A summer road trip often starts with excitement and careful planning. Yet many travelers focus more on destinations and hotel rates than on insurance coverage, which is also essential when traveling.
If you plan to rent a vehicle this summer, a coverage review can help you avoid costly surprises. It can also help you understand who pays if a collision or personal injury claim arises during your travel.
Checklist for your summer rental vehicle insurance
You might assume a rental company automatically provides all the protection you need. In reality, coverage often comes from several sources. Taking a few minutes to review those protections can make a significant difference. Before your trip, consider checking the following:
- Your personal auto policy: Your own policy often extends some protection to a rental vehicle. Check the policy limits, deductibles and exclusions before your trip.
- Credit card rental benefits: Some credit cards offer rental car protection when you use the card to pay for the rental. In some cases, the coverage can pay certain losses directly. In others, it may only apply after your auto policy responds.
- Applicable liability coverage limits: Liability coverage matters if another person suffers injuries or property damage. In Tennessee, drivers must carry a minimum coverage of $25,000 per person for one person’s injury or death, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths and $25,000 for property damage.
- Coverage for damage to the rental vehicle: Ask who pays if a crash, theft or vandalism damages the rental car. This can help you decide if you need added protection at the counter.
- Coverage rules for additional drivers: Coverage rules often change when someone else drives the vehicle. Make sure each planned driver appears on the rental agreement.
These protections function collectively. Overlooking a single detail could leave you with substantial out-of-pocket expenses after a collision.
What can happen after a rental car accident?
Even careful drivers may face problems on the road. When an accident occurs in a rental car, determining which coverage applies can be more complicated than expected. Questions may arise about how different forms of protection work together.
If a crash leads to major losses or a personal injury dispute, legal guidance can help identify coverage gaps that may affect your claim. An attorney can also review the rental agreement and available sources of recovery.