Does My Greensboro Car Insurance Cover Rentals?

Even though you may have had your Greensboro car insurance policy for a number of years, there's still a chance that you're not totally clear regarding what your policy actually covers. One question we often hear from our customers is, “Does my car insurance policy provide coverage when I'm driving a rental vehicle?” The answer to that question is, “Probably,” but not necessarily.

Much depends on your specific Greensboro car insurance policy and its particular provisions. Everything is spelled out in the policy itself, but many policy holders either haven't thoroughly read their insurance contract, don't understand what they've read or, over the years, have forgotten what their benefits are. Here's what you can do.

Make a Call

As always, the best solution to the question about rental car coverage and your personal car insurance policy is to contact your agent or broker and ask. This should be done in advance of any occasion where a car rental is planned. You should also call your credit card company to find out what rental car insurance benefits, if any, they provide. Many major credit card companies include rental car insurance benefits when you use their card to pay for the purchase of your rental vehicle.

What You'll Likely Find

Generally speaking, you should find that your personal car insurance coverage will extend to a rental car, in which case an accident you cause will be covered by your liability coverage to pay toward losses for damages done to other people or property as a result. These benefits will typically pay up to the benefit limits of your policy.

Collision coverage carried on your personal auto policy should pay toward damages sustained by the rental car you were driving and your comprehensive coverage should pay toward losses suffered by non-traffic accident related events such as vandalism or theft. Be aware, however, that even having full coverage on your regular vehicle may not be enough to pay for every single charge that could be imposed by a car rental company.

What About That Credit Card Coverage?

Rental car insurance benefits provided by your credit card may possibly supplement or, in some cases, take the place of your regular car insurance when renting a vehicle. In many cases you must use your credit card to pay for your car rental (in full) and must decline the car insurance option offered by the rental company.