Did you know you might already have rental car insurance coverage? Your car insurance or credit card may provide the coverage you need even when renting inside or outside the Greater Des Moines area, but not always.
Here’s how to tell if you need extra car insurance from the car rental company.
Read your Personal Automobile Insurance Policy
Always check your personal automobile insurance policy first. The coverage on your personal car may extend to your rental car if you use it for personal use. Sometimes everything transfers over, including the coverage limit and deductibles, but not always.
If you’re unsure, call us, and we’ll let you know if your policy covers a rental car.
Check Your Credit Card Benefits
If you pay for your rental car with a credit card, you might have insurance coverage from the credit card too. The coverage usually isn’t as robust as you’d get from your insurance agency, but it can be a secondary coverage, picking up whatever your primary policy didn’t.
Always contact your credit card company first to see what coverage they offer and under what circumstances. Then, use the information provided to decide if you need extra coverage from the rental car company or if your combination of personal auto insurance and credit card coverage is sufficient.
Times to Consider Coverage from the Rental Car Company
There are certain instances you’ll need insurance coverage from the rental company. The most obvious time is if you don’t have insurance on a personal car. Everyone needs liability insurance to take a vehicle on the road; it’s the law.
Even if you have an auto policy on your personal car, it might not be sufficient to cover the rental car. For example, if you only have liability insurance because you drive a low-value vehicle, you might want extra coverage on the rental car in case something bad happens.
Coverage you might want to consider includes comprehensive insurance and collision coverage. This would protect you from theft, vandalism, or an accident that you caused that damage you or the rental car.
You might also consider the rental car policy if you carry a high deductible on your personal automobile insurance policy and don’t want to take a chance. You could buy a lower deductible policy for the rental period, reducing the risk of a severe financial loss if something terrible happened.
Final Thoughts
At the Jeff Johnson Insurance Agency, we are happy to help you determine if you need extra rental car coverage or if your policy is enough. In addition, we help our clients understand the worst-case scenario should an accident or theft occur and how it would affect their insurance.
We are happy to help anyone in the Greater Des Moines area get the auto insurance they need that covers not only their personal vehicle but any rented vehicles for personal use too. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
If you are still stuck on where to start, Jeff Johnson or Dan Mullenbach are ready to walk with you every step of the way. We offer some of the most competitive insurance packages in Des Moines, Waukee, and all of central Iowa. Give us a call today at 515-987-6993 and let us help you navigate the increasing Lumber costs. request a quote click here now.
