insurance so that you are protected in the event of an accident? Thoughts start swirling in your head – doesn’t my current policy cover this already, who is my current policy with, what if something terrible happens? Let us try to clarify this for you- Yes, your current auto policy automatically extends coverage to the vehicle you rented (as long as you have comprehensive and collision coverage on at least one vehicle); however, you will be responsible for your deductible in the event of a claim. It is also important to note your auto policy will not cover “loss of use”. “Loss of use” is a daily rate that the rental car company can charge you for every day they are unable to rent out the vehicle due to its damages.
Another thing to keep in mind – many credit card companies (especially the travel credit cards) offer included coverage for rental vehicles when the rental vehicle charge is placed on that card. We encourage you to research your own credit card details or better yet, call the card issuer and ask them if they cover damages to rental vehicles. Hopefully this offered some clarification but if you still have any questions, feel free to reach out to us directly. We wish you and the family (Milo, too) a safe and happy holiday!