Car Rental/My Insurance Card

[AlexDurrani]

I know this is an old thread at this point but I thought I would put my two cents in on this issue. You do not have to have the original Insurance card with you when you go on your trip. Most of the insurance companies send out pieces of papers that can be either downloaded from the web or just copied. I am definitely going to carry a copy of mine with me when I go in December so I leave one in my car that i will be leaving at the airport in case something happens to the car. I have also secondary insurance through Amex so I will not let the agent at National try to convince me otherwise. Ive had a couple of them try to do that to me before.

 

[mrsstats]

La'st year when we were in Vegas we were stopped for speeding (I warned him about the speed trap but did he listen). The cop wanted proof of insurance. We didnt have anything and explained it was a rental. He told us you are required to take the insurance or have proof of your own and without it you could be fined ($700) He did not give us a ticket but since then, I bring my insurance card

 

[jlewisinsyr]

La'st year when we were in Vegas we were stopped for speeding (I warned him about the speed trap but did he listen). The cop wanted proof of insurance. We didnt have anything and explained it was a rental. He told us you are required to take the insurance or have proof of your own and without it you could be fined ($700) He did not give us a ticket but since then, I bring my insurance card

The vehicle would be insured, the documentation can be found in the glove box. The insurance company must maintain the minimum liability in applicable states (some states do not require insurance, but Nevada is not one of these) or choose to self insure.

This is an odd request either way for a traffic violation with no incident of a liability action and sounds like the officer was more on a power trip trying to make a point then anything. The fine is also contradictory to what even Nevada DMV states.

 

[AlexDurrani]

The vehicle would be insured, the documentation can be found in the glove box. The insurance company must maintain the minimum liability in applicable states (some states do not require insurance, but Nevada is not one of these) or choose to self insure.

This is an odd request either way for a traffic violation with no incident of a liability action and sounds like the officer was more on a power trip trying to make a point then anything. The fine is also contradictory to what even Nevada DMV states.

It's required to have proof of insurance in some states for any kind of moving violation. Just because the car has some kind of minimal insurance proof in the glove compartment it doesn't mean that it will be accepted because they would need to prove that they had been permitted to be using the car and the insurance hense the officer stating that they had to have insurance either of their own or bought through the rental company.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It's required to have proof of insurance in some states for any kind of moving violation. Just because the car has some kind of minimal insurance proof in the glove compartment it doesn't mean that it will be accepted because they would need to prove that they had been permitted to be using the car and the insurance hense the officer stating that they had to have insurance either of their own or bought through the rental company.

The permission to use the car is the rental agreement. The rental agreement, plus the insurance documents held within the glove box are all that are needed. The officer was out of line and either was giving the poster a hard time or was unaware (honeslty it coud be either) that rental companies are insured for the state minimums when they leave the lot and the insurance covers the vehicle as long as the rental agreement includes the driver (authorized driver).

 

[formill]

Rented from Dollar last week- declined all insurance- for the first time ever was asked insurance company name we have with our own vehicles and she seemed to be typing it into computer- not sure if she really was it was not on the agreement she handed me. I was also charged $4.99 per day for roadside assistance I did not need. My own fault I guess but it was not on the paper that I initialed with all the declined insurances. We have auto club so it was not needed.

 

[waynesgirl]

Just some FYI:

1. You should always carry your ins. card copy if you are not driving your personal vehicle- some states, like GA, keep ins. info in a computer base but it doesn't mean it can't be wrong or transferrable to another state. If something should happen, then you are protected by your medical limits as well as personal coverage.

2. Though the counter person was strongarming the friend mentioned, a lot of people do not understand their ins. policies and what it will cover- for example, if you drive a compact car and you rent an SUV, your ins. might only cover up to the amount your car is worth, meaning you could be owing a lot of money should the SUV be totalled. Also, you might very well not have rental car coverage at all, meaning if you rent a vehicle and wreck it, you are on the hook for the whole shebang.

3. Many states have no-fault ins. coverage, but FLA I don't believe is that- so if you have no-fault and the other driver does not, you could be held liable for all the damages and a fine to your ins.

4. Deductibles are varied- if the accident is $2000-and your deductible is $1000- you still have to pay the $1000 based on your policy coverage.

5. Some places call it a Roadside Assistance fee, others call it a convenience fee- you are still paying it somewhere in your contract.

I am NOT promoting buying the ins. by any means but you need to know your limits- always discuss with your ins. agent or customer service line. If you need the coverage, at least get liability to cover your fanny. If not, just keep your card with you and a claim # line so you can do any necessary actions and put it behind you to enjoy your trip!

 

[DVC-Don]

I have been renting cars in Orlando and other areas for 25+ years and have never been asked for my insurance card.

 

[seashoreCM]

Maybe he wasn't really forced to buy the coverage but rather he blinked first when he did not have to.

The rental company must honor your reservation without proof of insurance unless its policies state otherwise.

Don't fall for the line "We're giving you a $25,000. piece of equipment."
The rental company is in the business of doing just that, and losses (if any) that they fear are part of the cost of doing business. And they don't have to fear anything because they can come after you to make good on such losses (if any).

 

[DawnCt1]

I have been renting cars in Orlando and other areas for 25+ years and have never been asked for my insurance card.

Same here. I have the American Express premium car rental insurance that covers everything. Its beyond the typical gold/platinum card coverage that you get with most credit cards. When I rent a car the cost of activation is around $25 or so total for the entire rental period.. https://www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-coverage/home.do