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Rental Car Insurance Policies At A Glance

by | Jul 5, 2019 | Blog, Firm News, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death |

Part 2 of a 5-Part Series on Rental Car Insurance in the U.S.A.

Urban Thier & Federer, P.A. is an international law firm that has helped hundreds of clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We have offices located throughout the United States and in Europe (including London, UK and Aachen and Munich, Germany) which allow us to offer our services to a wide variety of clients. Many of the personal injury and wrongful death clients we have assisted with their claims have been tourists and other visitors, many from outside the United States.

When planning a United States vacation or business trip, especially if you are coming from outside the country, you will need to arrange for transportation, which often involves the use of a rental car. Our clients typically arrange such rentals through their travel agent, via an internet-based portal for a third-party rental agency broker (i.e. Expedia. Trivago, FTI Touristik, CHECK24, etc.), or directly with the rental car company. The process for reserving a rental car is usually quick and easy. However, one area that presents confusion and stress for many people is understanding the different insurance products offered with the rental and determining whether all or some of that insurance is needed or even helpful.

In Part 1 of this series, we explained various aspects of rental car insurance products.  We understand that the rental car companies rarely provide clear information about what insurance is appropriate, what insurance may be redundant, and what each of these types of insurance covers. Understandably, the rental car companies want renters to buy each and every insurance product offered, regardless of its appropriateness for a given renter’s circumstances.  Below is a chart summarizing which policies each major rental company offers for purchase.

Rental Company Collision Damage Waiver Name Supplemental Liability Insurance Name Personal Accident Insurance Name Personal Effects Coverage Name Roadside Assistance Plan Name Emergency Sickness Plan Name
Advantage Rent-A-Car Collision Damage Waiver Supplemental Liability Insurance Personal Accident Insurance Personal Effects Coverage None None
Alamo CDW, Waiver Saver 3000, Maxi Waiver Saver Supplemental Liability Insurance, Extended Protection Personal Accident Insurance Personal Effects Coverage Roadside Plus None
Avis Loss Damage Waiver Additional Liability Insurance Personal Accident Insurance, PAI-Plus Personal Effects Protection None None
Budget Partial Loss Damage Waiver, Loss Damage Waiver Supplemental Liability Insurance Personal Accident & Effects Insurance, Personal Accident & Effects Insurance PLUS Personal Accident & Effects Insurance, Personal Accident & Effects Insurance PLUS None Emergency Sickness Plan
Dollar Car Rental Loss Damage Waiver Liability Insurance Supplement Personal Accident Package (must be purchased together with PEI) Personal Effects Package (must be purchased together with PAI) None Emergency Sickness Plan
Enterprise Damage Waiver Supplemental Liability Protection Personal Accident Insurance Personal Effects Coverage Roadside Assistance Protection None
Fox Rent A Car Loss Damage Waiver Rental Liability Coverage, Supplemental Liability Insurance Personal Accident Insurance Personal Effects Coverage None None
Hertz Partial Damage Waiver, Limited Loss Damage Waiver, Loss Damage Waiver Liability Insurance Supplement Personal Accident Insurance Personal Effects Coverage None None
National Loss Damage Waiver Supplemental Liability Insurance Personal Accident Insurance Personal Effects Insurance Roadside Assistance Protection None
Thrifty Loss Damage Waiver Supplemental Liability Insurance, Uninsured Motorist Protection, Liability Insurance Supplement Personal Protection Package (must be purchased together with PEI) Personal Protection Package (must be purchased together with PAI None Emergency Sickness Protection

Information correct as of 06-18-2019

We at Urban Thier & Federer hope that the information provided in our series on rental car insurance has been helpful in clearing up any confusion surrounding these products. If you still have concerns about what you may or may not be covered for before you rent a vehicle for your U.S. trip, please check your insurance policies or call your provider to ask them directly. Also, see the links below for articles regarding general questions about the need for rental car insurance and information on the policies provided by specific companies.

If you have been in an accident while in a rental vehicle, please contact us for details on how Urban Thier & Federer can help you.

This article and this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. The information provided should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter and not rely on the content of this article. Nothing on this site is intended to create an attorney-client relationship and nothing posted constitutes legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or up to date.

Look for blog part 3 next week!

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