Car Rental/My Insurance Card

[Capncrunch_11]

Hello, when I go to pickup my car at the rental agency and provide to them my own car insurance, does it have to be my original certificate or can it be a copy of it? I would hate to lose my original in Florida somewhere. We are using Alamo. Thank you for any help!

 

[sympatico]

I've never brought my own with me and have never had an Alamo, National or Thrifty agent ask to see it. (and don't get their insurance either)
We usually bypass the counter and check-in online or use the kiosk for Alamo/National.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

We always use Alamo. We don't buy thier insurance and we have never brought proof of our own either.

 

[francie57]

We are given two copies for each car so I just take the duplicate card. That being said, I have never shown the card to the rental car agency. We usually use Alamo and even before the kiosk was available I never showed them the card.

 

[skelooch]

The only things you need are a drivers license and a credit card/debit card. No proof of insurance is required.
It can be a lot faster to use the kiosk or do online check-in if it's available for your reservation.
Not sure how it works with a debit card as I have only ever used a CC.

 

[msjprincess]

I did read a thread a couple of months ago by someone who was forced to by the insurance because they didn't have proof of insurance. I don't recall which agency it was through. I've never been asked but I'm bringing it just in case. having it can't hurt.

And you can't use the kiosk with a debit card.

 

[TheWog]

Just rented from Hertz last week and didn't ask for any proof of insurance.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I did read a thread a couple of months ago by someone who was forced to by the insurance because they didn't have proof of insurance. I don't recall which agency it was through. I've never been asked but I'm bringing it just in case. having it can't hurt.

And you can't use the kiosk with a debit card.

Most likely not one of the big agencies, more then likely EZ or L&M (or similiar). These agencies reserve the right (even in their terms & agreements) to deny rental if the individual does not provide a copy of their insurance cards.

I wouldn't recommend either of these agencies (or others similar) for this reason (plus countless other reasons beyond this too).

 

[msjprincess]

Most likely not one of the big agencies, more then likely EZ or L&M (or similiar). These agencies reserve the right (even in their terms & agreements) to deny rental if the individual does not provide a copy of their insurance cards.

I wouldn't recommend either of these agencies (or others similar) for this reason (plus countless other reasons beyond this too).

It definitely wasn't a "noname" agency. IIRC it was Dollar or Alamo.

ETA
It was Dollar. I knew it was one of the agencies that we're using for our upcoming trip. We have a car through Alamo and our friends have a car through Dollar. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2517702&highlight=insurance+dollar

Chances are it won't happen but I'm still bringing my insurance card

 

[debknight]

We always carry our insurance cards with us. If you should be stopped by the police don't you need to show proof-of-insurance?

 

[skelooch]

This info is from Dollar website FAQ:

What information do I need to have with me when I arrive at the Dollar car rental counter?
When you arrive at the rental counter, you will need to show a valid driver's license along with an acceptable credit card.

I couldn't find anything on their website regarding you being required to buy their insurance if you don't provide proof of insurance.

And its policy regarding Debit Cards:

G. Debit Card Usage: If the customer presents a debit card at the beginning of rental to qualify to rent, we will perform a debit card check and credit inquiry screening through Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc. This type of inquiry will screen out customers who present a greater driving risk to us, using a standard set of criteria. The credit inquiry is posted on the customer's credit report and may have an effect on the customer's credit evaluation. In the event that a customer's debit card check and credit inquiry fail to meet our debit card criteria, the customer will not be allowed to rent unless they provide a major credit card in their own name. Our debit card policy complies with all applicable U.S. federal and state laws. Debit cards are accepted for payment at the end of rental without a credit inquiry. Debit cards may not be accepted in Canada except for payment at the end of rental. Since credit requirements vary by location, please refer to the Local Policies for specific information on the acceptance and usage of debit cards where you intend to rent a DOLLAR vehicle.

 

[PrincesCJM]

We always carry our insurance cards with us. If you should be stopped by the police don't you need to show proof-of-insurance?

That's the first thing that crossed my mind when reading this thread.

 

[TheWog]

We always carry our insurance cards with us. If you should be stopped by the police don't you need to show proof-of-insurance?

In my state we don't even have to have insurance.

 

[linzbear]

In my state we don't even have to have insurance.

And in MA, we don't have insurance cards at all. Insurance is on a per-car basis and printed on the car's registration.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've never had to show an insurance card while renting a car, even when I don't buy the extra insurance.

I did read a thread a couple of months ago by someone who was forced to by the insurance because they didn't have proof of insurance. I don't recall which agency it was through. I've never been asked but I'm bringing it just in case. having it can't hurt.

And you can't use the kiosk with a debit card.

That was a rental guy being a big ol' liar. He was strongarming the friend into buying the insurance, and doing whatever he could to upsell the customer. If you were to show that guy an insurance card, he would still have said "well I'm familiar with that insurance company, and you aren't covered, you have to buy our insurance". That wasn't a "real" situation, it was a situation the rental guy made up right there to sell the insurance.

 

[msjprincess]

I've never had to show an insurance card while renting a car, even when I don't buy the extra insurance.



That was a rental guy being a big ol' liar. He was strongarming the friend into buying the insurance, and doing whatever he could to upsell the customer. If you were to show that guy an insurance card, he would still have said "well I'm familiar with that insurance company, and you aren't covered, you have to buy our insurance". That wasn't a "real" situation, it was a situation the rental guy made up right there to sell the insurance.

Either way carrying the card won't hurt any.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We always carry our insurance cards with us. If you should be stopped by the police don't you need to show proof-of-insurance?

Insurance cards are usually kept in the glove compartment of a car (in states where insurance is required). When you rent a car, all cars will leave with state minimum requirements for insurance.

If you are involved in a traffic violation, insurance is moot (except that if your insurance company finds out you were ticketed for a moving violation, your rates could go up).

Proof of insurance is required in an accident, but just that you are insured. In a personal car, it would be the insurance card in the glove box, for a rental it would be the documentation kept in the glove box (usually there is the registration and insurance information in an envelope in the glove box). The police won't need any other information at the time of the accident.

It definitely wasn't a "noname" agency. IIRC it was Dollar or Alamo.

ETA
It was Dollar. I knew it was one of the agencies that we're using for our upcoming trip. We have a car through Alamo and our friends have a car through Dollar. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2517702&highlight=insurance+dollar

Chances are it won't happen but I'm still bringing my insurance card

I think another poster mentioned this, but welcome to the world of hard upsells by poorly trained (or ill trained) service representatives. Having rented from Dollar once (never again), I am not shocked by this behavior referenced, but it is also not valid in terms of being required to purchase the insurance, at least for Thrifty/Dollar or, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, Enterprise or Hertz.

 

[bumbershoot]

Either way carrying the card won't hurt any.

Of course not, but if you get that guy at the rental car place, just know that he's going to do everything he can to sell you the insurance.

 

[Gi19]

For the past 4 yrs I've rented from Alamo at MCO with a debit card, don't buy their insurance, use costco codes and have never been asked for proof of anything, but this June the Alamo rep asked for proof of insurance and wanted to see my costco card, mabybe this is something new or I was just lucky and got an overzealous agent!!

 

[rozy12]

I never bought my own car. Once I hired a car and took help from car hire insurance company for insurance. They helped me a lot, also they gave me proof of everything related to this.

Thanks,
with regards