Thursday, March 29, 2012

Will my insurance policy automatically cover my rental vehicle?

This is a common question that is asked of customer service agents at car rental companies all over the country. Many people assume that their auto insurance will follow them no matter what vehicle they are driving. This is not the case when it comes to rentals.  Your policy will not automatically provide coverage for a rental vehicle. Not knowing the exact details of your specific policy, employees at the car rental companies will not be able to give an accurate answer to your question.
In order for a rental vehicle to be covered, your policy needs to include several specific coverage options. First, you must have both collision and comprehensive coverage on your personal vehicle.  Collision coverage pays for damage that is sustained to your car when you hit another vehicle or object, and comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle against other losses, such as fire or theft.  Since both of these coverage options are not mandatory, it is possible that you do not have them added to your policy. This especially may be the case if your car is older, or if you are trying to keep your premium low.
In addition to these two options, you must also obtain an SEF 27 or “Legal Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobile” endorsement, which transfers the coverage from your personal vehicle to the rental vehicle.  Your broker can assist you in arranging for this additional coverage.

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