Rental Car Insurance
Get affordable car insurance online in minutes.
What is rental car insurance?
First, rental car insurance can mean car insurance for rental cars. In other words, it’s coverage that protects you from the financial risks of a rental vehicle getting damaged while it’s in your possession.
This kind of rental car insurance is nearly always offered through the rental car agency itself, but there’s often no need to purchase additional coverage! Certain credit cards include rental car protections and in most cases your personal auto insurance policy will extend to cover your rental vehicle.
Rental car insurance can also mean rental reimbursement coverage, which is a car insurance policy option that pays for a rental car (up to a daily dollar limit) if you get in a covered accident that makes your vehicle undriveable .
With Metromile, you can get reliable auto insurance coverage with rental car insurance coverage, but you’ll likely pay less for it.
What does rental car insurance cover?
Rental car insurance coverage
• Comprehensive insurance
• Collision coverage
• Medical expenses
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
How much is rental car insurance?
The price for rental car insurance mostly depends on where you purchase it! Buying rental car insurance at the rental agency counter is the most expensive way to get it, so many people opt for a more convenient and less expensive option: using their own personal auto insurance policy for their rental car.
What about rental car reimbursement coverage? It’s generally a low-cost option (especially with Metromile), but the price you pay for it depends on your state and the other coverages you’ve chosen.
Good news, too! On the pay-per-mile car insurance model, you could save up to 47%* on your car insurance with rental car reimbursement coverage. With Metromile, you could pay as little as 6 cents per mile (plus a low monthly base rate) for your car insurance with rental coverages. The less you drive, the less you pay.
It’s a fair, straightforward approach that has saved our customers an average of $741* per year.
Does my credit card cover rental car insurance?
Maybe! Some credit card companies do provide rental car insurance—as long as you use their card to pay for the rental, of course. A good way to find out what your card covers is to call the company that issued it to see if they offer any car rental protections.
In the meantime, the best way to be sure that your rental car is insured for personal use is to make sure you have a reliable, state-approved car insurance policy.
Do I get a rental car if I’m in an accident?
Should I get rental car insurance?
Good question! Most travelers can rely on their personal auto insurance policy when they rent a vehicle, but there are a few cases when you may need to purchase additional coverage:
1. Your personal auto insurance policy is liability-only or has high deductibles.
When you sign the papers to rent a vehicle, you’re assuming responsibility for any damage that happens to it. So if you’ve purchased a “bare bones” personal auto insurance policy that doesn’t include comprehensive and collision coverages, then you should consider purchasing the loss-damage waiver for a rental car. It’s expensive, but it can help prevent an unexpected $25,000 bill.
(You could also try getting more coverage for a better price on your personal auto insurance policy!)
2. You don’t want to deal with deductibles at all.
The rental car insurance available from the agency often has low or no deductibles. So if you don’t want to worry about out-of-pocket expenses, getting additional coverage may be the way to go.
3. You want to avoid making any claims on your personal auto insurance policy.
If you don’t want to involve your personal auto insurance policy at all, purchasing a policy from the rental car company might make sense.
4. You’re using the rental car for a work purpose.
Finally, if you’re traveling for work, your personal auto insurance policy likely won’t cover any damages. Make sure you plan accordingly!
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
You don’t want to deal with deductibles at all.
The rental car insurance available from the agency often has low or no deductibles. So if you don’t want to worry about out-of-pocket expenses, getting additional coverage may be the way to go.
You want to avoid making any claims on your personal auto insurance policy.
If you don’t want to involve your personal auto insurance policy at all, purchasing a policy from the rental car company might make sense.
You’re using the rental car for a work purpose.
Finally, if you’re traveling for work, your personal auto insurance policy likely won’t cover any damages. Make sure you plan accordingly!
See what customers are saying about Metromile
“Great price, even cheaper if you don’t drive that much or do. Nothing but Good from me. Oh and i love the messages when my car has a check engine light so no need to use a mechanic :)”
“I’m driving a 2014 Ford Focus with under 15,000 miles. Haven’t had a claim so I can’t say anything BAD . The price I pay for insurance is GREAT.”
“Highly recommended. I have saved a ton of money by switching to Metromile”