So, I’m about to rent a car for a trip and I’ve got State Farm insurance, but I’m not totally sure if it covers rentals. Has anyone dealt with this before? Is it worth getting extra coverage from the rental company or nah?
Yeah, State Farm covers rental cars if you have full coverage on your own car. Just watch out if you’re renting something fancier than your usual ride. Might need extra protection for that.
Phoenix said:
Yeah, State Farm covers rental cars if you have full coverage on your own car. Just watch out if you’re renting something fancier than your usual ride. Might need extra protection for that.
Ohh, good point. What do you mean by ‘full coverage’ though? Does that mean I’m already covered for everything, or just basic stuff?
@Val
Full coverage = liability, collision, and comprehensive. If you have all those, you’re pretty much covered. Just maybe check with your agent if you’re worried about higher value cars.
@Val
Exactly, full coverage is like the all-in-one protection. I had to use mine when I rented for a road trip, and it covered everything except for gas and tolls.
If you’re renting for business and not personal use, you’ll probably need to get separate rental coverage. I found out the hard way when my company car didn’t cover it lol.
Rey said:
If you’re renting for business and not personal use, you’ll probably need to get separate rental coverage. I found out the hard way when my company car didn’t cover it lol.
Oh wow, thanks for the heads up. I’m doing it for personal, so I think I’m good. But what’s that extra coverage you mentioned?
@Val
It’s called a rental car policy. If you don’t have your own car or don’t want to use your credit card’s insurance, it could be useful. But if you’re just doing personal stuff, your regular insurance should be fine.
Also, if your car’s in the shop and you need a rental, State Farm can reimburse you for the cost of the rental. I used that when my car was getting fixed and it covered everything except the gas.
Joss said:
Also, if your car’s in the shop and you need a rental, State Farm can reimburse you for the cost of the rental. I used that when my car was getting fixed and it covered everything except the gas.
Wait, does that mean they pay for the rental or just cover you while you drive it?
@Val
They actually reimburse you for renting the car, not insure it. It’s called rental car reimbursement, totally different from insuring a rental. So yeah, you still gotta rent the car, but they’ll pay you back for it.
Don’t forget that some credit cards cover rental cars too. I used my card last time I rented and didn’t need any extra insurance. Easy peasy.
Finnick said:
Don’t forget that some credit cards cover rental cars too. I used my card last time I rented and didn’t need any extra insurance. Easy peasy.
That’s good to know. Do you remember if they covered everything or just certain things?
@Val
They covered liability and damage, but not personal stuff like my bags. You might want to double-check if you’re going abroad though.
Just FYI, if you’re going international, your usual insurance might not work. Some countries require local insurance no matter what you have.
Terry said:
Just FYI, if you’re going international, your usual insurance might not work. Some countries require local insurance no matter what you have.
Ah, didn’t think of that! Do they let you get insurance at the rental place or do you need to sort it before you leave?
@Val
You can usually get it at the rental desk, but it’s always more expensive there. Best to sort it beforehand if you can.