Car rental insurance question

[Disdad35]

The insurance is the killer cost with renting a car but doesn't my own insurance generally cover me for a rental and / or doesn't my visa card cover me as well.

Thanks

Disdad35

 

[Lewisc]

A general yes doesn't help you. The question is does YOUR (Canadian) policy cover YOU when you rent a car in FL. YOU have to read your policy or call your broker.

 

[kdibattista]

I would contact your insurance agent for your info. My insurance does cover me but I would think it varies according to your policy.

 

[DVC-Don]

Varies wildly by the state you live in and coverages you have on your own car. New York recently changed it's law on this and even the lawyers here are arguing about what the law says. The insurance dept. says wait till the first test case comes through. Not what I want to hear.

 

[safetymom]

I bought extra coverage from my own insurance company to cover me when I drive a rental. I travel a lot for business and this covers what the normal ins. does not.

 

[peg2001]

I called recently and practically badgered my insurance agent because I wanted to purchase additional coverage if needed to cover our rental car. She kept reassuring me that since I had full coverage on a vehicle with them, that it would extend to the rental vehicle. This was State Farm in Tennessee. Your mileage may vary.

Pick up the phone and ask your agent! Check the tiny print under terms-and-conditions of your Visa card. I think it is common for premium cards to offer coverage but I don't know about your run-of-the-mill Visa.

Peggy

 

[Lewisc]

You might also post on the Canadian forum. I suspect most of us have no idea how a Canadian policy would work with a US rental car.

 

[kylara]

Also if you are using a credit card, check with your credit card company since some have insurance coverage for rental cars in their terms.

 

[Disdad35]

Thanks all for the quick replies. I checked with my insurance company and was told covered for liability and covered up to $25000 for vehicle, so I guess no luxury rental for me.

Thanks again.

 

[seashoreCM]

Som buzz words in the insurance business are "primary" and "secondary" and "loss of use" and "diminution of value".

"Primary" means they pay first, according to their rules. If you buy the rental company coverage it is primary.

If you use a credit card with the feature (except some Diners Club plans) that is secondary. Check the credit card's rules for car rental insurance benefits. Your own insurance would be primary and you are subject to surcharges as if you had the accident with your own car. (The credit card, being secondary but whose rules include the first $500. or so, will cover the deductible which by definition your own insurance company does not pay according to its rules.)

Your own insurance company and/or your credit card may or may not cover loss of use which amounts to extra rental days charged to you while the car is in the repair shop.

You may be charged diminution of value if in the opinion of the car rental agency the car won't sell for the anticipated price because it has been in an, any, accident, yours. Almost all rental companies sell or auction off the cars after about two years.

Some rental offices in the U.S. require that non-US citizens buy their coverage. Check the rental company's rules, generally available on their web site and also on Travelocity.com if you book on line.

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http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm