Reader’s Question

I saw a car that was totaled on a tree as I was whizzing past through the highway. At the time, I was taking a road-trip using a rental car, and was thinking ‘the insurance policy of the guy had better be good.’ Then it struck me: what would happen if I got into an accident in a rental car? Would my auto car insurance policy cover any damages I’ll incur while I was driving a rental car?

N. E. Polson

Salem, Oregon

Here’s a quick question right back at you: when you rented the car, did it come with insurance? If yes, then having to pay for the damage incurred is one less problem off your mind. You’ll still have a boat-load of problems with the folks you rented the car from, though.

If no, then you’re in a pickle. You may have an auto car insurance policy slapped on your own car, but that doesn’t extend to the rental car. If you get into an accident in a rental, and the rental doesn’t have insurance, you’re going to have to fork out the dough from your own wallet. You’ll not only have to pay for the damage you incurred, but there’s going to be some penalty that you’ll have to pay to the folks you rented the car from. That is the most likely scenario if ever you get in an accident in a rental.

So if you ever plan to rent a car, make sure that the rental car is also covered by insurance. That’ll make life a lot easier for you if ever you get into an accident on the road.