To Buy or not to Buy Additional Insurance

12th of March

Any car rental you reserve from [GET] Rental Car will come with the basic all inclusive insurance packages that are figured into the price of the vehicle. However, upon your arrival to the pickup location, they will prompt you if you would like to purchase additional coverage. There are two sides to this story and both have compelling arguments. As is the case with many confusing situations, the answer to the question to buying more insurance is yes and no. Here are some scenarios steaming from car rental usage and the options that each driver has.

Driving in your Home Country

If you will be driving the car rental in your country of residence, you may not need to purchase the extra insurance. If you are already covered by a personal insurance plan, it is advisable to ask your providing company if you are covered for car rental traveling. If yes, you do not need to purchase addition coverage. However, if you want, you may opt to buy the extra insurance form the car rental company so you will not need to make a claim with your personal insurance policy in the event of an accident.

You may also be covered by the credit card company for car rental insurance. Furthermore, you may be able to get a discount on the car rental company’s insurance depending on the type of credit card you have. Many people with an American Express card receive lower rates for additional coverage. You may also be able to get a reduced rate on coverage if you are a member of your country’s national auto club.

Driving in a Foreign County

This is when you need to be most cautious. If you are going to use a car rental in a country that is not your own, it might be a good idea to purchase extra insurance. Even if you are covered by your current personal policy, it is a good idea to buy some more. If anything else, it will alleviate your stress and give you peace of mind.

There is nothing worse than being involved in a debate with a car rental company over the cost of damages to the vehicle. You can save yourself a lot of time and money, as well as stress if you purchase the additional insurance in a foreign country.

Further Information

It might be in your best interest to buy the additional insurance even if you will be covered by your personal car insurance policy. Making a claim with your home policy for a rental car means your premiums will increase and you may end up paying more money in the long-run.

Of course the car rental companies use the additional insurance as an up-sale technique to try and get customers to pay more for the car, but it could actually be worth it in the end. The most important thing to do before you make any decisions is to have all of the facts before you go to rent. You want to make sure you know exactly what the causes and effects will be of either route you choose. That way you can make an informed choice and be confident with the outcome.