You’re standing at the rental car counter with a long line behind you. You got a great rate on a car for the week, and you’re ready to go on vacation with the family. Then, you’re handed a clipboard with an intimidating rental car contract filled with confusing insurance options. Suddenly, you wish you’d spent less time packing and more time researching rental car insurance.
Here’s your chance to be prepared at the rental car counter so you can be on your way faster, and you’ll keep the people in line behind you happy.
I have car insurance. Do I really need to buy their coverage, too?
This is the most common question when it comes to renting a car for domestic travel. The answer is: it depends. You want to make sure you’re covered, but you also don’t want to pay for unnecessary duplicate coverages that could double the price of your rental.
The first step is to check your auto insurance policy, or contact GEICO to see what type of coverage for rental cars may already be included in your personal auto insurance. 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 the insurance coverage will be adequate for the rental. But if you’re off to a blowout beach weekend in a slick set of wheels like a Corvette Stingray and you’re leaving your 2008 Subaru Forester at home, the extra coverage offered by the rental company may be a good idea.
You should also check with the credit card company—the credit card that you’ll be using for your car rental. If there are any gaps in coverage with your personal auto policy, the credit card company could provide secondary coverage.
Rental Car Insurance Defined
Know before you go. Most rental companies typically have a short, predictable suite of offerings. Check your auto insurance policy to make sure you’re already properly covered and you may be able to decline the offered coverage at the rental counter. Rental car insurance is usually broken out into the following coverages:
- Liability coverage
- Personal accident insurance
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)/Loss Damage Waiver
- Personal Effects Coverage
Insurance You May Have Already
Liability coverage. This is a basic component of most car insurance policies. If you have adequate liability coverage on your own vehicle (check with your insurance provider), you may choose to skip this one.
Personal accident insurance. This covers your medical bills in the event of a crash in the rental car. As long as you have personal injury protection or medical payments coverage on your auto policy and reliable health insurance, you may not need this coverage.
Protection You Might Need
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)/Loss Damage Waiver. This is not an insurance product, but rather a waiver that transfers financial responsibility from you to the rental car company in case of damage or theft. In most cases, waivers also provide coverage for “loss of use” if the rental car company charges for the time a damaged car can not be used because it is being repaired.
Personal Effects Coverage. If you have a homeowners, renters or condo policy, your personal items will generally be covered even if they are stolen from a rental car. Review your policy documents to be sure before you elect or decline this coverage.
Next steps: To learn more about your policy and rental car insurance, call us at 1-800-841-0728 or review your policy documents on geico.com. Or, if you’re looking for a new auto policy, compare car insurance and see why GEICO is the right choice.
Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job.
does geico cover for rentals outside the US for US citizens with geico insurance. Is there additional insurance that can be purchased for rentals during travel outside the US?
Very helpful, thank you
Does Geico cover car rental in Puerto Rico?
Does Geico cover rental cars in Ireland, where the CDW triples the rental car cost?
I only have liability insurance do I have to put full coverage on my rental which is due to an accident that wasn’t my fault
If I have full coverage on my vehicle does my insurance blanket a vehicle that I just purchased UNTILL I GET IT HOME AND REGISTERED.
Geico does NOT cover rentals with Turo. I have coverage through Geico and wanted to confirm before renting through Turo, so I called Geico and spoke with one of their agents. The agent confirmed that they view Turo as a “ride sharing” service and not a rental agency. So word of caution and for everyone else’s reference, if you have Geico you will NOT be covered and are personally responsible for any accidents or damages if you decline coverage through Turo.
Thank you, this was not clear anywhere else.
This is insane. Does it say this in their contract? We have a turo claim and we can’t find it in any contract.
I am having the same issue?
How did you proceed?
I’d love to hear more about this too. Looking at renting with Turo but as far as I can tell from all the legalese in my policy documents, Geico should cover it.
Wanted to note that Geico DOES cover Turo cars if you are renting someone elses car. When I called they said they did cover and then I called back to confirm and she said they didn’t but we figured out she was confused and thought I was renting MY car out. But if you are renting someone ELSES car then you’re covered.
Just adding my voice to the pile, I spoke with GEICO support today, and they will cover you if you are driving a car booked through Turo, just make sure your limits are appropriate for what you’re renting.