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Should you buy insurance from a rental car company?

If you're renting a car, think about what you need before you purchase supplemental insurance or a damage waiver.

Posted June 16, 2008, at 12 a.m.

Whether you're on a trip and need transportation in a different city or your car is in the shop and you need a set of wheels to get to work and back, chances are you'll need to rent a car. That's the easy part. But, if you're like many of us, it becomes more difficult when you're faced with the decision of whether to purchase the additional insurance or damage waiver often offered by the rental car company.

Car Rental Insurance

To help you decide whether you should opt for the insurance offered by rental car companies, consider the following.

Do You Already Have Auto Insurance?

Generally, your personal auto insurance should extend to a rental car. A rental car most likely would be covered by Collision coverage or Liability coverage, depending on the state in which your policy is issued, because you're temporarily driving it and you don't own it. Basically, your policy will treat a rental like your primary vehicle while you're in possession of it.

If you're looking for more coverage, you may want to consider purchasing the additional insurance offered by a rental car company.

Do keep in mind that you may not be able to rent a car at all if you don't have auto insurance, as several major car rental companies may require you to have it.

Rental Coverage on Your Policy Does Not Cover Damage to or Caused by Rental Cars

If you have Rental Reimbursement coverage on your policy, you can only use it to rent a car if your personal vehicle on your policy is in the shop because of an accident. Rental coverage does not cover damage to a rental or damage caused while you're driving a rental.

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What Does Additional Coverage Actually Cover?

Make sure you know what's covered if you purchase additional coverage from a rental company. Common coverages offered by rental car companies include a damage waiver, supplemental liability, personal effects coverage and personal accident insurance. In general, each provides different types of protection, as noted below. Please note that these descriptions are for informational purposes only, and coverages may vary between rental car companies.

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