Renting a Car: What You Should Know
It's vacation season, and for thousands of people that means flying off to exotic locales or hitting the road for a family vacation. If you plan to rent a car for your trip, here are a few tips from the law offices of Van Sant Law, LLC:
- Check with your auto insurance provider before you rent to determine if your current insurance will cover your rental car in the event of an accident or other damage that occurs while driving the car.
- If your own auto insurance does not cover your rental car, check with the credit card company for the credit card you will use to rent the car. Some credit card companies offer rental car insurance/protection as a standard benefit. Be sure you understand its limits.
- If neither your current auto insurance nor the credit card company covers your rental car, purchase the rental agency's insurance.
Be sure to read the rental agreement carefully and understand that, as the driver, you are responsible for damage to the car, whether as a result of an accident (even if it is not your fault) or as a result of something as simple as a rock thrown by a truck that cracks the windshield. Make sure you are covered either by your own insurance or by the rental agency policy.
If trouble arises while you're vacationing, contact our law offices. You'll find personal injury attorneys available to assist you with your needs.