Do you need insurance to rent a car?

Do you need car insurance to rent a car?

Technically, you don't need to have your own car insurance policy to rent a vehicle. That said, you won't be able to drive off without some sort of coverage.

In general, rentals are automatically covered according to the state's minimum for liability at no cost. The exact amount will depend on the rental company's policy and the state where you rent the vehicle, according to Brian Savoy, senior manager, physical damage/estimatics for Metromile.

That may or may not be enough to cover all expenses in the case of an accident.

"Additionally, some rental car companies will not rent to people below a certain age, without a major credit card or full coverage insurance," he said.

One thing to keep in mind: though you need a minimum level of insurance coverage on your rental vehicle, the additional protection offered through the rental agency is optional. You may feel pressure to purchase their coverage when checking out, but as long as you have adequate coverage through another source, you don't need to buy theirs.

It's up to you whether you want to rely on an existing car insurance policy, buy coverage through the rental company or go through a third party to ensure you're fully covered (or maybe a combination of those options).

What happens when renting a car without car insurance?

You’re financially responsible for damages or bodily injury that result from causing an accident when you rent a vehicle. If you rent a car without insurance, you could be personally on the hook for those expenses. That could mean paying out-of-pocket for thousands of dollars.

That's true even if you buy the minimum amount of coverage required but don't have enough coverage in an accident. For example, liability insurance pays for property damage and bodily harm you cause to others, but your personal property and medical bills aren’t covered. That's why it's important to be sure you have adequate insurance coverage for the vehicle and situation.

Rental car insurance options

You have several insurance options when renting a car:

Use your personal insurance policy

There's a good chance your personal car insurance policy carries over when renting a vehicle. If so, the same coverage levels will apply. But it's always a good idea to double-check with your insurer before assuming your rental is covered.

"It typically depends on the insurance carrier and the policy you have," Savoy said. "Most major insurance carriers do transfer, but you should first check with your individual insurer to clarify coverage."

That's because there may be some restrictions in place. For example, your policy may only cover a rental car for a certain period, such as one week, or only within the U.S. and Canada. The type of vehicle you're renting also matters. It's common for specialized vehicles such as trucks, motorcycles or commercial vans to be excluded, as well as luxury vehicles. Additionally, vehicles rented for business use are often excluded from coverage.

Another thing to consider is that if you rely on your personal auto insurance provider, you'll need to pay your deductible if you file a claim. However, if you're already paying for a full-coverage policy, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage costs an average of $723 per year, it probably makes sense to take advantage of your coverage when renting, too, if you can.

Buy Non-owners car insurance 

You can buy non-owners car insurance as it is an essential form of liability coverage, offering coverage to those who don't necessarily own a vehicle but often drive cars owned by others. 

This specialized policy safeguards drivers against the potential financial responsibility for any injuries and/or damages resulting from an accident involving borrowed or rented cars.

Buy coverage directly from the rental company

You can buy rental car insurance directly from a rental car company. But what most people think of as rental car insurance isn't actually true insurance at all. Rather, a rental car company's insurance is one of several types of damage waivers that cover rental cars:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Also known as a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or Physical Damage Waiver (PDW), CDW covers damage or theft of the vehicle.
• Supplemental Liability Protection (SLP): This usually provides $1 million of liability protection, much more than most drivers have under their own insurance policies.
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): This coverage provides medical, ambulance and death benefits for the rental's driver and passengers if the car is involved in an accident.
• Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): This provides additional coverage for any personal belongings in the car that are stolen. Typically, this coverage kicks in after you've used your own insurance policy benefits.

"It may make sense to pay for added coverage from the rental company when you are traveling abroad," Savoy said.

You might also want to purchase rental car insurance to protect your existing insurance policy premiums from going up if you have to file a claim or you want to increase your coverage levels.

How much does rental car insurance cost from rental companies?

You shouldn't pay for car rental insurance if you don't need it because it can easily add $20 to $40 per day to your rental costs. Below is a closer look at the typical costs associated with rental car insurance:

• Loss-damage waiver (aka collision damage waiver): $10 to $20 per day
• Supplemental liability coverage $1 million: $7 to $15 per day
• Personal accident insurance: $1 to $5 per day
• Personal effects coverage: $1 to $5 per day

Purchase a standalone policy

If you don't want to go through your own insurance or buy directly from the rental company, you can also buy a rental insurance policy from a third-party company, such as Allianz Travel or Insure My Rental Car.

These policies tend to be cheaper than the waivers offered at the rental desk, ranging from around $8-$12 per day. You usually need to decline the rental company's insurance to take advantage of a third-party policy.

Take advantage of your credit card benefits

Some credit cards, particularly travel rewards cards, offer rental car coverage as an added perk. Typically, you need to pay for the full cost of the rental with that card, decline the rental agency's coverage and rent the vehicle in your own name for the insurance to apply.

Additionally, most cards offer secondary coverage, according to Savoy.

"Your own auto insurance company would have to handle the initial claim, and anything not covered could possibly be covered by the credit card," Savoy said.

However, a few higher-end cards offer primary coverage, meaning you don't have to go through your insurer at all.

Keep in mind that there may be a limit on the number of days your credit card's insurance will cover your rental (usually two to four weeks, depending on the location). Some countries are often excluded from coverage as well, such as Ireland, Jamaica and Israel. And certain specialized vehicles may be excluded, too.

Finally, certain charges typically aren't covered by a credit card's rental car insurance, such as loss-of-use and diminished value expenses.

Other requirements for renting a car

Securing adequate insurance coverage is a major consideration when renting a car. But it's not the only requirement. The exact rules vary by the rental agency, but in general, you must also meet the following requirements to rent a car:

• Have a valid driver's license with a photo
• Be at least 25 years old (or pay a young driver fee)
• Pay with a credit or debit card