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Cowart Insurance Agency Blog

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Is my rental car covered?

Nothing can ruin your family vacation quite like totaling the rental car on the way to the hotel. As you sit by the side of the road, you can’t help but think about how much this is going to cost, since you didn’t purchase insurance from the rental car company.

But you’re in luck! With Auto-Owners Insurance and other premier car insurance companies, the same coverages carried on your personal automobile may extend to your rental car for accidents occurring within the U.S., its territories or possessions, and Canada. Rental car contracts vary depending on the company, potentially leaving you with a large bill if your auto policy does not pay.

One of the common items you are responsible for under the contract is the rental fee the rental company would have received had the vehicle not been damaged and could have been rented again. Something else you may be responsible for is replacing the rented auto with a new auto if the rented auto is a total loss.

Loss of use and replacement of a rental automobile with a new automobile will be covered by your Auto-Owners Insurance policy when at least one of your automobiles has comprehensive and collision coverage.

Some rental car contracts also make you responsible for the reduction in market value of the rental car after being repaired or sold in a damaged state. This coverage is not automatically provided; however, it can be obtained by purchasing the Personal Automobile Plus Package.

Call or stop by our office to find out if your automobile insurance policy covers you fully for rental car mishaps.

NOTE: Coverage may vary or not be available in some states.