Do I need to get additional insurance when I rent a car?

Virginia may be for lovers, but it is also for drivers, with almost 6 million drivers traveling more than 55,000 miles of state roads. If you are a driver in this great state, you need to have the mandated insurance, and perhaps you need more. At Cary-Wheeler & Associates Inc in Richmond, VA, we have been providing service to Virginia residents since 1983.

As summer vacation time approaches, the question of car rentals and insurance coverage comes up frequently. When you are renting a car, you will be asked to fill out many forms and sign a lot of papers. Some of them have to do with the insurance coverage that the auto rental companies offer. If you read the papers carefully, you will notice the great price you got for your rental car has more than doubled when all the different types of insurance are added. The wording can be confusing, and you may not know exactly what you are accepting or rejecting. 

In the simplest terms, if you have a newish vehicle with full coverage, you probably have enough coverage to protect you unless you are renting an exotic or costly vehicle. If you have a fundamental policy with low liability levels and no collision and comprehensive, you need to take the offered insurance. Read your policy carefully before you rent a car to make sure you are not duplicating your coverage. Additionally, if you are using a credit card, your card may have rental car coverage you can also tap into. The reality is you are better to be over-covered than under-covered, so talk to your insurance agent before you make your decision. 

If you are in the market for auto insurance, Cary-Wheeler & Associates Inc in Richmond, VA is here to help.