USA rental car insurance

janey2000 · 14 Jan 19, 10:25 PM

We have hired a car twice before in theUS and ive never before even thought about whether we have insurance

We are in the states twice this year with a rental car including crossing states. My husband (driver) has fully comp insurance here and we have travel insurance. I asked the travel insurance company but they only cover our injury, not the car or other people.

Have you taken out additional insurance or should i ask my husbands insurance company?

Thanks

DonnaD · 15 Jan 19, 02:27 AM

If you booked the car through a UK site you almost definitely had insurance included. The US websites often don't as Americans are often covered by their car insurance or credit card. If you didn't have insurance I am sure the agent would have tried to sell you some.

400ixl · 15 Jan 19, 02:02 PM

Unless you had it as part of the cover or showed some form of basic cover they wouldn't have let you drive away.

As mentioned, if you hire it via a non US entity then basic cover is most likely included, you just need to decide if you want the additional insurance to cover the excess. You can get this from them or take out a 4rd party insurance to cover this. Then there are things like tyres etc that can also be under other cover with some.

If you do it directly through a US entity then these don't come as part of the package and I have seen a few people over the years think they have got a bargain, only to find the have fallen foul of this difference.

Olympiad · 15 Jan 19, 05:05 PM

Not sure about other companies but Avis include all insurance and excess when you book a US rental from the UK.

Only found this out when a passing car took off our wing mirror in LA and I'd expected to be charged something but was told all included.

400ixl · 15 Jan 19, 05:12 PM

Avis don't by default, but sometimes it can be included, so don't assume it will be included every time.

janey2000 · 15 Jan 19, 05:32 PM

Thank you... we booked through Expedia, one hire is Hertz and the other Alamo. Does this mean its via a UK agent then?

gaz-r · 15 Jan 19, 05:36 PM

You can buy Hire car insurance before you leave . I actually buy an annual hire car policy, but you can buy one for a specific number of days .

Its a massive cost saving , and gives a good sense of satisfaction. You do still need to pay for any claim first and thgen claim it back though .

I have been covered in all sorts of coutries around the world and most recently 3 weeks in Mexico .

icarhireinsurance

DonnaD · 15 Jan 19, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by janey2000

Thank you... we booked through Expedia, one hire is Hertz and the other Alamo. Does this mean its via a UK agent then?

If it was expedia.co.uk than yes. A good guide is if it is priced in GBP instead of $.

Olympiad · 15 Jan 19, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by 400ixl

Avis don't by default, but sometimes it can be included, so don't assume it will be included every time.

Always worth checking of course, but in the 4 times I've booked US car hire with Avis since our 'accident' (and hence started to check more closely) there has not even been the option to add on any additional insurance or cover as it's already part of the package price.

This was direct with Avis UK and maybe different if on the US site or via broker sites.

15 Jan 19, 02:02 PM	#3
	15 Jan 19, 02:02 PM 400ixl Imagineer
400ixl Imagineer Join Date: Mar 12	Unless you had it as part of the cover or showed some form of basic cover they wouldn't have let you drive away. As mentioned, if you hire it via a non US entity then basic cover is most likely included, you just need to decide if you want the additional insurance to cover the excess. You can get this from them or take out a 4rd party insurance to cover this. Then there are things like tyres etc that can also be under other cover with some. If you do it directly through a US entity then these don't come as part of the package and I have seen a few people over the years think they have got a bargain, only to find the have fallen foul of this difference.

15 Jan 19, 05:05 PM	#4
	15 Jan 19, 05:05 PM Olympiad slightly serious Dibber
Olympiad slightly serious Dibber Join Date: Jan 14	Not sure about other companies but Avis include all insurance and excess when you book a US rental from the UK. Only found this out when a passing car took off our wing mirror in LA and I'd expected to be charged something but was told all included.

15 Jan 19, 05:12 PM	#5
	15 Jan 19, 05:12 PM 400ixl Imagineer
400ixl Imagineer Join Date: Mar 12	Avis don't by default, but sometimes it can be included, so don't assume it will be included every time.

15 Jan 19, 05:36 PM	#7
	15 Jan 19, 05:36 PM gaz-r Helping Minnie
gaz-r Helping Minnie Join Date: Jan 04	You can buy Hire car insurance before you leave . I actually buy an annual hire car policy, but you can buy one for a specific number of days . Its a massive cost saving , and gives a good sense of satisfaction. You do still need to pay for any claim first and thgen claim it back though . I have been covered in all sorts of coutries around the world and most recently 3 weeks in Mexico . icarhireinsurance