Why rental car insurance may be necessary

Detroit – The next time you rent a car, you’ll probably be asked the same question as last time: Should you get rental car insurance? You may think your credit card or car insurance will cover you, but that’s not the whole story. Consumer Reports tells you the crucial questions to ask before your next rental.

Both car insurance and credit cards can have significant restrictions on car rentals, including the type of vehicles insured, the period of time they are rented and the country in which they are driven.

Rental car insurance can be expensive, sometimes costing an extra $50 per day. When does it make sense to purchase it in addition to the rental price?

If you only If you do not have third party insurance for your car, you will need to take out a separate policy for the car rental company in case the car is damaged in an accident.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide if additional insurance coverage is right for you –

• Is the rental car fancier than your car? Some rental car insurance policies and personal auto insurance policies from credit cards do not cover certain types or classes of vehicles, such as large SUVs or luxury cars.

• Do you rent abroad? Allstate, Geico, Farmers, State Farm and Progressive say their auto insurance coverage extends only for rental cars in the USA and Canada. The same applies to the rental car insurance offered by most credit card companies.

• Finally, if you rent an RV, van, or moving truck, these vehicles are typically not covered by standard auto or credit card insurance.

And if you decide to take out additional insurance, you should consider up to three types:

• Comprehensive insurance that covers damage to the car in the event of an accident.

• Comprehensive insurance that protects you against theft and damage to your car.

• Liability insurance covers you if you are held legally responsible for property damage or injury to a person while driving the rental car.

Conditions may vary slightly depending on the car rental company.

If you rent a car for work, check with your employer what is and isn’t covered, as your personal insurance and credit cards probably don’t provide coverage for this type of rental.

More: Consumer Reports