Understanding Summer Rental Car Insurance Options

Purchasing rental car insurance can be tricky. Find out how to make a smart decision that will best protect you and your passengers.

2012-07-25

July 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) Now that summer is here, many Americans are taking vacations and consequently using rental cars at increasing rates. Navigating the convoluted world of car rental insurance can put a damper on the season's festivities. Fortunately, there are a few things consumers can learn and act upon to ensure they are protected in the event of a motor vehicle accident involving a rental car.

Rental Car Insurance Options

Car renters have a few options for rental car insurance, including coverage provided by their personal automotive policies, non-owner automotive insurance policies, credit card companies and rental car companies.

Many personal automotive insurance plans cover rental cars. However, the type of coverage and the extent of coverage varies from policy to policy, so smart consumers should always examine their rental car coverage before signing the rental agreement and hitting the road.

Generally, if personal automotive insurance covers both rental car liability and collision, the policyholder does not need to purchase rental car insurance through the rental car company. It is also possible for people who do not own cars to purchase a personal automotive insurance policy, known as a non-owner policy, that includes rental car insurance.

Credit card companies often tout rental car coverage as a benefit to cardholders, but typically this type of insurance only covers collision, not liability. This means that drivers may be on the hook for any injury caused by an accident with the rental car, which is a potentially costly risk to take.

Lastly, drivers can elect to purchase rental car insurance through the rental car company. These plans cover loss or damage to the vehicle, including theft, in addition to the statutory minimum liability coverage all rental car companies are required to carry by law. In addition to the loss or damage coverage, which costs between $20 and $40, drivers may opt for collision coverage for about $19 a day, extra liability insurance for about $12 a day and medical insurance for about $3 a day.

However, adding all these optional insurance policies may not be necessary if one's personal policy already covers these liabilities. Therefore, it is vitally important that drivers review their personal policies and use that information to make an informed decision about opting into extra coverage at the rental car counter.

Making a Decision on Coverage

If drivers do decide to purchase more coverage, they should take the extra time to read the fine print on the policy agreement. Sometimes, policies dictate that only one driver is covered or make other demands and restrictions.

To determine the most appropriate choice for your car rental situation, review your coverage to make sure you are properly protected by liability insurance coverage. Having adequate liability insurance will help you avoid paying out of pocket for injury or property damage that occurs in an accident with your rental car. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a rental car, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney to explore your legal options.

Article provided by McCann Schaible & Wall, LLC
Visit us at www.mswattorneys.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

New Massachusetts Alimony Law Makes Divorce Less of a Gamble

2012-07-25

Until recently, the prospect of alimony in Massachusetts was filled with uncertainty for spouses in a divorce. Courts had significant latitude to order lifetime alimony, even after short marriages. Going to court to overturn alimony in a divorce could be a gamble. Sparked in part by a Massachusetts man who spent more than $250,000 and entered bankruptcy after a judge refused to reduce his $45,000-a-year alimony payments, a task force of family law attorneys, legislators and others created a proposal for the most dramatic and fundamental changes to the state's divorce ...

Study: Connecticut Women Less Likely to Violate Cellphone Ban

2012-07-25

A recent study of Connecticut drivers has disproven the old myth that women can't stop talking on the phone. Since the law banning hand-held cellphones went into effect six years ago, men have consistently been ticketed more often than women for talking on hand-held cellphones or texting while driving. The study, conducted by the Associated Press, found that, of the total number of drivers ticketed for distracted driving in 2006, between 52 and 54 percent were men. In 2011 alone, men received nearly 16,000 tickets while women got only 13,690; in 2010, the tally of tickets ...

Recent Crane Incidents in Texas Give Rise to Safety Questions

2012-07-25

Construction of the 420,000 square-foot Paragon Outlet Mall in Grand Prairie, Texas, is set to open late this summer - a boon for the city of Grand Prairie - but in 2011 it was the site of a fatal accident involving a crane and falling wall panels. The victim, Sean Taylor, was a master welder who once served in the U.S. Navy, and was part of the construction crew erecting the walls, when the crane caused a deadly chain reaction. Rob Crain is representing the Taylor family in a wrongful death claim. As Chris Hawes reports for WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth, Crain said, ...

