There are a couple of items to consider when you are renting a car and are forced to decide if you want to purchase insurance at the rental counter. This is where you really need to do some homework up front to save yourself some money. You must have insurance on the rental car. If you have insurance on your own car, including collision and comprehensive, you might have enough coverage. In order to safeguard yourself, contact your auto insurance agent to verify that you are covered. Most of the time your personal personal coverage will apply to your rental car, providing you are renting the car for personal use and not business. Your personal auto insurance comprehensive and collision coverages will also apply to your rental car, so if you do not have these coverages on your own car, you do not have them on your rental car. This is where you want to make sure you have this coverage on your rental car or you are at risk.
It is also well worth checking with your credit card companies to see if they provide any auto insurance coverage when you are renting a car. Several credit cards do cover damages to many basic types of rental cars. Check to see if you have any coverage and use the credit cards that do offer you an advantage.
If you are travelling to a foreign country, make sure you check with your insurance agent and credit card companies about the specific country you are going to. Your automobile insurance policy may have restrictions or limitations on driving in foreign countries. Check your policies, including your credit cards, before you rent a car in a foreign country. |
