www.chicagotribune.com/travel/la-tr-wreck-20110626,0,33083.story

Above link from the Chicago Tribune is good advice on car rental insurance coverage.

One big mistake car renters make is assuming personal insurance coverage also covers a rental car.  Maybe not. . .

  • If the driver is not listed on the rental contract as an extra driver, his/her or the personal auto insurance coverage of the renter might not cover costs associated with damage to the rental.   (The more economical car insurance companies charge a fee for extra drivers, so sometimes is less expensive to go with a premium car rental company when more than one person will be driving the rental car.)
  • If damage to the rental car due to something prohibited in the rental contract (e.g., driving off-road or even a gravel or dirt road or driveway), personal car rental policies might not cover the damage.

Remember, you are liable for the deductible on your personal car insurance policy for damage to the rental car.

Do consider purchasing the car rental option with travel insurance coverage for your trip offered by companies specializing in trip insurance (TravelEx, Travel Guard, etc.).  It is often less expensive than either the liability coverage offered by the car rental companies or the deductible on your personal car insurance, but you get COMPLETE trip coverage (baggage loss and delays, refund of trip costs for covered cancellation, medical treatment and evacuation, etc.).

I can help you with insurance details for you trip, whether it be complete “cancel-for-any-reason” coverage, or just enough to cover basics, such as a car rental mishap.