Insurance coverage for rental cars

[mabley]

For those who have rented cars in the US, specifically Orlando, do you recommend getting extra insurance. My husband will be checking with our own insurance to see what is transferable but I'm still confused when I read the descriptions of the extra insurance offered by the rental companies. There are extra packages that we can buy to cover damages to the car, injuries to people, and injuries the other party. Are these not covered in our insurance?

Anyone with experience or better understanding of the insurance industry please, please enlighten me. TIA.

Ann

 

[minnie mum]

As well as checking your own car insurance, check your credit card company as well. Our gold and platinum cards cover us for our car rentals.

 

[sjsjbrook]

We checked with our insurance on our last trip and found out that 3rd party liability is covered here by the rental angencies, but not in Florida. So we paid extra to have it covered. If we drove our own vehicle we would be totally covered though

I would call and talk to your insurance company and see what you are covered for driving a rental vehicle.

 

[Sue M]

Yes, the credit card insurance doesn't include 3rd party liability, so you'd have to take that out with rental agency.

We have an extra policy on our ICBC car insurance at home that covers everything for car rentals in Canada & the U.S., incl Hawaii. it's cheap, and well worth it. It's an annual policy. So I get good use out of it, with rentals in Florida in Jan & Aug.

 

[MedicGoofy]

I have recently run into this situation for rentals.

My parents have a Gold card with their VISA and were told that they were covered with the exception of third party liability. So basically, need to get the insurance that the rental place was offering.

While going to Florida this past November, we rented a car. I called my insurance company, and as long as my car was NOT being used ie, sitting at home or at a parking garage, my insurance was basically moved over to my rental car. FULL coverage.

If you have a VISA, call them and ask everything. Make sure you are either covered or not. Usually your not, fully covered. And check with your insurance company. Usually you will be covered. As long as your vehicle is not being used.

Hope you have a great trip

 

[wendyt_ca]

I work for an insurance company. You can purchase an extra insurance that will cover the insurance on a rental car and it's usually very cheap and usually bundled with other coverages such as coverage for a rental car in the event of an accident. Your car doesn't have to be parked at home for you to be covered for the insurance on the rental. You just need to call and make sure you have this coverage on your policy. Most companies automatically apply it.

 

[Alderbrook]

Our insurance covers rental cars. We take our pink slips with us.

 

[Sue M]

I work for an insurance company. You can purchase an extra insurance that will cover the insurance on a rental car and it's usually very cheap and usually bundled with other coverages such as coverage for a rental car in the event of an accident. Your car doesn't have to be parked at home for you to be covered for the insurance on the rental. You just need to call and make sure you have this coverage on your policy. Most companies automatically apply it.

This is what I have. Great insurance and cheap. I've used it for car rentals on vacay, and when my car windows were smashed and paint scratched in a B&E to get a rental while car was in the shop.

 

[MedicGoofy]

I work for an insurance company. You can purchase an extra insurance that will cover the insurance on a rental car and it's usually very cheap and usually bundled with other coverages such as coverage for a rental car in the event of an accident. Your car doesn't have to be parked at home for you to be covered for the insurance on the rental. You just need to call and make sure you have this coverage on your policy. Most companies automatically apply it.

This is NOT what I have. I am single and live by myself. Hence, when I travel, I will drive myself to the airport and leave my vehicle OR someone will drive me and my car will sit at home. I do not pay extra for this. I have talked to my insurance agents multiple times about this coverage, as well as my parents (it is the same thing with a different company) and we don't need to pay extra to get coverage while renting a car. We have FULL coverage.

 

[formill]

I am quite sure you pay extra for rental car insurance on your policy! In Ontario basic car insurance minimums are $200000 liability and basic accident benefits so if you had the minimum only on your policy there is no coverage for a rental car at all. We pay extra to have much higher liability, rental car insurance, collision, comprehensive.

 

[wendyt_ca]

This is NOT what I have. I am single and live by myself. Hence, when I travel, I will drive myself to the airport and leave my vehicle OR someone will drive me and my car will sit at home. I do not pay extra for this. I have talked to my insurance agents multiple times about this coverage, as well as my parents (it is the same thing with a different company) and we don't need to pay extra to get coverage while renting a car. We have FULL coverage.

You absolutely pay extra for that coverage as with regulations they have to give the option. It is likely bundled with something else that you have which is why they are saying you "don't pay extra". It usually goes with the coverage that gives you a rental car if you are in an accident.

I am quite sure you pay extra for rental car insurance on your policy! In Ontario basic car insurance minimums are $200000 liability and basic accident benefits so if you had the minimum only on your policy there is no coverage for a rental car at all. We pay extra to have much higher liability, rental car insurance, collision, comprehensive.

The minimum in Ontario is actually 250k for liability but I would never easily agree to that. You would be automatically setup with $1M unless you request it increased. But it doesn't affect if there is car rental coverage or not other then that you would have the same limits as your policy.

But there isn't something actually called rental car coverage on any policy it's named and bundled with something else. Normally though you do need to have comp/coll to qualify for the rental car coverage bundle which may be what the other poster meant.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I work for an insurance company. You can purchase an extra insurance that will cover the insurance on a rental car and it's usually very cheap and usually bundled with other coverages such as coverage for a rental car in the event of an accident. Your car doesn't have to be parked at home for you to be covered for the insurance on the rental. You just need to call and make sure you have this coverage on your policy. Most companies automatically apply it.

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[ferris198]

I believe you are talking about opcf 27 and it only includes damage to the vehicle.

 

[wendyt_ca]

Yes opcf 27 is what I mean. It also extends your liability and accident benefits.

 

[PrincessKimmy]

It may vary between companies, but typically its the opcf 27 endorsement. Usually covers 40K physical damage coverage in canada and the contentintal US, for 30 days, listed drivers only.

Just call your insurance company and ask. If you have the coverage you don`t need to buy the extra.

 

[ferris198]

Please correct if I am wrong but opcf 27 only extends to physical damage or theft to the vehicle, personal liability is required under a seperate policy.

 

[wendyt_ca]

Please correct if I am wrong but opcf 27 only extends to physical damage or theft to the vehicle, personal liability is required under a seperate policy.

No your policy extends the liability to the rental if you have opcf 27. Im a licensed insurance agent for Ontario so I need to go through opcf 27 several times a day lol.

 

[encinc]

No your policy extends the liability to the rental if you have opcf 27. Im a licensed insurance agent for Ontario so I need to go through opcf 27 several times a day lol.

Thanks for the info! Could you (or one of the other licensed insurance agents) please clarify whether our vehicle needs to be parked in order for opcf 27 to take effect? In other words, say I go on vacation without DH, he's at home driving our vehicle as usual, and I rent a vehicle while on vacation, does coverage under the opcf endorsement apply to the rental, even though we only have one vehicle on our insurance policy?

 

[PrincessKimmy]

No it doesnt need to be parked at home, or not in use at home. DH could be at home driving it if you were travelling solo. It extends from your coverage, so your car can be in use while your renting a vehicle.

 

[wendyt_ca]

No your veh def does not need to be parked So your DH can use your veh at home while you use your own. I actually did this in April I went to Orlando with a friend and we rented a car while DH was home using ours.