Decatur Clients Succeed from Aggressive Defense

2012-07-25

Kalamazoo based criminal defense law firm Aggressive Criminal Defense Law Firm- a division of Willis Law achieves, yet again, for another of their clients. Initially, their client faced a marijuana possession charge in the Van Buren County. With the help of aggressive criminal defense the client's charge was dismissed. Marijuana possession is a serious crime taken by the Aggressive Criminal Defense Law Firm. A misdemeanor for marijuana possession can prevent people from getting a job or career. Their client, a juvenile, was in a necessary position to get the ...

Airberlin's Frequent Flyers Earn Extra Miles with Choice Hotels

2012-07-25

Choice Hotels Europe, the company behind the Comfort, Quality and Clarion brands in Europe and part of Choice Hotels International, one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world, has launched a promotion enabling members of topbonus, airberlin's worldwide frequent flyer programme, to earn double miles when they stay at participating Choice Hotels properties. Until September 19, 2012, topbonus members who present their topbonus card when checking-in will earn double topbonus award miles with every qualifying stay at all participating Choice Hotels ...

British Airways Launches Cashback Campaign

2012-07-25

British Airways will be rewarding customers who stay in the UK to cheer on Team GB and Paralympics GB. The cashback rewards on holidays are for travel after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and in line with specific athlete wins. British Airways will feature a new offer based on a chosen athlete, valid for a limited period and in line with their schedule in the London 2012 Games. Each offer will also have a money back incentive dependent on the performance of the athlete. Customers can book an offer via the dedicated campaign page on ba.com and later ...

Lipsi Cosmetics Takes Cruelty-Free Approach to Product Testing

2012-07-25

Drawing from the magical colors of the Mediterranean, Lipsi Cosmetics has a goal to create not only the highest quality beauty products, but also produce them in a manner that's cruelty-free. "We do not and will not exploit animals for testing our products, as there are many ways to test cosmetics in a humane way," said Caite Pywar, co-founder of Lipsi Cosmetics. Alternative methods include the use of cell and skin tissue cultures, corneas from eye banks, and sophisticated computer and scientific models that allow researchers to see how a human would react ...

Trafalgar Introduces 2013 Asia Brochure With More Inclusions Than Ever Before

2012-07-25

Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com), the Insider of Guided Vacations, is thrilled to announce the launch of their 2013 Asia brochure, with trips heading to China, Vietnam, Cambodia and now Japan, as well as extensions to Tibet, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Featuring some of Trafalgar's most incredible inclusions, the new brochure lets guests uncover the wonders of the Orient while experiencing Trafalgar's exclusive Insider Highlights, like Be My Guest Dining and Local Specialties. To celebrate the launch of the new brochure, Trafalgar is offering savings of up to $1,200 off any ...

Gravity Fashion Launches New Rakhi Gifts Ideas for Brothers

2012-07-25

Marketing lesson number one: never assume you know what your target market wants. Ask them, and you will find out for certain. Marketing lesson number two: tailor your offer to your customers needs. That is exactly what the owners of the popular Indian fashion website, www.gravity-fashion.com, have done in preparation for this years Raksha Bandhan festival. The Gravity Fashion.com CEO Hiren Patel explains - How many brothers do you know who are facing the difficult task of deciding what to buy for their sisters? Men are not always the best at shopping, especially when ...

Cobb County Georgia Police Deploy Rocket Wireless Vehicle Router Hardware in All Vehicles

2012-07-25

Cobb County, Georgia Police Department took delivery of 187 Rocket wireless vehicle routers on June 13, 2012. These wireless routers are continuing to be installed in all Cobb County Police cars over the next month, and will provide 4G Connectivity on the Verizon 4G network for all Cobb County police vehicles. "We took delivery of the Rockets recently," stated Lt. Stuart VanHoozer with the Cobb County Police Department. "I found everything to be in order and delivered as promised. Overall, to this point, this transaction has gone well and I look forward ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Women’s Health: Taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities, confirms new gold-standard evidence review