There has been on going debates about the importance of taking rental insurance, when you are renting an automobile. Many believe that their own car insurance will cover them while they are driving a rental and other feel that the credit card they use to rent the car offers them protection. Somethings that you should take into consideration is that rental companies only push this rental insurance for two reasons; the first is so that they will make extra money on your rental and the second is so that the rental insurance will protect their car. In the end, their car is all that is important to them.

The following are some of the most common questions that people have about this type of insurance and the answers may surprise you.

Q: WILL MY REGULAR CAR INSURANCE COVER ME WHILE I AM USING A RENTAL?

A: YES….Many insurance companies will still cover you when you are driving in a rental car. However, it is advisable that you contact your insurance company, prior to picking up your rental vehicle, just to make sure that is so. Otherwise you will not be completely confident that you will be covered and may spend money, on rental insurance from the rental company, you could have otherwise saved.

Q: IF I USE A CREDIT CARD FOR MY CAR RENTAL, WONT THAT COVER ME FOR ANY DAMAGES?

A: YES and NO….Most of the major credit card companies, such as Visa, MasterCard or Discover, offer you additional insurance protection when you use the card to rent a vehicle. Because this may not apply for all credit cards companies you should check with your credit company prior to renting your car. This will give you a piece of mind when turning down the rental insurance for the rental car company.

Q: IF I FIND OUT THAT I AM COVERED UNDER MY OWN CAR INSURANCE AND MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY SHOULD I STILL TAKE OUT THE CAR RENTAL INSURANCE?

A: This is a definite NO! Most car rental companies will try and convince you that you are only covered if you take their insurance out, but this could not be further from the truth. The insurance that you are provided by your credit card and insurance companies will offer you all the insurance that you are required to have while driving a rental. Rental companies only push their own insurance as a way to make more money offer of the rental of a car.

So before yo arrive at the rental car company to pick up your vehicle check with your insurance and credit car companies to see what you are covered for. This will make you more confident when you refuse the rental companies insurance and you will be saving a lot of money.

Receiving damage to a car that you have rented can be a very stressful experience. Those who do not have the appropriate collision and liability insurance can find themselves in the middle of a serious financial crisis. When settling car rental damages, there are a number of considerations that one should be aware of to ensure a trouble free resolution.

When you rent a car, you will usually have insurance through your own car insurance policy, or insurance that is available through your credit card, or you will have obtained insurance through the car rental company. It is important to be aware of the limitations that may be attached to a credit card’s car rental insurance policy. As well, some rental car insurance policies will include comprehensive coverage, but there may be limits imposed on what and how much they will cover.

The process of submitting a claim requires completing a number of actions as outlined in your insurance policy. The process can vary, but generally, you need to do the following:

1. If your insurance is provided either by your credit card company, rental car insurance company, or your own car insurance company, you will have to contact them directly.

2. Each company will have their own form that you will have to fill out. You will have to send the form and all appropriate documents to the company. Some insurance companies have online forms that can be downloaded and filled out.

3. To claim for loss or damages to the rental car, you will need to provide the following:

Proof of the rental agreement. (submitting a copy) Rental car inspection report prior to renting the car. This includes the walk around report that the car rental companies use to identify any scratches, dents, and other damages before you rented the car. A copy of the police report A copy of the damage inspection after the car was returned to the rental company A copy of the repair invoice or damage estimate from the rental agency. It will include an itemized repair list A receipt for repairs

4. To pursue your claim for losses resulting from rental car damage, you will be provided with a contact mailing address where you mail your claim. Once costs and damages have been determined, the insurance company will provide the coverage.

There may possibly be a dispute over repair charges. An insurance company has the right to send a claims adjustor to inspect the damaged car before it is repaired or disposed of. If you don’t have insurance, a rental company can make repairs without an inspection. It is important to be aware that if you are not adequately covered, you may incur some expenses. Some rental car agreements may require that one reimburses for the full value of the car. You should check to make sure you have the appropriate coverage. As well, some agreements require immediate reimbursement for damages, so they may immediately charge your credit card.

There may be other expenses that you are not covered for that can include: administrative fees, towing expenses, storage fees, and inspection and appraisal fees. It is important to read the fine print of your insurance policy to make sure you are comfortable with your coverage.

Purchasing the right insurance for a rental car can make all the difference if you suddenly find yourself in a potentially expensive car accident. When you pick up your car from the car rental company, make sure you inspect the exterior for damage. Being prepared will provide you with peace of mind when you are on the road. In the event of an accident, it will be a lot less stressful if you know exactly what steps have to be taken to settle any damages.