Do I need rental car insurance?
If you're traveling on vacation, business or indeed anywhere by plane, you'll have to rent a car. Each time you rent a car you ask the question "Do you want a rental car insurance?" and every time I bet you do not know if you need it or not. If you do go ahead and get insurance, it adds a couple extra hundred dollars to the bill. Do you really need or not your regular car insurance cover when driving a rental car?
The best way to know for sure what your insurance policy covers is to call your insurance agent and ask. Or better yet, dig his politics and read the fine print. Some insurance policies only cover a rental car if your car is being repaired and that the rental car is a car replacement. Other insurance may cover the rental car under an "other vehicles covered section of the policy.
There is confusion even among stakeholders as to whether a lease is covered by regular insurance policy. I contacted an agent who said the insurance will not cover a driver in any vehicle unless it has a policy that does not own. I contacted other insurance that said insurance only covers the car not the driver and the insurance will cover the rental car coverage only if you have comprehensive and collision. But if you only carry a liability insurance continuation coverage is not extended and you need to obtain additional coverage for the rental agency.
A third-party insurance agent told me that you should always obtain insurance on the rental agency unless you know without doubt that your car insurance policy has a loss of use clause. This means that if you wreck the car and can not be rented while being repaired, the rental company will charge you for those days. However, if you purchase your insurance is not billed. Few car companies offer insurance cover loss of use though.
A final answer to an insurance agent says fourth car insurance follow the driver if no other insurance on the car and is technically called "excess". His current car insurance to cover parts of automobile insurance does not cover up the limits of its policy. You must have an extensive collision coverage and to have a draft / Coll in the rent. Your deductible will apply if you get in an accident.
