affordable rental car insurance

Buying rental car insurance on your own

• Allianz Global Assistance. Allianz Global Assistance sells a Rental Car Damage Protector for $11 a day that pays out up to $75,000 for damage and loss.
• Bonzah. Bonzah sells insurance starting at $7.99 per day that pays out for up to $35,000 in repairs or replacement of the vehicle.
• Insure My Rental Car. ...
• Rental Cover. ...
• Sure. ...

Full Answer

What rental car insurance company is best?

Best Provider for Liability Insurance: Bonzah. Bonzah by Pablow Inc. is a unique provider offering up to 1 million in on-demand liability insurance for your rental car — usually at a much lower ...

How much does a car rental insurance cost?

What type of rental insurance do you need?

• Loss damage waiver (LDW)
• Liability coverage
• Personal accident insurance
• Personal effects coverage
• Other options: credit card and travel insurance

How can I insure my rental car?

You may not need to buy the rental car company’s insurance if:

• You’re traveling within the U.S. or Canada and your own auto policy provides sufficient coverage.
• Your credit card offers rental car insurance.
• You’ve bought standalone coverage through a separate company.

Should I pay for insurance on my rental car?

You may not have to purchase rental car insurance if you are traveling for business, either. In most cases, your personal auto insurance will cover you as if you were driving your own car. Major credit cards generally include some level of collision insurance when you reserve and pay for the entire rental with that card.

What is the best car rental insurance to get?

The 4 Best Rental Car Insurance CompaniesBonzah. Bonzah provides up to $35,000 of coverage for collision, theft, vandalism, or other damage to a rental car with no deductible. ... Insure My Rental Car. Insure My Rental Car offers up to $100,000 of rental car coverage for damage or theft with no deductible. ... Sure. ... Allianz.

Should I pay for car insurance on a rental car?

If you carry comprehensive and liability coverage on your personal car, coverage typically will extend to your rental car within the United States. If you're renting a car in the U.S. of similar value to your personal car, in all likelihood your auto insurance coverage will be adequate for the rental.

How much does rental car insurance cost?

Rental car insurance costs vary depending on the vehicle and location. But, in a word, it's expensive — overall, prices range from $31 to $60 per day for rental insurance from these providers.

What happens if you damage a rental car?

If the rental car's bodywork gets damaged during your rental, your Collision Damage Waiver will cover it. It won't cover damage to other parts of the car, though, and you'll have to put some money towards the cost.

What happens if you don't buy rental car insurance?

Purchasing rental car insurance can feel like a hassle. So much fine print. So many questions! But if you don’t buy it, and your rental car gets damaged, you’ll have to deal with even more hassle ­— and a much bigger ex... Read More

Who distributes Allianz Travel Insurance?

Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company.

Is Allianz Travel Insurance available in all jurisdictions?

Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates.

Does New York have insurance for drivers?

Coverage is not available for drivers who live in New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. This restriction is tied to where you live. Residents from other states can be covered—even if they rent cars in these five states or drive into or through these states.

Does a key replacement on a car insurance policy cover deductibles?

This can help you avoid paying a deductible (and filing a claim) on a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. Reimbursement for lost keys. Given that a key replacement on a modern car can exceed $250 and that virtually no other coverage (even the rental company’s own) will cover this, this is a great benefit.

Does Sure cover liability?

Sure is not a replacement for a third-party liability policy. Sure covers damage to your rental car only, not a third party’s property damage or bodily injury. (Your personal auto insurance policy may cover liability, or you can buy it at the rental counter if needed.)

Does my personal car insurance cover rental cars?

It’s going to vary depending on the personal auto insurance policy you have and why you’ve rented a car. Occasionally some coverages will extend to a rental. Be sure to check what your deductible is on your personal auto insurance policy as well. You may want to consider rental car insurance if that deductible is high.

What does the Travel Guard Rental Vehicle Damage Coverage cover?

Accidents can happen, and whether it’s a fender bender or a chipped windshield you’ll likely want some form of rental vehicle damage coverage.

