You need to be sure that your rental car is covered, whether it's for vacation or business. The best way to do this is to learn about your auto insurance policy before you rent a car. Your policy usually covers the same deductibles, limits, and limitations as when you own your vehicle. However, your coverage will be different depending on the type of rental car you rent. To see exactly what you are covered, read the terms of your policy.
If you're renting a car on business, you may already have your employer's coverage. However, if you don’t have this coverage, you may need it. To help protect your vehicle and passengers, most rental car companies offer supplemental coverage. This insurance may cost $15-30 per person, depending on where you rent the car. This coverage can be purchased directly through your rental car company or added to your existing auto policy.
Additional insurance can be purchased through your credit card. Several major credit cards offer supplemental insurance coverage. The coverage you receive may not be adequate. Therefore, it is important to make sure you check with the company prior to renting a car. Some credit cards only provide collision coverage for a period of 15 days. A deductible will also be required. If you do not pay your deductible, you might be responsible for the damages.
Liability insurance is required by most states for car rental agencies. This coverage covers you in case you cause injury or death to another person. You will need to ensure that your policy provides at least $25k of bodily liability coverage per individual and at least $50,000 per accident.
If you're unsure whether your insurance policy will provide you with enough coverage, you can ask your insurance agent. If you have a higher travel deductible or need additional coverage, you may need to purchase supplemental policy. Additional coverage may be recommended by your rental car company, so make sure you ask.
You can also rent a car through a car sharing company. This is a popular method to rent a car. However, the coverage can be varying and is not uniform. This information can often be found on the service's site. Most services will require that you sign an agreement which states that insurance will be paid.
You can also buy additional rental car insurance through a credit card. If you already have primary auto insurance, this coverage might provide some supplemental protection. But, it is important that you carefully read the credit card policy. Some credit cards will only cover certain types of vehicles or restrictions. The coverage you have may not be adequate if you don't plan to rent a high-end vehicle. A deductible will be required to obtain coverage.
If you're renting a car in California, you'll need to purchase liability insurance from a third-party company. Your policy must also cover you for state minimum auto insurance requirements.