Car Rental Insurance- State Farm

[Newfie2000]

Can anybody help me? I am a State Farm insurance holder and thought that I was always making a good decision by being one. For background I have two vehicles insured with them, one with full coverage and the other with liability only. I called them today to ask about car rentals and coverage and was rather rudely told that "we do not insure you only the specific vehicle therefore you are not covered for renting a car!" Is this true? I always hear that your insurance should cover at least a portion? I am wondering if I have an agent problem, or is this is in fact a State Farm thing, or if I just happened to get the wrong person on the phone at the wrong time?? Thanks for any info or help you may have!

 

[safetymom]

I pay extra to be covered when I rent cars. I have State Farm also. Your insurance usually doesn't cover you unless your car is damaged or you purchase extra coverage.

 

[CarolMN]

It must depend on your policy - we have State Farm for our vehicles and are covered when we rent.

Best wishes -

 

[Ella's Mom]

Double check what your rental car insurance includes. I called last year to inquire about our rental car insurance, and I was told that my insurance would cover the repairs on a rental car; however, my insurance would not cover the daily/weekly rental rate that you will still get charged by the rental agency while the rental car is being repaired. I had never even thought of that. Be careful.

 

[DebbieB]

Most gold & platnium visa cards cover what personal insurance does not in case of a rental car accident, you may want to check into that.

 

[pppiglet]

It's cheaper just to get the insurance! Peace of mind knowing that if you have it you are covered for most anything.

 

[Kathy2130]

Hi,
I have worked for a State Farm agent for 17 years. In some states you may have rental coverage, in others you may not. In New York State you don't have to purchase additional coverage as per the NYS Insurance Department. So it is possible you don't have it - but it might be worth asking again.

Good luck!

Kathy

 

[juligrl]

I worked in car rental. Policies vary greatly from person to person and state to state. Some credit cards will cover some portion of your rental if you are using that card to pay for the rental. I believe the Diners Club card was the only card to give full rental protection, but you may want to check on this. I have been out of rental for several years now (thankfully), so there may be some other cards that cover fully, but it's always best to check.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

It's cheaper just to get the insurance! Peace of mind knowing that if you have it you are covered for most anything.

I have to disagree. It's not cheaper if you already have the coverage through other sources. It may, however, be worth the extra cost to you not to have to worry about it. -- SuzanneSLO

 

[polly p]

We have state farm and never get the insurance. Our agent said its a waste of money because with our coverage we are covered for a very minimal cost.

 

[Ishy]

I called my Allstate agent and was told I was covered for the value of my car with my collision/liability. My Visa and MasterCard also has rental insurance built into them -- you need to put the rental on the card that will cover you.

So I dont worry about it.

 

[manning]

I called my Allstate agent and was told I was covered for the value of my car with my collision/liability. My Visa and MasterCard also has rental insurance built into them -- you need to put the rental on the card that will cover you.

So I dont worry about it.

They are secondary. In other words, wll cover only what others don't. Check Diners club. I believe they are primary.

 

[DVC-Don]

Yep, as other have said coverage can vary state to state. You don't mention what state you live in.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I have State Farm and called my agent to inquire about coverage for my vacation car rental. I was told that i am covered for 'leisure', ie; vacation usage. Not if it's a rental for business purposes. I have full coverage on two vehicles. I believe that i had that coverage built into my policy (meaning i pay extra).

 

[Newfie2000]

Yep, as other have said coverage can vary state to state. You don't mention what state you live in.

I live in Illinois. To everyone...thanks for all your input! I think I am going to give my agent a call again in the next day or two and see if I can get any other information... I was never even told that I could add rental coverage to my ins. and would think that they would of offered it to me when I called to ask about it?! Sometimes these ins. companies just make everything so difficult...

I do have coverage on several of my credit cards but somewhere I read that most often this coverage is not complete so I was kind of leary about relying on that.

Do any of you know about the Disney card? I just applied for that one and have not received all the information on it yet, although I had read that it also covers car rentals.

 

[Duckster]

Newfie,

I was a claim rep for State Farm in Illinois for several years. Your auto policy will cover a rental car for liability/collision/comprehensive coverage up to the limits that you have purchased on your own vehicle. The only thing not covered under your State Farm coverage is loss of use/loss of business claim. In other words, if you were to encounter a loss while driving a rental car, your policy would cover the applicable comprehensive or collision/liability coverage. Any deductable that you have on your coverage would still be applicable.

However, if the rental company submits a claim for lost business, or loss of use whilethe car is in for repairs, then your policy would pay for the collision/comprehensive/liability portion of the claim, but it would not apply to this lost business claim.

Rental Coverage is not insurance coverage on rental cars. Rental coverage simply ensures that if you have an accident in your car, State Farm will pay for a rental car while your car is in the shop for repairs, up to the limits that you purchased.
I hope this clarifies the issue for you!

 

[Newfie2000]

A GREAT BIG Disney Thank You to all that have answered!!! Due to your responses, today I finally went in and talked firsthand to my agent - Guess what??? I am fully covered! I guess the first person I spoke to over the phone just did not know what she was talking about, and did not care to make an effort to find out! You guys helped me save a bit of money and I am so grateful!