When you’re traveling, you want the freedom to go anywhere. That’s why you get a rental car. However, renting a car comes with a batch of extra responsibilities.
Understanding rental car policy, what’s covered and what’s not, can feel daunting. To put it bluntly, unless you paid for additional coverage, you accept all responsibility from the moment you take the keys.
Who Is Responsible?
When you sign the paperwork at the rental car office, you agree to take responsibility for any damage to the vehicle. Not only that, you need to return the vehicle in the same condition as you received it, even if the crash wasn’t your fault. This is why you need to top off the gas before you return the car, for example.
Buying Additional Coverage
Rental car companies usually offer several kinds of insurance before they hand over the keys. While it’s tempting to hit the road as soon as possible, you may want to consider the coverage options. If you get in an accident while driving a rental car, in-house insurance options can shift the responsibility and help you get on with your life.
Collision damage waivers are perhaps the most important protection you can have when renting a car. Whether the car is scratched, cracked, or suffered serious damage, the collision waiver shifts the burden of repair from you to the rental car company. Of course, this doesn’t apply if you caused the collision with reckless driving.
It’s important to remember that this extra coverage almost always comes at a premium. Rental car companies are trying to maximize their profits; they do this by offering you peace of mind.
Extending Personal Coverage
On the other hand, your personal auto insurance may extend to rental cars. It’s always safe to double-check so you don’t end up spending more than you need. You never know when an accident might strike, but you can be prepared to deal with the aftermath.
If you were injured in a rental car accident and would like an experienced Coral Springs auto injury attorney from Weinstein & Scharf to evaluate your case, please call (954) 482-4534 or send us an email.