The most common question about renting a car for domestic or international travel is, “Do I need to purchase rental insurance cover?” Generally, insurance of any type, including travel, health and vehicle, is vital. It protects you financially from unforeseen circumstances and gives you peace of mind.
However, when it comes to rental car insurance, it depends. While you want to ensure you and your rental car are covered, you don’t want to pay for additional duplicate insurance policies that double your price. To help you get started, here’s a guide to buying rental car insurance.
Domestic travel
If you’re renting a vehicle for domestic travel, contact your provider first if you already have a personal car insurance policy to see what type of rental coverage you have. Most insurers may provide liability and comprehensive coverage for a rental vehicle as long as you drive it for personal use.
If you don’t have a personal vehicle insurance policy, it’s time to start shopping around for a comprehensive policy. Always compare quotes from various insurers before selecting one that suits your budget and needs.
Similarly, you should check with your credit card company as some provide rental car coverage when you use the card to pay for your rental. Credit card coverage comes in handy when there are gaps in your personal auto insurance policy, ensuring you get secondary cover.
International travel
If you’re travelling overseas and will need a vehicle to tour the city and move around, it’s wise to protect yourself against any damages, repairs or accidents.
In most cases, your personal auto policy won’t cover international car rentals, so you’ll have to purchase a policy alongside your travel insurance cover. This also includes taking a road trip with a rental car.
There are two ways to get rental car insurance for international travel. For one, you can include it as an extra in your travel insurance policy or purchase it separately as another policy. Either way, ensure it provides adequate cover.
All in all, never drive a rental car without rental car insurance. Feel free to use our tools to find the right rental car insurance cover for you.