The next time you rent a car, you will be faced with a question that is asked of everyone who rents cars have to answer: do you want rental car insurance? Even if you decline their coverage, they will oftentimes try to convince you to buy their insurance. You may see this as a waste of money, but it may not necessarily be. However, if you waive the insurance, you will be responsible for damages to the rental car.
So, are you really fully responsible for the car if you get into an accident? Maybe not; if you have full coverage, the chances are pretty good that you insurance company also covers rental cars. You should check with your insurance company to see what they cover in your policy and the stipulations of that coverage. They may have different coverages and deductibles for rental cars than your own car.
When choosing to use your own insurance, be aware that there are pros and cons to using them. The advantages are that you will be able to deal with your own agents which may be less of a hassle for you. On the downside, using your own company means that your premium will probably increase. Also, in most cases the rental car company will charge your credit card for repairs and you will be accountable for coordinating reimbursement from your auto insurance company.
To avoid some of these problems, you can use the rental car insurance. Your auto insurance premium will not be impacted. Also, you will not have to pay a deductible. Using the rental insurance, the rental company will take care of everything for you.
On the other hand, rental car insurance is usually quite costly. It can sometimes cost more than the actual rental. Your insurance company bases its rates on your records and statistics of drivers with similar profiles to you. This is not the case with rental companies, who give daily flat rates based on the probability that every driver may have an accident. Renting a car for an extended period of times means that you could spend a large amount of money on insurance. For some, paying the daily rates would be substantially lower than paying a deductible through their company.
Before you get rental insurance, you will have to determine if it is what you want. If you are driving somewhere that is unfamiliar to you, there is a higher probability that you will be involved in an accident, particularly if there is higher traffic, bad weather, or unfamiliar laws. If you are renting in a foreign country, many personal insurance companies will not cover you while you are traveling abroad.
One final option that you may have is protection from fees provided by a credit card company. Many people do not know it, but several major credit card companies offer damage and theft insurance coverage if you used their card to rent a vehicle. However, they do not typically offer coverage for bodily injury or property damage. You will need to contact your credit card company or read the terms and conditions provided by them.
If you are going to rent a car, it is certain that they will try to persuade you to get rental car insurance. Having all of the information about the type of coverages that are available to you from them, your insurance, or the credit card company will ensure that you can choose the best coverage for you.
Everyone faces car trouble at one point or another – luckily, Ontario Roadside Assistance is there to provide you with the services you need. From Ontario Car Insurance to other essential services provided, you’re always covered!
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