Am I covered if I rent a car on vacation?

Are you renting a car for an upcoming vacation or road trip? You might wonder if you need to spend the extra money on the insurance offered by the rental car company or if you are already covered by your car insurance. This can be a confusing decision, so here is a breakdown of how most personal auto policies handle rental cars.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
An auto policy’s coverages, limits, and deductibles typically extend to a short-term rental car while traveling within the United States. If you rent a car for more than 30 consecutive days, we recommend asking your insurance agent if your car insurance will still apply. Acuity’s personal auto policy provides coverage for cars rented up to 45 consecutive days.

Do I need to purchase rental car insurance?
If you have car insurance but do not carry collision coverage on at least one car, you may want to protect yourself by purchasing the collision damage waiver offered by the rental car company.

Some people choose to buy the collision damage waiver even if they have collision coverage on their own car. The waiver transfers financial responsibility to the car rental company if the car is damaged, stolen, or unable to be rented out to others.

How do I know what coverage I have?
To make sure your autos and rentals are properly covered, check the declarations page of your insurance policy or contact your independent agent. Your agent can help you understand what coverages, limits, and deductibles make sense for you.