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Every car insurance company sets their prices differently, so shopping around is the single best way to find
the cheapest rate.
That's where InsuranceGenius comes in. In a matter of minutes, you can get quotes from multiple
car insurance companies to find the best price for you.
Take a few minutes now to find out just how much we can save you!
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Do I need car insurance to rent a car?
When renting a car, you need insurance. If you have adequate
insurance on your own car, including collision and comprehensive, this may be
enough.
Before you rent a car:
- Contact your insurance company.
Find out how much coverage you
have on your own car. In most cases, the coverage and deductibles you have on
your personal auto policy would apply to a rental car, providing it's used for
pleasure and not business. If you don't have comprehensive and collision
coverage on your own car, you will not be covered if your rental car is stolen
or if it is damaged in an accident.
- Call your credit card company.
Find out what insurance your card
provides. Levels of coverage vary. If you don't have auto insurance,
you will need to buy coverage at the car rental counter. The following coverages
are available to you at the rental car counter:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).
Sometimes called a Loss Damage
Waiver (LDW), this coverage relieves you of financial responsibility if your
rental car is damaged or stolen. The CDW may be void, however, if you cause an
accident by speeding, driving on unpaved roads or driving while intoxicated.
This coverage generally costs between $9 and $19 a day. If you have
comprehensive and collision on your own car, you may not need to purchase this
coverage.
- Liability Insurance.
This provides excess liability coverage of up
to $1 million for the time you rent a car. Rental companies are required by law
to provide the minimum level of liability insurance required by your state.
Generally, this does not offer enough protection in a serious accident. If you
have adequate liability coverage on your car or an umbrella policy on your
home/auto, you may consider forgoing this additional insurance. It generally
costs about $7 to $9 a day. If you don't own a car, and rent cars often,
consider purchasing a non-owner liability policy. This costs approximately $200
- $300 per year. Frequent car renters sometimes find this more cost-effective
than constantly paying for the extra liability coverage.
- Personal Accident Insurance.
This provides coverage to you and
your passengers for medical/ambulance bills. This type of insurance, usually
costs about $3 per day, but may be unnecessary if you are covered by health
insurance or have adequate medical coverage under your auto policy.
- Personal Effects Coverage.
This provides coverage for the theft of
personal items in your car. However, if you have homeowners or renters
insurance, you may be covered for items stolen from the car, minus your
deductible. You need to have receipts or other proof of ownership. This type of
insurance usually costs about $1.25 per day. Some rental car companies
combine personal accident and personal effects coverage together as one type of
insurance, while others sell it individually.
The cost of insurance at
the rental car counter will vary depending on the rental car company, state, and
location of the dealer and the type of car you rent.
Some rental car
companies may check your credit and driving history and may deny coverage. Check
with the rental car company to find out its policy.
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