Should You Buy Car Rental Insurance From the Rental Company In Massachusetts?

by Frank Keaney⁽⁹⁾
amityauto

If you are getting a rental car, do you need to purchase supplemental insurance or a damage waiver in Massachusetts.

Every time when we getting a rental car in the State of Massachusetts from a car rental company such as , Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollars, Enterprise, Hertz , National, Thrifty and many others, we often prompt with a question of purchasing supplemental insurance or a damage waiver. The extra insurance coverage will cost additional $10 to $20 a days depends on the size and model of vehicle. You think to yourself does it worth to spend extra money for the coverage, or should you avoid it. What should you do?

To help you decide whether you should purchase the insurance offered by rental car companies, you can consider the following.

Do you have Quincy, MA auto insurance already?

If you already have a personal auto insurance policy. The policy should extend it's coverage to a rental car. A rental car most likely would be covered by Collision coverage or Liability coverage, depending on the state in which your policy is issued. Since the rental car are for temporarily use and not for owning, your policy will treat a rental like your primary vehicle while you're in possession of it.

However r ental coverage on your policy does not cover damage to or caused by rental cars.

If you have Rental Reimbursement coverage on your policy, you can only use it to rent a car if your personal vehicle on your policy is in the shop because of an accident. Rental coverage does not cover damage to a rental or damage caused while you're driving a rental.

What Does Additional Coverage Actually Cover?

Make sure you ask the car rental representative what covered if you were to purchase additional coverage. Common coverages offered by rental car companies include a damage waiver, supplemental liability, personal effects coverage and personal accident insurance. The insurance coverages may vary between rental car companies.

Damage Waiver – If your rental car is damaged or stolen, this coverage will apply. However, you may not be able to use it for accidents caused by speeding, driving on unpaved roads or driving while intoxicated. If you already have Comprehensive and Collision coverage, this coverage may duplicate coverage you already have on your own personal auto policy.
Supplemental Liability – Provides additional liability protection, generally up to $1 million, if someone makes a claim against you while you're driving a rental car. For instance, Supplemental Liability would apply if you're at fault for an accident and the other party files a claim against you for injuries and vehicle damage that exceed your regular policy limits. Supplemental Liability coverage may also provide Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage, depending on the company selling it. If you already have adequate liability coverage on your car and an umbrella policy if you own your home/auto, you may want to forego this coverage.
Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) – Protects items and property you own if they're damaged. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you may already have coverage, though a deductible may apply.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) – Covers your injuries while you're driving a rental. If you already have health insurance or adequate medical coverage under your auto policy, this coverage may be unnecessary.

With both PEC and PAI coverage, only you and your passengers are covered — if you're at fault for an accident, PEC and PAI would not apply to any damages or injuries caused to other parties.

Additional Insurance are unneccesary

If your personal auto insurance have most of the coverage. Then it would be unneccessary to purchase additional insurance coverage from the car rental company. However if you don't have some of the coverage in your own personal policy, it is highly recommend that you consider getting the additional supplement insurance for the peace of mind.

Consideration before getting a rental car.

Find out more from your insurance agent or company.

You should find out if your personal Quincy, MA auto insurance coverage your personal vehicle will also provide protection for you in a rental car.
Ask rental company to provide more information for the supplement liability insurance and damage waiver.

You should find out more from car rental representative before you make any decision.
As always, you should consult an insurance professional first. Professional consultants at Amity Auto Insurance are certified to help you find the best policy and endorsements to protect you.
Please visit us for more information on Quincy, MA home and auto insurance at www.amityauto.com

Article submitted Wednesday, January 25, 2012 & read 14 times.

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