When renting a car, there are a few things you should know. Most people don’t do their homework on rental car auto insurance and pay far more than they really have to. If you have personal car insurance, your policy offers some protections on the rental car you’re driving.

Most personal auto insurance policies carry Comprehensive and Collision insurance, which will apply to unexpected car damage. Keep in mind, the rental car agency may try to acquire additional compensation from the car being out of commission. You should also check with your credit card company to see what protections are offered. You’d be surprised to know the amount of coverage available under your own policies as opposed to getting rental car auto insurance. As a last resort, you can ask for and purchase a Collision Damage Waiver from the rental car agency. This will release you from any financial responsibility in the event of damage to the rental car. Be wary though, it’s expensive and should be a factor only if you don’t have personal coverage.

For more information on auto and rental car insurance, contact Steve Wilk Insurance.