Short Term Car Insurance for Rental Cars

If you are renting a car for any reason, you may be unclear as to what your obligation is when it comes to insuring the rental vehicle. Before you purchase additional insurance for your rental vehicle, you should check with your own car insurance comparison company to find out if you already have coverage. The majority of insurers provide some type of coverage to include rental cars, although it may not be enough for your situation. A quick call to your insurance company will let you know what you need before you find yourself in a position of being over or under insured.

Speaking to Your Insurance Agent

If you have advance notice of your trip or when you will be needing a rental car, call your insurance agent as soon as you know the details. This will give you ample time to discover what is covered and what is not. The specific areas you will want to inquire about include accident, theft or damage while the car is in your possession. If you are not comfortable with the coverage that is provided for each of these categories, speak to the car rental agency ahead of time and arrange for additional coverage amounts.

Your Credit Card Issuer May Also Provide Rental Coverage

If you own a major credit card like Mastercard or Visa, you may not be aware that they often come with the benefit of providing you with rental car insurance while you are traveling. In order to take advantage of this offer, you must usually charge the cost of renting the car to your major credit card. It would be helpful to place a call to your credit card issuer in advance of your trip to see how their insurance coverage compares to your own auto insurer or the packages available from the rental car business.

Travel Outside of the Country

Most insurers and credit card companies will not provide coverage for an accident that happens outside of the borders of your own country. Be sure to understand the limitations of your policy and plan accordingly.

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