Do I get Roadside Assistance with Travel Guard Rental Vehicle Damage Coverage?

Yes! You can hit the road knowing that you have access to 24/7 roadside assistance in the event that you need help. Our representatives can contact tow companies, arrange alternate transportation, and coordinate rental vehicle returns (and more) all while you focus on your trip.

To what Travel Guard products can I add on rental vehicle damage coverage?

Check out our compare plans page to see which add-on coverages, including our rental vehicle damage coverage, are available on our most popular plans.

What is included in a rental car agreement in Europe?

If you are hiring a car in Europe, the rental agreement will include a basic package of Third-Party Liability, Theft Protection and Collision Damage Waiver . Third-party Liability pays out if you injure another person or damage their property. Theft Protection is in place in case the car is stolen.

What is CDW in car rental?

Theft Protection is in place in case the car is stolen. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covers damage to the car's bodywork. (Some rental agreements include Loss Damage Waiver [LDW], which is usually a combination of Theft Protection and Collision Damage Waiver.)

Why do people buy extra insurance?

Some people buy extra cover for their hire car to protect themselves from having to pay out large amounts if something goes wrong and/or to protect their excess. Extra insurance or cover is available from various places. You can buy it from the website you book the car with, standalone companies selling excess protection ...

Does a collision damage waiver cover a damaged car?

Collision Damage Waiver does not normally cover any damage to the windscreen, tyres, engine, gears or undercarriage of the hire car. So, you could have to pay the full cost of any repairs. If, for example, you punctured a tyre or the gearbox failed, you would not be covered by Collision Damage Waiver. You would be responsible for the whole repair bill.

Is it cheaper to buy a car rental policy from an independent company?

It is often cheaper to buy a standalone policy from an independent company. However, if you buy a standalone policy, you normally have to pay the excess to the car rental firm first and then claim it back .

Is it cheaper to buy a standalone policy or a standalone policy?

In general, cover you buy at the counter when you pick up the car tends to be more expensive. It is often cheaper to buy a standalone policy from an independent company. However, if you buy a standalone policy, you ...

Do you have to pay excess for car rental in Canada?

If you are from outside the US and Canada and hire a car in those countries, you will have the basic waiver package included in your rental in US and Canada. It will have zero excess, which means you would not have to pay an excess if the car gets damaged in areas that are covered. Many US and Canadian residents use insurance ...

How much does Bonzah insurance cost?

Bonzah sells insurance starting at $7.99 per day that pays out for up to $35,000 in repairs or replacement of the vehicle. It's primary insurance, so it pays out before your own insurer. Policies generally cover travel abroad, but check the fine print.

What does personal effects insurance cover?

Your own policy: A homeowners or renters insurance policy will cover your possessions if they are stolen, even away from home.

How much does Allianz Global Assistance cost?

Allianz Global Assistance. Allianz Global Assistance sells a Rental Car Damage Protector for $9 a day that pays out up to $40,000 for damage and loss. It’s primary coverage, so it pays out before your own auto insurance, and includes 24-hour emergency assistance.

Is rental car insurance the same as reimbursement?

Note that rental car insurance is not the same as rental car reimbursement coverage, an auto policy option that covers the cost of a car rental if your vehicle is being repaired as part of a claim. Most insurers offer that coverage, and you can learn more from our auto insurer reviews.

Does collision coverage extend to rental car?

Your policy: If you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your own policy, it generally will extend to a rental car. However, you will still be on the hook for your deductible. If you don’t have comprehensive and collision on your regular policy, and don’t have the LDW, you’d have to pay for the damage.

Do credit cards cover rental cars?

Credit cards often provide coverage for rental cars, assuming you have used the card to pay for the rental and the rental is in your name. You’ll automatically have this coverage if it’s included with your credit card — no need to call or sign forms.

Does rental cover have deductibles?

Rental Cover offers no-deductible policies that count as primary coverage so you wouldn’t need to make a claim to your auto insurer first. It doesn’t list policy limits or prices on its website, but claims it will beat any competitor’s daily rate.

Do you need rental car insurance?

If you already have car insurance for a personal vehicle, you probably don’t need rental car insurance. If you don’t already own a car with insurance, rental companies automatically cover the bare minimum in your state.

Is rental car insurance worth it?

Rental car insurance can be expensive — it can easily double your rental costs if you purchase a full coverage package. You also technically don’t need to purchase insurance since rental cars are automatically covered for the minimum requirements in their state. However, it can still be worth it in some situations.

What type of rental insurance do you need?

There are four main rental car insurance options that you could be offered through your rental agency: a loss damage waiver, liability coverage, personal accident insurance and personal effects coverage.

How much does rental car insurance cost?

Rental car insurance costs vary depending on the vehicle and location. But, in a word, it’s expensive — overall, prices range from $31 to $60 per day for rental insurance from these providers. Below are a few average prices for coverage per day from popular rental car companies.

Our recommendations for auto insurance

At the end of the day, it’s more economical to get a full coverage car insurance policy from a reputable provider than to pay for rental car insurance regularly. Many of the industry’s leading providers — like Geico and USAA — offer coverage that can apply to rental vehicles when you travel within the U.S.

Our methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors.

How much does Insure My Rental Car cover?

Insure My Rental Car offers up to $100,000 of rental car coverage for damage or theft with no deductible. You can choose between a daily policy that covers you on a per-trip basis, or an annual policy if you rent cars frequently. However, if you select a yearly plan, no single car rental period can be more than 31 days.

What does rental car insurance cover?

What else does the policy cover? Many rental car insurance policies include other benefits, such as coverage for your personal effects and roadside assistance. Others offer those features for an additional cost.

What is the Allianz Rental Car Damage Protector?

Allianz. Allianz’s Rental Car Damage Protector provides up to $40,000 of coverage for collision, theft, or damage. Other benefits include: Up to $1,000 for loss, damage or theft of baggage and person effects.

What is the Bonzah insurance?

Bonzah. Bonzah provides up to $35,000 of coverage for collision, theft, vandalism, or other damage to a rental car with no deductible. It also offers up to $1 million in supplemental liability insurance. Other benefits include:

What is comprehensive coverage in auto insurance?

Another component of auto insurance policies is comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive coverage insures the car against non-driving related damage, such as fire, theft, or vandalism.

How long can you insure a car?

However, if you select a yearly plan, no single car rental period can be more than 31 days. When you complete a quote form online, Insure My Rental Car may present other coverage options, such as roadside assistance and personal effects coverage.

Does Chase Sapphire cover rental car insurance?

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft as long as the rental period is 31 days or less. It doesn’t cover any bodily injury or property damage, so you may be able to decline the rental car company’s collision insurance.

Which insurance company offers the cheapest car insurance?

According to our survey of rates from top insurance companies, Erie Insurance offers the cheapest car insurance when bundled with renters insurance. The second cheapest was USAA, an insurance carrier reserved for military members and their families.

What is renters insurance?

Information required for renters insurance: Renters insurance covers your personal liability, personal property (including theft protection and vandalism), additional living expenses (also known as loss of use) and medical payments to others.

Why do insurance companies increase their rates?

Because insurance companies believe you’re more likely to get into an accident in the future if you’ve had one previously, they will increase your rates to offset anticipated claims payouts. If you’ve been in an at-fault accident and are unsure of whether to pay for the damage yourself, consider these steps.

Do you need collision insurance if you drive a car?

If you drive an older, paid-off vehicle worth less than $4,000, you probably don't need comprehensive or collision coverage. These policies — which are not required by law — are designed to cover damage to your vehicle. But if your car isn’t worth much to begin with, you might end up paying for coverage you don't need.

Can you change your car insurance policy at any time?

While you should be able to make changes to your policy at any time, you can get the most accurate quote possible upfront if you have this information from the start. Your multi-policy discount will be applied to your renters and car insurance policies as long as you maintain both with the same company.